Knowing the effective and most efficient way on how to get rid of brown recluse spiders is crucial. You probably think that you only have a slight arachnid issue, but the brown recluse spider can pose a bigger issue – and also a bigger risk. Whereas most home spiders are harmless and they won’t cause any serious health problems to the homeowners, the brown recluse spiders are different.
Brown recluse spiders are quite venomous, and most homeowners are scared to it. As the name suggests, the spiders are reclusive – they prefer to stay in a hidden spot and not noticeable by anyone, especially humans. They like to stay in both outdoor and indoor areas.
Brown Recluse Spiders Facts
Before understanding more about how to get rid of brown recluse spiders, you should learn about the spiders’ way of life or basic facts. Also known as Violin Spider or Fiddleback Spider, this species is often found in the southeastern and southern areas of America, although it is also possible that they may migrate to other areas. They prefer the outdoor setting, but they have a good adaption ability to live indoor. They live mostly under the organic debris or woodpiles, as well as in barns and sheds.
Unlike other spiders with eight eyes, this recluse spider ‘only’ has six eyes. The color ranges from dark brown to light tan, with silky long thin legs and a unique violin shaped look on the dorsum. Although many people are afraid of the spiders for their bites, the spiders don’t actually bite quite often – and they aren’t often aggressive either.
Unlike other spiders that use their webs to catch their foods (their prey), recluse spiders don’t use the webs for the purpose. They are hunters and they like to hunt at night. So, does it mean that they don’t use webs at all? They do, but only to hold eggs and the webs are generally loose. The webs won’t be visible on open space. They are generally hidden or covered, and the webs are mainly used for retreats. If you see webs hanging on the wall or other areas, it is likely that they belong to other types of spiders, not the Brown Recluse one.
The spiders have a venomous bite, but not to the harmful extent like the snakes. So, how dangerous the venom is to you? Well, it depends on the injected numbers to your system, how resistant the person is (to the venom), and how the person’s reaction. Different people have different resistance and reactions in dealing with venom.
Brown Recluse Spiders Favorite
Brown Recluse Spiders
The Brown Recluse spiders are usually hiding under the carpets, appliances, and furniture – as well as behind the door facings and baseboards. They also like to hide inside wall crevices and in dark corners. Their favorite spots are with forced AC or hot air heating. You can find them above the ceiling ductwork or around it.
They are easy to adapt, so they are flexible creatures. They are generally active within temperatures between 45 degrees Fahrenheit and 110 degrees. The spiders like to hide in dark, damp, and hidden boxes. It’s possible for them to migrate easily, especially if the boxes are moved from one location to another. Once they are comfortable in a new environment, they will build a home out of it and they will establish themselves. When it happens, control would be impossible because their population can grow in a matter of short time.
Brown Recluse Spider Bite Treatment
Since the bite is quite dangerous and venomous, you shouldn’t underestimate them. Be aware of the possibility that you may be bitten by them. In case the spider bites you, there are some steps that you need to do to treat it:
- Make sure to clean the site. Simply use mild soap and also water. Then, you can add an antibiotic salve or ointment
- If the bite swells and becomes painful, you can have a cool compress. Apply it directly on the site
- If the site of the bite is located on the leg or arm, you simply need to elevate it
- When needed, take medicine. An over the counter type is possible and enough
- Observe the wound. If there is a sign of infection, you need to find medical assistance right away
The major key is to remain calm and not be panicky. It would help if you can keep emergency numbers in your phone in a speed dial mode. Read Also: Wolf Spider Vs Brown Recluse Difference
Safely Inspect and Remove the Spiders
How to Get Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders simple
When you want to inspect the spiders and existence, make sure that you are wearing safe clothing or gear. Here are the things that you should do in learning how to get rid of brown recluse spiders in your house:
- Wear long sleeves clothes and also gloves when you are checking things. Wear the thick gloves so you will be okay during the inspection and the removal
- Use a flashlight to do the checking too
- Be prepared that the spiders may hide in old and inhabited books, furniture, clothing, toys, old shoes, and undisturbed sheds, towels, and linens. You may find them in cluttered closets or basements where they are dark and dingy
- When you are checking the clutter, make sure to find cobwebs. They may be located inside the wall voids, the insulation, or any other possible dark areas.
