What is your relationship with spiders? Do you hate seeing them around your home? Are you terrified of them and scream every time they catch you off guard? Perhaps you like spiders and consider them beneficial pests. Regardless of how you feel about spiders, we are here today to tell you; they are not pests you want around your Lewisville home. To keep these eight-legged critters away, consider the benefits of effective spider control.
Common Spiders Around Lewisville
Several species of spiders live here in Lewisville; most are harmless, only a couple could end you up in the hospital. Understanding how to identify spiders in our area is the first step to effective prevention. Here are some of the most common eight-legged pests you might find around your home and how to identify each.
Wolf Spider The wolf spider is one of the most common home-invading pests here in Lewisville. Although frightening to look at, a bite from one of these spiders is no more painful than a bee sting. Identify wolf spiders around your home by their furry, dark brown, one-quarter to one and three-eighths of an inch long bodies and sometimes pale yellow markings.
Cellar Spider The cellar spider, also called daddy long legs, loves invading basements and moist areas. These small-bodied, long thin-legged pests are best identified by their pale yellow to a light brown or gray color and are completely harmless to humans.
Brown Recluse The brown recluse is considered by many to be the most dangerous spider in America. You can identify these pests by their light to dark brown, one-quarter to half-inch long bodies, long thin legs, and the dark backward hourglass mark just behind its head.
Black Widow The black widow is another dangerous spider that lives here in Lewisville. These larger, one and a half to one and three-eighths of an inch long black pests are identifiable by the distinct red hourglass figure on the bottom of their bulbous abdomen.
How To Prevent Spiders
Spiders will most often invade homes to hunt other insects; this is both good and bad. It is good because to prevent spiders, you have to also put measures in place to keep out the pests they come inside to hunt. It's bad because this is not easy to do. Keeping this in mind, here are some of the best ways to prevent pests around your Lewisville home.
- Eliminate clutter and debris from your yard.
- Store firewood and lumber at least 30 feet from your home's exterior.
- Keep your grass cut short and your landscaping well-trimmed.
- Avoid planting a garden right next to your home.
- Eliminate sources of water buildup around your property and make sure your gutters are working properly.
- Use a caulking gun or some liquid cement to fill in gaps, cracks, and holes in your home's exterior foundation.
- Repair or replace damaged window and door screens.
- Address weatherstripping that is loose-fitting or worn.
- Install door sweeps under all exterior doors leading out of your home.
- Address leaky pipes and fixtures around your home.
- Install a dehumidifier to keep humidity down.
- Clean your home regularly, and do not neglect to get under furniture and large appliances.
- Store leftover foods inside sealed containers.
- Pick up after your pets and wash out their food and water bowls before going to bed.
- Turn off exterior lights at night or install insect-resistant light bulbs.
For an easier solution to pest control, get the professionals at Texas Star Pest and Termite involved. Using only the most advanced methods and industry-leading treatments, we will give your home everything it needs to combat spiders and the pests they hunt. Don't sweat the small stuff when Texas Star Pest and Termite has your back.
Call us today to find out more about our pest control services or schedule an inspection for your Lewisville home and property.