Very few residual pesticides will effectively control spiders for and length of time. Suspend SC and Delta Dust have been proven effective for long term control. Suspend SC can be sprayed on spider harborages for a treatment that will last for months. Delta Dust can be applied in attics and wall voids and because it is water-proof, it can also be used in areas of high moisture. If you have any questions about these products, please contact us.
The female black widow spider is about 1/2 inch in length, glossy black in color, with a globe-like abdomen. The abdomen has two triangular red spots on its underside arranged in such a way that they look like an hourglass. The male is much smaller than the female; males are 1/4 inch in length with a longer, narrower abdomen and slightly longer legs.

Black widow spiders are shy and prefer to build their webs in dry, protected locations where their prey is likely to travel. They are commonly found in wood piles, barns, sheds and crawl spaces. The web is an irregular construction that serves to ensnarl victims long enough for the spider to tangle it in more silk before giving it a lethal bite. The female often eats the male after mating, thus giving the spider its rather morbid name. The female lays its eggs in a silken case which it protects in the nest . Several cases may be constructed during a spider's lifetime, each containing an average of 255 eggs. The young spiders remain in the case until the second molt. They live in the vicinity of the nest for two to three weeks before producing long threads of silk that help them to float away like kites. Female spiderlings go through six to eight molts before maturing, which takes from 112 to 140 days. Black widows have poison glands and will bite if handled roughly or disturbed. They usually avoid trouble whenever possible. There have been deaths caused by black widow bites, but in most cases the bite is no more severe than a wasp sting.

Very few residual pesticides will effectively control spiders for and length of time. Suspend SC and Delta Dust have been proven effective for long term control. Suspend SC can be sprayed on spider harborages for a treatment that will last for months. Delta Dust can be applied in attics and wall voids and because it is water-proof, it can also be used in areas of high moisture. If you have any questions about these products, please contact us.
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SPIDERS
BLACK WIDOW
What do bats, snakes and spiders have in common? Very little except they are all beneficial organisms that are intensely feared by the general public. Spiders are the victims of bad publicity. It hasn't always been that way though. During the Middle Ages, the presence of spiders was a sign of a healthy household. Nowadays, homemakers view cobwebs as unsightly and a sign of poor housekeeping. Spiders actually perform a valuable service, that of destroying injurous insects.

The fear of spiders does have some basis in fact. Two spiders, the black widow and the brown recluse are capable of delivering painfull and occasionally fatal bites. Some people are very sensitive or allergic to the bite of any spider. Children, elderly and people of ill health are most sensitive to spider bites. The severity of the reaction depends on the the amount and kind of venom, depth of the bite and the area bitten.

If it is suspected that the bite is from a black widow or a brown recluse, the spider should be preserved in alcohol (be careful not to be bitten again) and properly identified. Poisoning by spiders are rare and the main reason spiders are controlled is because of their habit of building unsightly webs in conspicuous places.          

This page was last updated on: February 15, 2007

The female black widow spider is about 1/2 inch in length, glossy black in color, with a globe-like abdomen. The abdomen has two triangular red spots on its underside arranged in such a way that they look like an hourglass. The male is much smaller than the female; males are 1/4 inch in length with a longer, narrower abdomen and slightly longer legs.

Black widow spiders are shy and prefer to build their webs in dry, protected locations where their prey is likely to travel. They are commonly found in wood piles, barns, sheds and crawl spaces. The web is an irregular construction that serves to ensnarl victims long enough for the spider to tangle it in more silk before giving it a lethal bite. The female often eats the male after mating, thus giving the spider its rather morbid name. The female lays its eggs in a silken case which it protects in the nest . Several cases may be constructed during a spider's lifetime, each containing an average of 255 eggs. The young spiders remain in the case until the second molt. They live in the vicinity of the nest for two to three weeks before producing long threads of silk that help them to float away like kites. Female spiderlings go through six to eight molts before maturing, which takes from 112 to 140 days. Black widows have poison glands and will bite if handled roughly or disturbed. They usually avoid trouble whenever possible. There have been deaths caused by black widow bites, but in most cases the bite is no more severe than a wasp sting.

Very few residual pesticides will effectively control spiders for and length of time. Suspend SC and Delta Dust have been proven effective for long term control. Suspend SC can be sprayed on spider harborages for a treatment that will last for months. Delta Dust can be applied in attics and wall voids and because it is water-proof, it can also be used in areas of high moisture. If you have any questions about these products, please contact us.
BROWN RECLUSE
The brown recluse spider is a meduim sized, soft bodied spider 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. It is yellowish tan to brown in color with long, delicate legs. The legs are grayish to dark brown with no obvious pattern, while the base of the legs are more yellow-orange in color. Although the legs are covered with very minute brown hairs, they appear brown to the naked eye. Each foot has two claws. The cephalothorax is somewhat flattened above and bares six eyes (most other spiders have eight eyes) arranged in a semi-circle pattern in the front. A dark fiddle shaped marking begins right behind the eyes and extends almost the entire length of the cephalothorax. Positive identification of this species requires the expertise of a spider expert. These spiders spin small, loose, white to off-white webs with irregular strands. The eggs are deposited in loose silken sacs, about 5/8 inck in diameter, which are hung in the web over the winter. The spiderlings weave loose webs of sticky silk when they disperse in the spring. The immature spiders look similar to the adults but may be lighter in color.

The brown recluse feeds on a wide variety of small insects. Cockroaches and other household pests can sustain spider infestations indoors. The brown recluse can live for long periods without food. The female lays eggs from May to August in sacs that contain 40 or more eggs, which she guards until she dies. A female will bare as many as 300 eggs during her lifetime. These spiders mature in about 11 months and may live as long as two years. This spider can be found outdoors in sheltered corners among debris, under loose bark and stones, in wood piles, on docks and on boats. It is usually found indoors, especially in bathrooms, bedrooms, closets, garages, basements and cellars. Sometimes it takes shelter under furniture and rugs. The brown recluse is not aggressive, but it usually bites when it is disturbed or is being crushed. The bite is not felt and the pain develops later. The reaction from the bite ranges from relatively mild to severe. Some bites can result in a large gangrenous area which sloughs, leaving a sunken, ulcerating sore up to 6 inches across which heals slowly. If you know you have been bitten by a brown recluse, seek medical treatment immediately.
Very few residual pesticides will effectively control spiders for and length of time. Suspend SC and Delta Dust have been proven effective for long term control. Suspend SC can be sprayed on spider harborages for a treatment that will last for months. Delta Dust can be applied in attics and wall voids and because it is water-proof, it can also be used in areas of high moisture. If you have any questions about these products, please contact us.