Should I Be Scared Of The Spiders In Eugene?
Chances are, you have never been bitten by a spider - most people have not. Despite this, however, many individuals are terrified of these pests. Spiders are often portrayed in movies and TV shows as being scary and threatening to human health. The question is, should the spiders in Eugene be feared? Here are some things you should know about local arachnids including some helpful tips and tricks to keep these pests out of your living areas.
What Percent Of Spiders Are Dangerous?
There are more than 43,000 species of spiders that live around the globe. Of these many pests, only 30 species, roughly .07% of all arachnids, have venom strong enough to kill a human. That said, even these dangerous pests aren’t lethal with every bite. Deaths related to spider attacks are rare. Serious injury, however, happens quite frequently.
Which Spiders In Eugene Are Dangerous
Out of the 30 dangerous species of spiders that live around the globe, only two live in our area; the black widow and the brown recluse spider. Here is how to identify each of these pests and what symptoms are associated with their bites.
The brown recluse spider is light to dark brown in color, ¼ to ½ inch long, and is regularly mistaken for other common area spiders. One way to tell this pest apart is by the dark, backward violin-shaped mark located just behind its head. A bite from a brown recluse elicits symptoms such as pain and redness around the affected area, fever, nausea, chills, weakness, joint pain, and in rare cases, seizures, comas, and death.
The black widow spider is pitch black in color, 1½ to 1? inch long, and has a distinct red hourglass mark on the bottom of its bulbous abdomen. This pest uses low-hanging webs to hunt its prey. A bite from a black widow usually involves symptoms such as muscle pain and stiffness, nausea and vomiting, trouble breathing, sweating, a rash and itching around the affected area, swollen eyelids, weakness, severe abdominal cramping, and only in rare cases, death.
One thing to note with dangerous spiders is that symptoms are easily manageable with help from a medical professional. If you are ever bitten by one of these pests, do not hesitate to drive to the hospital or seek medical attention in other ways. This will reduce your symptoms and the amount of discomfort you will feel overall.
Prevention Tips For Spiders
Since spiders invade homes to hunt for other pests like ants, flies, and beetles, the thing you can do by yourself to prevent them is by using general DIY pest control. Here are some tips and tricks to use in and around your Eugene home that are sure to have some effect:
- Address holes, gaps, and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation using a caulking gun and some high-quality silicone caulk.
- Repair damage to your home’s window/door screens, weatherstripping, and door sweeps.
- Fix leaky piping and fixtures.
- Eliminate sources of water build-up and use a dehumidifier inside your home.
- Keep your indoor and outdoor living areas clean.
A Quicker & Easier Option For Keeping Spiders Out
When it comes to spiders, do not leave your protection up to chance. To make sure these potentially dangerous creatures stay out of your living areas, get in touch with the professionals at Ultimate Pest Control. We have access to professional-grade pest control products and have the training to implement them properly around your home and property. Contact our team today to learn more and schedule your Eugene home for a residential pest control service visit. We also offer commercial pest control solutions for local businesses.