We have a lot of spiders in Concord. Perhaps you've noticed. There are so many different kinds of spiders that it would take us forever to go through each one of them. The good news is that we don't have to get into that kind of detail. There are only a few basic ways spiders differ from each other. If you know these key differences, it will make spider control super easy. That's our job today. We're going to break down how spider behavior brings these creepy pests into Concord homes. We'll look at the risks of having spiders bite you and how to prevent bites. Then, we'll give you a quick and condensed overview of spider prevention. You can use these prevention tips for all of the spiders found in Concord. We realize that learning about creepy arachnids isn't for everyone. If you're thinking, "No thanks," remember that you can simply contact us for spider pest control in Concord. We can take care of those icky bugs so you don't have to think about them. Jump to our contact page to connect with us. Peeler Environmental is your source for smart, environmentally friendly pest control solutions.

Spider Behavior: How They Hunt, Feed, And Mate

All spiders have a few common traits. They all have fangs, though some are unable to pierce human skin. They all have venom, though some have weak venom that will do nothing more than cause a red itchy bump. They are all predators, though some catch prey with webs and others actually go hunting for their prey. Let's examine this last point. How do spiders hunt for food and what do they feed on? The answers can provide some helpful insights, regarding spider control.

Hunting: When you see a web clinging to a ceiling in your home, or find one between your window pane and screen, you've caught a spider in the act of hunting. They use their sticky webs to catch unsuspecting insects and bugs. You can disrupt their ability to catch food by removing their webs. Some spiders will move to another location when this happens; it takes a lot of work to make a web. Spiders that don't make webs aren't easily caught hunting for prey. They typically come out at night and use their unique eyes to track their prey. When they draw close, they leap through the air and pounce on their unsuspecting victim. You can't disrupt their ability to catch prey. The only way to manage these spiders is to get rid of the insects and bugs they prey upon. That brings us to our next point.

Feeding: Spiders are food motivated. They want to live where they can get a bite to eat. It is why you see spiders make webs near light fixtures. Insects are attracted to light and spiders catch the insects when they come near. It is why they make webs near trash receptacles. Flies love filthy trash, and spiders don't mind eating dirty flies. The spiders that don't make webs also have favorite places to hunt for food. If you go out at night and shine a flashlight on your lawn, you may see tiny, shiny eyes looking back at you. These spiders also like to hunt in landscape vegetation. You can deter spiders by reducing the conditions that attract insects and bugs to your lawn or landscaping.

Mating: When spiders meet and fall in love (okay, maybe not that second part), those spiders will mate and create more spiders. It is the circle of life. If the circle of life happens near your home, you may find hundreds of tiny spiders crawling on your exterior or appearing on an interior wall just inside your home. When common house spiders mate inside your home, they can produce spiders inside. That means new spiders can appear in your home even if you have painstakingly worked to seal your exterior walls to keep spiders out.        

At this point, you should start to see a picture forming. Managing spiders in Concord is all about disrupting their ability to get food, removing food options, and preventing spiders from creating offspring. We're going to tell you how you can do this in a moment. But first, let's look at two kinds of spiders that are considered medically important.

Spider Bites: Know When To Seek Medical Attention

Some spiders, like daddy longlegs spiders, are not able to bite. They're just creepy houseguests that make lots of unsightly webs in your garage. Most spiders have a weak bite that you may not even feel. A small group of spiders hurt when they bite, and you may compare the pain to a pinprick or bee sting. But we have two types of spiders in our area that could cause a wound that needs medical attention. They are the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider. Black widow spider bites have localized pain and may lead to flu-like symptoms. Brown recluse spider bites are associated with necrosis and it is best to have a physician monitor any bites you believe are from these spiders.

Black widow spiders prefer to live outdoors and only stay in homes for a short time. You can detect black widows by finding their webs and identifying them. The strands of a black widow spider web are strong and make a noise when you pluck them. Don't break the strands with your finger. Use a stick or some other tool so that you don't get bitten.

Brown recluse spiders like living indoors and can grow large populations within structures. It is hard to detect these spiders as they don't make webs to catch prey. Their webbing is used to line openings they use for retreat. Look for them near the floor. Brown recluse spiders hunt for prey in your home while you sleep, but they will only come near you by accident. You can prevent contact by moving beds out from underneath ceiling vents or away from walls. Remove skirts on beds and always shake clothing, fabrics, and bedding when you pick them up off the floor.

Preventing Spiders In Your Home: Tips And Tricks

There are many ways to deal with spiders. Some have a limited effect. For example, some residents use glue traps for spiders. Can you catch spiders with these traps? Sure. But you can't arrest a spider infestation using only traps as your control method. Some have a greater impact on spiders but can also make you sick. For example, applying incorrect materials around your home can keep spiders out but make you ill in the process. Professionals use materials that target the food source spider eat so the materials used don't need the strength required to take down a spider. When it comes to DIY spider prevention, we steer residents away from control products and focus on all-natural spider management. Here are some of our best tips.

  • Remove spider webs when you see them. Doing so will drive spiders away.
  • When you remove spider webs, crush any egg sacs you find. One egg sac can have over 300 eggs in it.
  • After removing spider webs, wipe down the surface. Spiders prefer to create webs on rough surfaces.
  • Spiders eat insects that are attracted to light. Install lights or fixtures that detect motion so that lights only come on for the short time they're needed.
  • Spiders eat flies that buzz around your trash. Keep receptacles cleaned and covered to deter flies and spiders alike. 
  • Spiders hang out in your lawn because they feed on insects. It is impossible to get rid of all the insects in your lawn, nor would you want to do that. But you can reduce insects by removing weeds. Insects eat plant sap and nectar. 
  • Spiders hang out in your landscaping. You can reduce the number of spiders by keeping your plants healthy and dry. Plants only need groundwater. They don't need to stay moist on the leaves.
  • Spiders enter your home because they can. Use expanding foam to seal gaps and fill in openings. Apply home improvements to address damaged weatherstripping and door sweeps as well.

When you apply these tips, you won't get rid of spiders outside, but you'll reduce how many spiders are hanging out on your exterior walls. It is best to have fewer spiders crawling on your walls.

Professional Pest Control: A Great Spider Control Solution

Spider management isn't easy, which is one big reason to get professional home pest control. When you contact Peeler Environmental for home pest control service, we tackle spider problems in several ways. 

  • We use control products to cull populations if required.
  • We use products that monitor spider activity. 
  • We remove spider webs and dispose of egg sacs.
  • We apply exclusions to create a physical barrier.
  • We select appropriate products to manage insect populations around your home.
  • We apply a crack and crevice treatment to keep insects out. When spiders enter your home and don't find any insects, they go back outside.

Spider management is a multi-pronged process and we take care of all the details for you. Want to learn more? We'd love the opportunity to discuss your options with you. Contact Peeler Environmental today. We're here to help!