Spider Prevention and Control in Chester County

Spiders, while they can be very beneficial for cutting down on other pest populations, are not exactly a comfort to have around the house. Though most spiders are perfectly harmless, the mere sight of a spider hanging out on a web can send chills down your spine. For Chester County residents, spider control comes in the form of an environmentally friendly option that can rid your home of spiders while making sure your family and pets are safe.

Risk of spiders

While most spiders shy away from humans and do not present much risk of harm, there are a few venomous spiders to keep an eye out for in Pennsylvania.

• Northern black widow
• Southern black widow
• Brown widow
• Brown recluse, also known as the Mediterranean recluse

Spiders can hide in places that you do not expect that may result in a painful bite, even if the spider’s venom is not dangerous to humans. Be sure to shake out any clothing left on the floor or check your shoes before you put your foot inside so that you do not accidentally trap a spider, causing it to bite you.

Control

Treating your home for spiders can vary in effectiveness and longevity. If you would like to treat spiders yourself, you can try:

• Spider traps
• Insecticides that kill on contact
• Indoor insecticide barriers
• Natural repellents like essential oils
• You could kill spiders on contact with your shoe or a flyswatter.

But if spiders have infested your home, you won’t want to have to manually kill each one before it scampers under your chair or creeps across the ceiling over where you are sitting. Calling a professional can make your spider problem a thing of the past quickly and safely.

Prevention

Spiders, like all other species of animals, seek two main things, food and water. Water in your home in the form of a leaky faucet or high humidity can attract spiders. Some species of spider get their water from their food. If your home creates a good environment for spider food, you will likely also attract spiders. Spiders eat other pesky pests in your home so if you leave food out on the counter, or have crumbs in secluded places throughout the home, or have excessive trash, you can attract insects that spiders love to eat. Ways to prevent your home from being attractive to spiders is to:

• Clean and tidy your home to keep all pests out, including spiders.
• Fix water leaks and drips promptly.
• Remove trash immediately when it is full.
• Vacuum and sweep often to remove crumbs
• Sprinkle cinnamon in discreet places that spiders may be found because it repels them.

If you have a spider infestation that has gotten out of hand in Chester County, call the professionals at Environmentally Considered Pest Control, or ECPC, today.