Spiders are one of the most feared arachnids, even though the majority of them are not harmful or venomous. In fact, the United States only has three common, venomous spider groups: black widow, brown widow, and the recluse spider groups. Recluse spiders are a growing fear among Arizona residents, because their bite is extremely venomous, possibly causing a shallow open sore (which is a condition called “loxoscelism,” derived from the genus name of the spider: Loxosceles).
While recluse spiders are primarily found in the Midwest, there are 3 species likely to be found in Arizona: the Desert recluse, Arizona recluse, and possibly the brown recluse.
The team at Urban Desert Pest Control is here to provide you with the resources to identify, learn about, and prevent recluse spiders from invading your home.
How to Identify Recluse Spiders
Recluse spiders typically have a brown color throughout their entire body, which has a “violin” shape. However, the violin distinction can be hard to identify. Common misconceptions of a recluse spider are a striped wolf spider or other brownish-looking spiders with dark marks. With Arizona having 9 other spider species (so 12 total native species), there is a strong possibility the spider you see is not a recluse spider.
There are a few other ways to recognize a recluse spider. They have 6 eyes in pairs, long thin legs, and an overall length between 3/8 to 1/2 of an inch. All of these can be difficult to identify quickly and from a distance with the spider. So, if you’re unsure how to properly identify a spider, you can contact us (by phone at 602-399-9629 or email at info@urbandesertpest.com) by sending a picture or having an inspector come take a look. You can never be too safe and too sure when dealing with a recluse spider, especially if there’s multiple in your home.
Recluse Spider Behavior and Habitat
Recluse spiders, like all other spiders, prey on smaller bugs, such as crickets, ants, and cockroaches. They want to be undisturbed when they make their webs, and they will camp out and lie at their webs during the day. At night they leave their web to forage, looking for insects they couldn’t capture.
Unfortunately, these spiders also live near urban areas and enjoy seeking shelter near homes. They take shelter outside in piles of firewood, leaves, or rocks. If they get into someone's house, they can be found in dark areas, like basements or attics, piles of clutter or clothing, behind furniture, or in cracks and crevices. These areas give them a cool, comfortable, and safe feeling.
Preventing Recluse Spiders
The best method to prevent a recluse spider infestation is to get rid of what they eat. This means keeping a clean and pest free home, especially from crickets, ants, and cockroaches. A spider will be deterred from entering a house if they can’t smell or find food inside it. And Urban Desert Pest can certainly help you maintain a pest free environment with recurring services to keep insects and critters out of your home.
Another good practice is to keep rooms well-lit and organized. As mentioned, a recluse spider wants to take solace in a dark and cluttered environment. By having a clean and bright room, you’ll discourage a spider from entering and staying in your home.
Finally, you can’t go wrong with sealing off cracks and spraying a residual insecticide as often as you see fit. Using caulk on holes will restrict how a pest can enter, and the chemicals will play a strong part in killing or pushing insects away.
Final Thoughts
While you want all spiders and pests out of your home, it’s especially important to keep the harmful ones away, including recluse spiders. They can be an annoyance and risk to your family. So, remember to use this information regarding recluse spider identification and behavioral habits to prevent them from entering your home. It will work not just with recluse spiders, but on a majority of all arachnids and pests as the cool, fall weather approaches and some arachnids seek a warm environment for a habitat.
About Urban Desert Pest Control
If you have a spider problem that you can’t get under control, don’t hesitate to contact the team at Urban Desert Pest Control. We’re here to provide prompt and superior results for our customers.
Urban Desert Pest Control was founded in 2015 to shake up the pest control industry that was short-changing customers. Now, with a team of over 20 great employees and skilled experts, we can help keep your home pest free.
