Imagine opening your kitchen cabinet only to discover a black widow in the corner. If you spot this spider in your home before it has a chance to bite, you're lucky.
Black widow spiders stand out due to their dark, glossy black color with a salient red hourglass shape on their abdomens. If you’re not sure whether you’ve spotted a black widow, search for the hourglass. Females can measure up to 1 1/2 inches long, with males noticeably smaller than females.
Black widows are among the most life-threatening pests in our Texas service area. Notorious for their venomous bite, black widows are dangerous intruders. A bite, albeit rare, can be fatal. Black widows do not bite out of aggression. They bite out of fear. Nevertheless, an unsuspecting person can unknowingly come into contact with a black widow while carrying an unused box or while grabbing a stack of firewood. The slew of possibilities alone is enough to trigger unease. Additionally, black widows remain unseen. Consequently, a bite is difficult to eschew. You don’t know where they are; therefore, it can be difficult to avoid them.
Signs Of A Black Widow Infestation In Your Plano Home
Black widows can evade your sight until the infestation has become frighteningly large. You may notice their messy webs on your home or property. If these webs have a silken egg sac, then you're really in trouble.
Aside from seeing a black widow or their webs in your Plano area home, a bite mark is the most obvious sign. Symptoms typically come on suddenly. Most people aren’t even aware they’ve been bitten. Symptoms include the following:
- A rash and irritated skin
- A burning sensation
- Pain radiating throughout the body
- Purplish colored blister
- Shortness of breath
- Cramping
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- High blood pressure
- Anxiety or restlessness
- Sweating
Other infestations can contribute to a black widow infestation. Various common pests in Texas, such as mosquitoes and grasshoppers attract black widows. Black widows see these pests as prey, and if your home is housing them, black widows won’t mind infiltrating to munch on their prey. This is why the presence of many other pests in your Plano home could signal a black widow infestation.
What To Do About A Black Widow Bite
First, look for the two distinct puncture marks on your skin. Then, if you believe you’ve been bitten by a black widow, seek immediate medical attention. Wash the bite with soap and water before traveling to the hospital.
Preventing A Black Widow Infestation
Once you’ve ascertained the presence of black widows, you should immediately call for professionals to remove the infestation. Again, black widows are dangerous, with a lethal degree of venom in one bite. From there, you should use the following tips to prevent future infestations:
- Remove old, rotten firewood from your home, and keep the rest at least 20 feet away from your home.
- Organize storage areas and throw away boxes you haven’t opened in years.
- Declutter your home. Pick up your child’s toys from off the ground, and straighten your room.
- Mow your lawn, and take good care of your garden.
- Seal any potential entry points, such as cracks and crevices, with steel wool.
- Spray vinegar to repel black widows away from your home. Black widows hate the smell of vinegar.
- In addition, black widows loathe the smell of lemon and mint. Use essential oils to spread these smells across your entire house.
- You could also attract wrens with peanut butter and bread crumbs to help snatch and kill black widows before they enter your home.
Call The Professionals at DANCAN The Pest Control Expert
If you’re suffering from a black widow infestation in Plano, you should ask for professional assistance. Since these pests are especially dangerous, you should let the pros handle your black widow infestation.
Our team of professionals will inspect your home for spider activity and the pest prey they hunt. Then, we will develop a plan for removal that includes de-webbing the interior and exterior of your home. With our recurring home pest control services in Plano and the surrounding areas, you can rest assured that your home will remain free of spiders and other pests all year long. Reach out to us today to learn more!