Black widow spiders are United State’s most dangerous, poisonous and potentially deadly spider. Most people are aware of these spiders and the threat they impose but not many know where to find black widows, what their webs look like and how to steer clear of them. A large part of keeping yourself and loved ones safe from a possible painful black widow bite is to understand and educate yourself concerning the black widow spider’s habitat and behavior. By recognizing signs of black widow spiders in and around your home, you can spot signs of an infestation and call Pointe Pest Control as soon as possible. Below are some common black widow spider habitat facts that will help you recognize them around your yard.
Black widows are found all over the United States
Black widows are found in United States, southern Europe and Asia, Australia, Africa, and much of South America. In the United States, they are found primarily in the south and the west, however they can be found all over the US as there are few different species and the Northern black widow, which looks identical is primarily in the Northeast.
Where black widows prefer to nest
Black widows are particular about where they like to build their webs. Seeing as they are not social spiders, they like to hide out of sight in dark, dry corners. These spiders are not aggressive but if a hand or foot stumbles blindly into their web or hiding spot and they feel threatened, that is when the majority of black widow bites occur. These spiders are commonly found in basements, barns, garages, outdoor toilets, rodent holes, garbage or refuse piles, hollow stumps or dense vegetation. All of these areas allow them to adequately hide and build their webs out of sight.
The nature of the black widow web
Black widow spider silk is the strongest silk of any spider. The webs they spin are not pretty by any means and mostly look like a disorganized array of jumbled and tangled cobwebs. To avoid getting bit, learning to spot their web is key. They usually construct their webs close to the ground and made in three supported levels. The upper level is the area of support, where the threads are strong and positioned to hold the web up. The central level is mostly a tangled mess of threads designed to keep the prey from escaping until they fall to the lowest level where there are strong, vertical trap threads.
How to find black widows around your home and yard
Since black widows are adept at hiding, you may not know where exactly to look. You might find a messy web, but where is the spider? Black widows are most active at night so searching in the evening and late hours with a flashlight is a good idea. If you see a web, do not get too close and do not reach blindly into corners. In the dark, a flashlight will best reflect off the black widow’s shiny body and make them more visible. These spiders often hang upside down in their web so spotting that telltale red hourglass shape is easy. Once you spot the subtle signs of this arachnid, you need immediate professional spider control.
Local pest control to keep your home and family safe
Pointe Pest Control understands the nature, behavior and habitat of black widow spiders. Our technicians are educated in where to look to find them, how to safely remove them and importantly how to keep your home black widow free year round. You cannot risk the health and safety of your family when it comes to these dangerous spiders and their painful bites. Professional spider control effectively removes spider infestations and keeps deadly spiders far from your children and pets. Call Pointe Pest Control today for best local pest control around.