Spiders are eight-legged arachnids that fill many homeowners with fear and stress, but the truth is that most spiders aren’t as dangerous as you think. While spiders are upsetting to look at and not a welcome sight in your home, most of the common spider species in Saratoga County, New York are harmless.All spiders have fangs and use venom to inculcate their prey, but most can’t harm humans with this venom. However, there are a couple of notable exceptions to this, so it’s important to know how to identify spiders in the area and learn how to prevent them.
Identifying Spider Species
Five of the most notable spiders in the Saratoga County area are wolf spiders, black widow spiders, brown recluse spiders, jumping spiders, and common house spiders. Of these, only the black widow and brown recluse are dangerous to humans, but even the nuisance species are still unpleasant to have around.
Here is a brief guide to what these spiders look like:
- Wolf spiders: While wolf spiders look scary because they can run quickly to catch their prey, they are harmless. They have stout, often hairy legs, and brown, grey, and black patterning.
- Black widow: The black widow spider is easy to spot because it is jet black with a red hourglass marking on its underbelly.
- Brown recluse: This species can be difficult to identify and tell apart from other species. However, you should look for a figure-eight pattern behind their heads and a lack of markings on their legs. They are usually light brown in color.
- Jumping spiders: As their name suggests, this species can jump to catch prey. They range in color from tan to black and have pale markings. They are usually furry and have noticeable eyes.
- Common house spider: This is another harmless species that is a yellowish-brown color with dark striped markings. They have long abdomens and thin legs.
Five Ways To Prevent Spiders And Their Prey
While many other pests come inside in search of shelter, spiders enter a building while hunting for their prey. So, underlying pest problems often attract spiders. To prevent spiders, you should take these five steps to remove factors that attract other pests, such as:
- Storing food in airtight containers. This includes pet food.
- Cleaning up excess clutter inside and around your property.
- Addressing moisture issues by fixing leaky plumbing and using dehumidifiers.
- Placing lids on all trash cans.
- Deep cleaning kitchen areas and regularly sweeping and mopping as well as wiping up spills immediately.
Some More Effective Spider Prevention Tips
After you’ve taken general pest prevention steps, you should then focus on ways to keep spiders out. To keep both spiders and their pest prey from coming inside of your home, you can address common access points and take steps to fix these areas.
First, look at doors and windows. Fix or repair any broken screens around the building, and ensure that doors and windows fit tightly in their frames. You can also install or replace weather stripping and door sweeps.
Next, look around for holes and cracks around the structure. While it can be difficult to completely remove every crevice that a spider could slip through, you can make it harder for them to get inside by filling noticeable spaces with caulk and foam insulation. Check around the walls and the home’s foundation.
Finally, it’s important to regularly remove webs both inside and outside of your home.
Get Ongoing Spider Prevention Assistance
Taking the time to prevent spiders and their prey on your own can reduce the risk of an infestation, but the overall best way to protect your home from both nuisance and dangerous spider species is with residential pest control help.
The experts at Old School Pest Control have over 30 years of experience providing total spider control. We will remove any current spider problems and then prevent any further infestations. Get started by requesting your inspection today!