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ELIMINATING SPIDERS AROUND HOMES AND BUILDINGSBy Mike Potter, Extension EntomologistUniversity of Kentucky College of Agriculture Many different kinds of spiders live in and around buildings. Some, such as garden and cellar spiders, construct webs to help entrap their prey. Others, including the wolf spiders, are free-roaming and make no webs. Most spiders are harmless and in fact are beneficial because they prey upon flies, crickets and other insects. They generally will not attempt to bite humans unless held or accidentally trapped. Moreover, the majority of spiders have fangs too small or weak to puncture human skin. Of the hundreds of species found in Kentucky, only the black widow and brown recluse are dangerous. Fortunately, both are relatively uncommon, and have markings which can be used to distinguish them from other non-threatening species. Black Widow Spider
Widow spiders belong to the cobweb spider family and spin loosely organized trap webs. The webs are usually found under objects such as rocks and ground trash or under an overhanging embankment. Black widow spiders are not as common in homes as the brown recluse. When found in homes, they are usually under appliances or heavy furniture and not out in the open like other cobweb spiders. Black widow spiders are timid, however, and will only bite in response to being injured. People are usually bitten when they reach under furniture or lift objects under which a spider is hiding. Black widow venom is a nerve toxin and its effects are rapid. The victim suffers painful rigidity of the abdomen and usually a tightness of the chest. Blood pressure and body temperature may rise, and sweating, localized swelling, and nausea may occur. In about 5% of the bite cases, the victim may go into convulsions in 14 to 32 hours and die if not given medical attention. First aid for black widow spider bites involves cleaning the wound and applying ice packs to slow absorption of venom. Victims should seek medical attention promptly. Most black widow spider envenomizations respond to intravenous administrations of calcium gluconate or calcium salts. An antivenin is also available for severe cases. Brown Recluse Spider
People are sometimes bitten while they are asleep because they roll onto a brown recluse while it is hunting in the bed. More often the victim is bitten while putting on a shoe or piece of clothing which a spider has selected for its daytime hiding place. The bite of the brown recluse is usually painless until three to eight hours later when it may become red, swollen, and tender. Later, the red area around the bite may develop into an ulcerous sore from one half to ten inches in diameter. Healing often requires a month or longer, and the victim may be left with a deep scar. Prompt medical attention can reduce the extent of ulceration and alleviate other complications that may develop. In rare cases, the bite can produce a severe systemic reaction resulting in death. Persons bitten by a spider which they think is a brown recluse should try to collect the specimen and bring it to a qualified individual for identification. Positive identification by an expert will help the physician decide on the appropriate course of treatment. ControlEliminating an infestation of brown recluse or black widow spiders involves two basic principles:
The following measures can be used to control all spiders:
The brown recluse may be found living indoors or outdoors, while black widows are more often encountered outdoors. Thorough inspection of cracks, corners, and other dark, undisturbed areas with a bright flashlight will help determine the location and extent of infestation. Both species construct irregular, nondescript webs. Indoors, pay particular attention to basements, attics, crawl spaces, closets, under/behind beds and furniture, inside shoes, boxes of stored items, and between hanging clothing. Brown recluse spiders also may be found living in drop ceilings, behind baseboards, and inside ductwork or registers. Another way to detect infestations in these areas is to install glueboards or sticky traps. These devices can be purchased at grocery or farm supply stores. Placed flush along walls and in corners, glueboards and sticky traps will capture large numbers of spiders. Brown recluse and black widow spiders also live outdoors in barns, utility sheds, woodpiles, and underneath lumber, rocks, and accumulated debris. To avoid being bitten, wear work gloves when inspecting inside boxes or when moving stored items. Each of the six management tips noted above for spiders in general are also useful against the black widow and brown recluse. Removal of unnecessary clutter is especially helpful in making areas unattractive to these pests. Indoor infestations of brown recluse and black widow also warrant treatment with insecticides. Insecticides should be applied into areas where spiders are living, making an attempt to contact as many spiders and webs as possible with the spray. Spot treatment with synthetic pyrethroids such as cyfluthrin, sypermethrin, or lambda-cyhalothrin are especially effective. Most household insecticides with spiders listed on the label will also kill spiders provided the spider is treated directly. In inaccessible or cluttered areas such as attics and storage sheds, total-release foggers or aerosols containing synergized pyrethrin or synergized pyrethroids (e.g. resmethrin, sumithrin, cyfluthrin) will have a better chance of contacting spiders that are hidden. Severe infestations of brown recluse or black widow spiders require specialized skills and equipment to eradicate. In these situations, it would be prudent to call a professional pest control operator.
Issued: 6/93 Revised: 11/97 CAUTION! Pesticide recommendations in this publication are registered for use in Kentucky, USA ONLY! The use of some products may not be legal in your state or country. Please check with your local county agent or regulatory official before using any pesticide mentioned in this publication. Of course, ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS FOR SAFE USE OF ANY PESTICIDE!
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