Spiders, Snakes and Bugs, Oh My!

By DeeDee Dupree

    As many Central residents have encountered, it appears that spiders have progressed from being a mere annoyance to a real concern in our area. It is even more alarming at the types of spiders that are being encountered.  Many residents have reported seeing multiple black and brown widows in and around their homes.  This is reason for concern for small children, the elderly and pets.

Darren Simmons with Aardrvark Termite and Pest Control (225-667-9796) provided us with this information.  You will see an excessive amount of spiders with new construction.  This is especially true with homes that wait to sod their yard.  The spiders have no harborage outside so they enter the home more quickly.

Darren suggests the following:

1.  Sweep under porches.

2.  Do not leave a light on at night. The light attracts bugs and the bugs attract spiders.

3.  Maintain storage rooms.

4.  Keep wood pilings away from homes.

    Spiders will most often be found on the underside of ledges, on rocks, plants and debris and wherever a web can be strung. Like snakes, spiders are venomous creatures and deserve respect and caution. Anyone bitten by a black widow spider should seek medical care; an attempt should be made to catch the spider for identification.

    How do you know if the spider you’ve encountered is a black widow?

Description/Identification

(information provided by: http://www.desertusa.com/july97/du_bwindow.html)

•Females are about .5 inches long, 1.5 inches when the legs are spread.

•Females and males have a shiny, globular abdomen

•Females and males are black and sometimes brown

•Females usually have a reddish hourglass shape on the underside of her abdomen. Some species have a series of red spots and two crosswise bars on the underbelly.

•Males about half the female's size, with smaller bodies, and longer legs

•Males usually have yellow and red bands and spots over the back as do the immature stages.

•Newly hatched spiderlings are predominately white or yellowish-white, gradually acquiring more black and varying amounts of red and white with each molt.

    As far as the snakes are concerned, we are in a drought and they are looking for water.  They are turning up in places that Central residents are not used to seeing them.  We are all watering our yards more to keep our grass hydrated; however, this also invites snakes.  Make sure that after you water your yard, do a perimeter check before allowing small children in the yard. Take precautions such as emptying small plastic kid pools when not in use.

    Darren with Aardvark suggests homeowners invest in quarterly pest services.  Pest control companies will treat all cracks, crevices, window jams, weep holes of brick homes, the base of the house and apply a granule base treatment for fleas and ticks.  They will treat a 25 ft perimeter of the home to protect from other annoying bugs. 

    Home remedies that residents are finding helpful include lining your porch and perimeter of yard with moth balls and snake away treatments (available at Walmart and other lawn and garden stores).

    From all of us at CentralSpeaks.com, have a safe and happy summer!