Could You Identify A Brown Recluse Spider?

a brown recluse on a tile floor

A spider is a spider, right? You don’t need to know what kind of spider is in your Owensboro, KY house, you just need to know how to get them out and keep them out, right? Well, right and wrong; you definitely don’t want spiders living in your home, but it is important to know how to identify the common spider species found in our area. The unfortunate truth when it comes to spiders living in the Owensboro areas is that they aren’t just nuisance spiders; we do have dangerous spiders living in and around our homes as well. It is important to have an understanding of the dangerous spider species in order to protect your family and pets from being bitten by one.

The brown recluse spider is an example of a dangerous spider species found living in Owensboro, KY; and the first step to protecting yourself from this spider is to have a good understanding of what one actually looks like. Adult brown recluse spiders are probably most well-known for having a dark-colored, violin-shaped marking on the top of the body segment (cephalothorax) where their legs attach. However, this marking can easily be misidentified; so a more accurate way to identify the brown recluse spider is to look at the pattern of their eyes. Unlike most species of spiders that have 8 eyes, brown recluse spiders only have six eyes; their six eyes are arranged in pairs with one pair in the front and two on either side. The adult’s body grows to about 1/4-1/2 of an inch in length and they have a total leg space of 1 1/4 to 2 inches. They are uniformly tan to dark brown in color, have no banding, and have fine hair covering their legs.

When it comes to brown recluse spiders they may be very dangerous, but they are not aggressive at all. In fact, they are quite the opposite, being shy reclusive creatures. But believe it or not, their reclusive nature can cause major problems because they are able to live without being noticed inside woodpiles, boxes, clothing, shoes, bedding, under furniture and similar areas. This may at first seem like a good thing, but we can assure you it won’t be, especially when you unknowingly come into contact with one and they bite you out of fear and defense. A bite from a brown recluse can be problematic, not only will the bite hurt, the wound it causes is usually slow to heal, prone to infection, and requires professional medical attention to heal properly.

Some easy ways to deter brown recluse spiders in Owensboro from choosing your property to live on include:

  • Use gloves when looking through boxes or organizing things in storage areas.
  • Keep firewood piles stored a distance away from the outside of your home.
  • Trim back overgrown bushes and vegetation away from the exterior of your home.
  • Shake out clothing, shoes, towels, or similar items that have been lying on the floor before putting them against your skin.
  • Pull down all your comforter and sheets before getting into bed.
  • Keep storage areas inside of your home organized and free of clutter and debris.
  • Inspect the exterior of your home, sealing any entry points that you come across.

In addition to the above prevention tips, the very best way to keep these 8-legged, 6-eyed, dangerous spiders off of your property, out of your home, and away from your pets and family is to put into place a year-round pest control service from the Owensboro, KY pest professionals at Action Pest Control. Year-round home pest control services will ensure that any current problems you are experiencing with brown recluse spiders are solved and that the services are put in place to secure a long-term solution to spiders and other household pests! Give us a call today to learn more about our residential pest control services and why they are the perfect fit for your Owensboro home.

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