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Most spiders are harmless, and are beneficial to have around your property. However, there are 2 types of spiders in North America which should cause some alarm: the black widow and the brown recluse spider. If you have a black widow infestation on your hands, you'll need to take immediate action. It's also good to know a few techniques for killing individual spiders you encounter, so you can keep your family safe!
Steps
Clean out potential hiding spots. Black widows hole up in seldom-disturbed areas, such as woodpiles, storage boxes, the back of closets, and so on. Not only will cleaning these areas eliminate potential habitats, you'll also get rid of areas for black widow prey to live.[1]- Wear gardening gloves. Just in case you do stumble over a spider, your hands will be safe from bites.
- De-clutter. If you have unnecessary boxes, wood or other items crowding your house, getting rid of them can remove potential hiding places.
- Vacuum. If you have a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment, use it to clean out dark nooks and crannies. If you see a web without a spider in it, the vacuum is your best bet. Just be sure to seal the bag and dispose of it (outside the house) as soon as you're done so nothing can escape back into your home.
- Spray down the outside of your house. Use a high-pressure hose to destroy webs and egg sacs. Pay particular attention to window wells, window frames, and door frames.
- Clear vegetation that is in direct contact with your home. Ivy and other plant life on your house or around its perimeter provide a home for these pests.
- Clean regularly. Chores like vacuuming and keeping your living area clean aid in preventing spider infestation. Vacuuming is especially important because it clears out dust, eggs and the spiders themselves.
Prevent spiders from entering your home.[2] The best method to avoid black widows is prevention. By keeping your doors and windows caulked, you are taking an important step in preventing spiders and other insects from getting into your home. Weatherproofing your exits is also very helpful.[3]Advertisement
Call a professional exterminator. If you suspect that your black widow problem is bigger than you can handle on your own, call a professional who's licensed to use heavier insecticides.[4] If possible, ask around a few different businesses for quotes depending on the size of your house and the suspected severity of the infestation.
Spray spiders with an aerosol pesticide.[5] If you see a black widow on the loose, try to spray it with a pesticide first.[6] This is better than trying to smash or stomp on it because the spiders may run at you if they sense an immediate threat.- While black widows aren't especially aggressive, they often bite when they feel injury or death is otherwise unavoidable.[7]
Squash it. If you don't have a pesticide handy, grab a shoe or other flat object and kill the spider the old-fashioned way. Keep in mind that black widows are quick, and they might run toward you instead of away from you (like most other spiders do).
Hunt Them. A bit after sunset, say 9 or 10 pm in the summer time, search for widows in the places you know they are making a home. This is evident by the tough webs they make. Arm yourself with a flashlight, spray glue or hairspray (some sticky aerosol), long pants, shoes,etc. look for them about a foot off of the ground. When you see one, spray it. This alone will kill the widows, reduce the numbers, and keep you from needing long term pesticides.
Powder the web. Black widows spend a lot of time on their webs, whether it's to guard an egg sac or wait for prey. Sprinkle a non-repellant insecticidal dust over the web when you find it — the dust will eventually kill the spider. Return to the web to make sure the spider is dead, and dispose of both in a sealed plastic bag.
Expert Q&A
- QuestionWhere do you spray for spiders?
Hussam Bin BreakHussam Bin Break is a Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator and Operations Manager. He and his brother Hussam co-founded Diagno Pest Control in the greater Philadelphia area in 2018, and have since expanded their services to include the New Jersey market. Diagno Pest Control has received Home Advisor's Top Rated and Elite Service Badges for quality of work and customer service.
Pest Control ProfessionalTry applying a residual pesticide in the corners of your living space where spiders normally like to live. - QuestionCan you spray for black widows?Hussam Bin BreakHussam Bin Break is a Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator and Operations Manager. He and his brother Hussam co-founded Diagno Pest Control in the greater Philadelphia area in 2018, and have since expanded their services to include the New Jersey market. Diagno Pest Control has received Home Advisor's Top Rated and Elite Service Badges for quality of work and customer service.
Pest Control ProfessionalYes! You can spray the spider directly with a pesticide if you see one. However, since black widows hide, you may not always be able to find them to spray them. If this happens, spray a residual pesticide in corners where spiders tend to hide.
Video
Tips
- If you are bitten by a black widow, seek medical attention immediately. Though the bite will seem like a small prick and will only show itself by some very small swelling around the area, you may experience abdominal and muscle cramps an hour or more after you have been bitten.[10]Thanks
- If you get bitten but you're not 100% sure if it's a dangerous bite, do not be afraid to get medical attention.1Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/black_widow_spider.htm
- ↑ Hussam Bin Break. Pest Control Professional. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
- ↑ https://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/black_widow_spider.htm
- ↑ https://plantcaretoday.com/get-rid-black-widow-spiders.html
- ↑ Hussam Bin Break. Pest Control Professional. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
- ↑ https://getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-black-widows/
- ↑ https://www.livescience.com/51014-black-widow-spiders-misconceptions.html
- ↑ Hussam Bin Break. Pest Control Professional. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
- ↑ https://plantcaretoday.com/get-rid-black-widow-spiders.html
About This Article
If you decide to kill a black widow spider, be careful, since they are particularly poisonous. When you see a black widow on the loose, try to spray it with a pesticide. Otherwise, you can try to grab a shoe or other flat object to squash it, but be careful since black widows tend to run toward you instead of away from you, like most other spiders. To avoid future black widow encounters or infestations, clean out potential hiding spots, like storage boxes, backs of closets, and woodpiles. Just in case you stumble upon a spider, wear gardening gloves when you’re de-cluttering. You can also use your vacuum’s hose attachment to clean out dark nooks and crannies and hose down the outside of your hose to destroy webs and egg sacs. To learn how to prevent spiders from entering your house, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
"It was very helpful. I found a cluster of webs in my gazebo, and will now go spray with hairspray and see if I kill those dangerous things."..." more
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