The Brown Recluse Spider: The Most Misidentified Spider In Conroe
There’s just something about spiders that really makes the skin crawl. Maybe it’s their fangs; maybe it’s the way they scurry around. Whatever the reason may be, spiders are never a welcome sight in any Conroe home. This is especially true if the spiders are dangerously venomous such as brown recluses. Brown recluse spiders are common home invaders here in Conroe. Given how venomous they can be, it’s important to be able to accurately identify them. Unfortunately, brown recluses are some of the most misidentified spiders in the area. In addition to being able to identify brown recluse spiders, you should also know the steps you can take to keep them out of your Conroe home, as well as the spider control solutions you can count on to get rid of them should an infestation arise.
How To Identify The Brown Recluse Spider
Being able to accurately identify a brown recluse is important because you need to know if the spider with which you are dealing is dangerous or not. Unfortunately, brown recluses bear a similar resemblance to other spiders such as hobo spiders. Both brown recluses and hobo spiders grow to be about ½ an inch long. They both have eight long legs and are dark brown in color. However, while hobo spiders have eight eyes, brown recluses only have six, arranged in three groups of two. You can also identify brown recluses by the dark brown violin-like shape on their backs.
When Are Brown Recluse Spiders Active?
Pests often come and go with the weather. Up north, when fall comes and temperatures drop, creatures of all shapes and sizes die off, slow down, or go into hibernation. Here in Texas, however, temperatures rarely drop low enough for us to see much of a reprieve from pests. This includes spiders. But brown recluse are most active from June to August.
Threats Posed By Brown Recluse Spiders
Brown recluse spiders are dangerous pests to have to live in your home. That is because they have an incredibly potent venom that they can use to paralyze prey and ward off threats. In fact, brown recluses are considered to be the second-most dangerous spider in the United States, trailing only to the black widow.
A bite from a brown recluse can be painful and will often result in further complications of the affected area. Moreover, although rare, bites from brown recluses have resulted in death. As such, if you are ever bitten by a brown recluse, be sure to seek medical attention immediately.
Spider Prevention Tips
Brown recluses, like all spiders, will usually enter into a home because there is an abundance of food options inside. This means, to keep spiders out of your home, you should practice general pest prevention, as well. To keep brown recluses out of your Conroe home, you should:
- Store all food in airtight containers or the fridge.
- Wipe up any spills from countertops or floors immediately and refrain from keeping dirty dishes stacked in your sink.
- Store trash in containers with tight-fitting lids and take out the trash regularly.
- Use dehumidifiers to address any moisture buildup in your home, especially in poorly ventilated areas such as attics, basements, crawl spaces, and other storage areas.
- Fix any leaky pipes or fixtures.
- Wipe away spiderwebs when you come across them.
- Install door sweeps under exterior doors.
- Install weather-stripping around windows and exterior doors.
- Use window and door screens and ensure all existing screens do not have any rips or tears.
- Fill in cracks in your home’s foundation with caulk.
Effective Spider Control Solutions For Your Conroe Property
If you find yourself dealing with a brown recluse infestation in your Conroe home, don’t try to get rid of them on your own as this could put you in danger. Instead, contact the professionals here at Bill Clark Pest Control right away for assistance. Not only will we remove any current infestations, but should you opt for one of our ongoing pest control plans, we will make sure your home remains pest-free. Give us a call today to get started.