When it comes to notoriety, there are few spiders that have more than the black widow. Their inky black bodies and long legs are enough to produce nightmares and that telltale red hour glass will make you take a few steps back. If black widow spiders have transformed your home, garage or yard into a fear factory, you can count on Pointe Pest Control to deliver effective control. We want to help you understand everything you need to know about black widow spiders in Pennsylvania.
Identification
Black widows have inky black bodies with long sharp legs. An adult, female black widow has a large abdomen. Most of the time, you will be able to see a bright red hour glass shape on the underside of the abdomen, but sometimes the shape might be a little bit different. Another way to help you identify a black widow spider is to know their webs. Spiders make all kinds of webs. Most people think of an orb weaver’s web, but this is not the type of web a black widow spider makes. Black widows are cobweb spiders. They create a tangled mess of webs that are meant to trap anything that wanders past. If you see a messy web, you might be looking at a black widow dining table. The spider itself will be in hiding. It will descend from its spot when it senses vibrations on its web. For more detailed information about black widows, feel free to check the information found in our pest learning center.
Web Location
Black widows prefer to build their webs in areas that are not disturbed very often. Their misshapen, messy webs often will have bits of debris and dead insects still imbedded in the silk. One of the most common locations for black widow webs are garages, basements, and crawl spaces. They will sometimes build their webs in dense vegetation, and under outdoor toys that haven’t been played with in a while. If their nest is disturbed, a black widow might choose to move to a new location.
Venom Potency
Black Widow Spider bites should be taken seriously. Their venom contains a potent neurotoxin that can disrupt the communication ability of your nervous system. Black widow spider venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than rattlesnake venom. If you get bit by a black widow spider you should always seek medical attention. Still though, black widow spiders are shy and will only bite if they feel threatened.
Reproduction
Black widow spiders get their name from how the female spider often eats the male. Once the female black widow has mated it is ready to produce an egg sac. They will spin a large web and suspend a silk cocoon with hundreds of eggs inside. Once they hatch the new spiderlings will quickly disburse.
Control and Elimination
There are plenty of black widow spiders in Pennsylvania, but your home doesn’t have to be a part of that count. When you call Pointe Pest Control, you are getting technicians that understand black widows and know how to eliminate them. We have a variety of tools, and scientifically proven treatment options that will take care of any black widow issue. Our technicians are ready to help you solve your black widow spider problem. If you have questions about Pennsylvania spiders, we have answers. We want you to have access to the information you need. You can check out our online spider library and discover information about many of the spiders that are common right here in Pennsylvania. For effective black widow spider control, you need Pointe Pest Control.