Most people have at least a mild fear of spiders. Who can blame them? Spiders are portrayed in TV and movies as life-threatening and all-around terrifying. Although these pests are not usually a threat to human health, some species in our area do have powerful bites. One dangerous spider you should know how to identify is the brown recluse. Here is how to identify brown recluse spiders inside your New Jersey home and how you can get these pests away from your living areas fast.
How To Identify Brown Recluse Spiders
The brown recluse spider is one of the more difficult pests to identify. This is because of their many shared features with other common arachnids. The way to tell a brown recluse apart from a spider that looks like a brown recluse is to look at three things, the spider's size, its markings, and the number of eyes it has. The brown recluse is ¼ to ½” long, light to dark brown, and has a backward violin-shaped mark located behind its head. As for eyes, where most spiders have eight eyes, the brown recluse has six. If you cannot tell how many eyes this pest has from a distance, we do not recommend getting close enough to check. It is always better to assume a spider is a brown recluse than to throw caution to the wind.
The Dangers Of Brown Recluse Spiders On Your Property
One question we are regularly asked is: are brown recluse spiders deadly? Although these pests are capable of inflicting life-threatening harm, deaths related to this pest’s venom are extremely rare. They are so rare that the last recorded brown recluse bite death in the US was back in 2004. Keeping this in mind, you should always treat a brown recluse bite as if it might be life-threatening. Common symptoms may include moderate to severe pain, a deep sore (ulcer) that forms around the area of the bite, fever, chills, nausea, joint pain, weakness, and in rare cases, seizure/coma. Seeking medical attention after a brown recluse bite will greatly reduce these symptoms and lower your risk of long-term injury.
The Safest Way To Get Rid Of Brown Recluse Spiders
There is no denying that brown recluse spiders are among the last creatures you want to find inside your home. If you suspect that one or more of these pests have found a way into your living areas, do not hesitate to involve the experts at Heritage Pest Control. Our team uses industry-leading spider control methods to track and eliminate spiders indoors. We would be more than happy to visit your home and perform a detailed pest inspection. This will not only allow us to identify potentially dangerous spiders but also to put in place a plan of action to remove and keep out a wide range of invasive pests.
How To Keep Brown Recluse Spiders Away From Your Property
Once dangerous spiders have been removed from your home and property, your next step should be to put in place some form of long-term prevention. If you have some extra time on your hands, DIY spider prevention is an option. This involves sealing entry points in your home’s exterior, keeping exterior light sources off at night, addressing moisture issues, keeping clutter to a minimum, and storing food inside air-tight containers. These methods are not a perfect solution. To guarantee harmful spiders and other problematic pests stay outside where they belong, a professional pest control plan is needed.
Call the experts at Heritage Pest Control today to learn more about our affordable and detailed pest control options and schedule your New Jersey home for a visit.