What's That Spider Inside My Jacksonville Home?

Do you remember the nursery rhyme about an old lady who swallowed a fly, then a spider, then a bird? While the song is absurd, many people can understand doing almost anything to get rid of a spider. Spiders are one of the most hated and feared pests. Their long legs are unnerving, their webs irritating and creepy.

Most spiders are harmless to humans. The black widow and brown recluse are the only spiders Florida residents really need to worry about. However, all spiders are pests that don't belong in our homes. Let’s take a look at some of the most common spiders in Florida and how to keep them outside.

Types of Spiders in Jacksonville

Black Widow: Most people can recognize a black widow: black with the signature red hourglass shape. Black widow bites are rarely fatal, but their bites could end in a hospital visit.
Brown Recluse: These spiders come in various shades of brown. They have a violin shape and are the other dangerous spider in Florida. Their bites often require medical attention but are rarely fatal.
Other Common Spiders: Other spiders in Jacksonville won’t cause damage when they bite. These include garden spiders, grass spiders, house spiders, and wolf spiders. Although these won’t send you to the hospital, most people would rather not have them inside. A spider infestation is a sign that you have other bugs as well since spiders follow their food. And a spider infestation may attract wasps or even ticks, insects that eat spiders.

What to Do About Spiders

Spiders can get into homes through the tiniest cracks in a screen, the side of a house, cracks in a foundation, an open vent, an open door... you name it. While it’s important to seal holes or cracks in the exterior of your home, it’s almost impossible to completely spider-proof a home.
One way to decrease the number of spiders in your house is to lower their accessibility to food. If you can cut back on the number of flies, mosquitoes, and other bugs in and around your home, spiders will have less reason to stop by.
You can also deter spiders by taking away their shelter. Keep dark, unused areas of the house clean. If you have an attic or a garage, spiders will hide in boxes or piles of storage. If you have these storage areas cleared, it will be harder for spiders to hide. You can also routinely sweep away spider webs to encourage spiders to find a new home elsewhere.

Seeking Professional Assistance

Sometimes spiders get inside your house and don’t leave. When this happens, call Lindsey Pest Services. We know how to identify each species of spider, locate the entry points that might be allowing them to come inside, and successfully eliminate them. We can also eliminate the pests that draw spiders in. Don’t let spiders rule your home. Lindsey Pest Services has the experience to keep spiders outside where they belong.