While spiders are not a welcome sight in your Santa Clarita home, there are only a few truly dangerous spiders, such as the black widow. Growing up to an inch and a half long, black widows are usually recognized by the red hourglass marking on their backs. This marking only shows up in females. Male black widows are not only half the size of their female counterparts, but they’re lighter in color and have pink and red spots on their back.
These spiders can be dangerous when allowed to invade your property; schedule a residential exterminator service to protect your home from local pests!
Black widows aren’t inherently aggressive but they can bite when they’re disturbed, and their venom packs a powerful punch. Here’s what Santa Clarita, CA residents should know about protecting their homes from black widow spiders.
Where Do Black Widow Spiders Like To Live On Your Santa Clarita, CA Property?
Although you may find a black widow spider hanging in your home, these critters prefer to live outside when they can. You’re more likely to find a black widow in outdoor plants, rocks, debris, or even ledges. It’s not uncommon for black widows to accidentally make it inside your home when you bring in the firewood or clean up your yard debris.
Once they’ve made it inside your home, black widows may begin to build their webs in cluttered areas like the basement or garage.
As mentioned, encountering a black widow doesn’t always end with a bite. Getting bitten by a black widow is rare and usually only happens when the spider feels threatened. Even then, only female black widow spider bites are a danger to your health.
However, if you do suspect that you’ve been bitten by a black widow, you don’t want to leave the wound untreated. The pain can last for hours, and symptoms like nausea, sweating, muscle aches, and difficulty breathing go hand-in-hand with black widow bites.
Whether you know you’ve been bitten by a black widow or you’re starting to experience these symptoms after a spider bite, the best course of action is to seek medical attention immediately.
How To Prevent Future Black Widow Spider Infestations In Santa Clarita, CA
While professional guidance is the best way to handle an active infestation, there are preventative measures you can take to keep black windows from making their home in yours, such as:
- Keep storage areas like basements and garages free of clutter since these can be black widow hiding spots.
- Store firewood and woodpiles at least twenty feet away from your home and inspect the wood before you bring it inside.
- Frequently vacuum your home as well as corners or areas that black widows may build their webs.
- Wear safety gloves when moving items that have been in the same place for a long time.
- Seal up potential entry points like small gaps in your doors, windows, or walls.
- Use natural scent repellents like eucalyptus, lemon, tea tree oil, and peppermint around your home.
How To Get Rid Of An Active Black Widow Spider Infestation In Santa Clarita, CA
As dangerous as black widow spider bites are, it’s never a safe idea to try and remove an active infestation on your own. At CVA Exterminators, our experienced professionals are trained not only to identify black widow spider infestations but also to remove these pests from your home in a way that keeps you and your loved ones safe.
If you think you’ve got a black widow spider infestation on your property, don’t hesitate to call us at CVA Exterminators immediately for further guidance. Find out more about our residential and commercial pest services in Santa Clarita.