Tips on How to Avoid Them
If you want to learn about how to get rid of brown recluse spiders in your house naturally, there are several handy tips and tricks to help you.
- Wear protective and complete clothes when you perform the checking, even when you are checking under the beds or under the furniture. These spiders aren’t really biter, but they will surely do it when their nest is disturbed or they are threatened.
- When you want to use things, make sure to inspect them first. If the infestation issue is pretty heavy and serious, you may want to consider sealing your clothes and shoes within plastic bags
- Shake all of your shoes and clothes before wearing the
- Never go barefoot. Never do gardening or handling the pine straw or firewood without using the gloves
- Check and make sure that your bed has enough gap from curtains and walls. You also need to keep the bed skirts and bedspreads from going under the floor or touching it
- Make sure that you provide enough light inside the house. It would be better if you allow the sun entering the house and rooms
- If you have unused boxes, make sure to remove them. These boxes are potential houses for the spiders and you don’t want their presence within your property.
How to Deal with the Spiders
brown recluse spider size
When it comes to the Brown Recluse spiders, it is quite complicated because they are mostly different from other types of spiders, especially the house spiders. There is no need to learn about how to get rid of brown recluse spiders with essential oils because they don’t really work. There are actually some simple things to do and they are mostly related to cleanliness and hygiene. So, how do you manage everything? Read Also: Camel Spider Facts
1. Declutter
As it was mentioned before, the spiders like to hide in hidden spots and dark areas. If you have many open and unused stuff or boxes, it is always a good idea to remove them from your house and your property. Not only you can prevent the possibility of Brown Recluse spiders from living in your property, but you can also prevent other insects’ existence and presence. If you have clutter, it is a good idea to start decluttering it. If you have a mess around, you want to keep it neat.
2. Clean up
If you haven’t created any cleaning schedule, it would be a good idea to start one from now. You need to have a regular cleaning time to clean everything. Besides cluttering, you want to clean the corners. Vacuum the hidden areas, like the areas behind the sofa, under the furniture, and the ceiling. Any dust or dirt is better removed and cleaned out thoroughly. It is also a good idea to minimize the action of hanging your already used clothes behind the door, especially if you aren’t going to use it for a long time. Whenever you have worn the clothes, wash them. And keep all of your clothes and shoes, and possibly other accessories, in closed containers or spaces.
3. Pick the Clothes up
Don’t just throw away your items on the floor. Make sure that you don’t leave anything on the floor. Whenever people leave stuff of the floor and they want to pick it up, that’s when the bite usually happens. Because the spiders will think that they are being disturbed and threatened, and they will attack through the bites.
4. Minimize the Lights
One way of how to get rid of brown recluse spiders is to turn off lights. Lights generally attract insects, and whenever there are insects, there would be recluse spiders around. That’s why it would be a good idea to minimize the light on the porch. If you don’t want your indoor lights to be visible outside, use opaque window screens to block the lights from shining through.
5. Keep the Spiders away the Bed
When you remove the bed skirts, you remove the possibility of the spiders from climbing up the bed. It would be better to cover the (box) springs with a fit sheet. It is a good idea to always vacuum the areas around the bed so the spiders will be sucked away if there is any.
6. Natural Methods
There are also some way of how to get rid of brown recluse spiders home remedies, including:
- Using glue traps. This is one of the best traps that can be folded up in a box. The spiders are still alive when trapped and moved out.
- Using diatomaceous earth. Since it is messy, it is best applied in crawlspaces, inside the wall outlets, attics, and closets basements. This item won’t kill the spiders instantly, but it does take some times.
- Mixing vinegar and peppermint oil. The old wives’ tales say that you can spray this mixture on windows and doors, but don’t expect it to work effectively.
These are some possible alternatives that you can do to get rid of the spiders out of the house. Once you have learned about how to get rid of brown recluse spiders effectively.
