There are a lot of brown spiders, all right? Perhaps this is why Brown Recluse spiders are the most commonly misidentified. It’s also hard to tell the differences between small brown spiders when they’re skittering across the carpet at unfortunate speeds. We’ll teach you what these dangerous arachnids do NOT look like for those who have difficulty identifying the brown recluse in Denver.
Which Of These Brown Spiders Are Not Brown Recluse Spiders?
It sounds confusing, but it’s often easier to find a brown recluse by process of elimination. Looking harder at your common brown house spiders can reduce the risk of letting one of the harmful ones go.
Brown Recluse Spiders Do Not:
- Have different colors of brown on their head or legs. They will not have stripes of different colors.
- Hang out in the open. Brown recluse spiders are reclusive, meaning you’re unlikely ever to see them out and about in your house.
- Have really long legs or really big bodies. Brown recluses only grow to be about ½ an inch long.
- Have eight eyes. You’d probably prefer not to be close enough to count them, but brown recluses only have six eyes in a semi-circle shape on the front of their heads.
- Have spines on their legs. Brown recluses only have fine hairs on their legs you’re unlikely to notice with the naked eye.
- Have a violin shape on their abdomen. The characteristic dark violin shape of a brown recluse is on its back.
While brown recluse spiders are unlikely to bite, it is possible, and their bites can become a medical emergency if left untreated. Not every bite can develop serious problems, but their venom can cause necrosis which creates an open wound at risk of infection.
If you suspect a brown recluse bite, seek medical attention. It’s better to be safe than sorry in this scenario.
How To Prevent Brown Recluses and Other Pests
Brown recluses come indoors for a reason. They are efficient predators, so they have most likely found your home to be a hospitable place to eat. If you have spiders, then you have bugs. Preventing an infestation of spiders means following general pest prevention guidelines and a few spider-specific ones.
- Seal up any cracks, holes, and crevices around your home with silicon-based caulk.
- Vacuum and keep surfaces sanitized to prevent other pests from becoming a problem.
- Store trash in a sealed container, and leave outdoor trash sealed and away from the house.
- Eliminate any causes for standing water around your home.
- Keep woodpiles at least 20 feet away from your house, wear gloves when transporting, and check wood thoroughly before bringing them indoors.
- Reduce or eliminate clutter, and store items in sealed, plastic boxes. Wear gloves when moving boxes, and check them before bringing them inside.
How To Get Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders
Regardless of if you’ve identified the spiders in your home as brown recluses, the fact that you see spiders at all is a sign you should call White Knight to check out your home. At White Knight Pest Control, we have a 15-point protection system that can identify the cause of pests in your home. Not only will we inspect every inch of your property, inside and out, but we’ll also eliminate pests already taking up residence and prevent future visitors. Entrust White Knight Pest Control with regular visits to your home, and save yourself the stress of dealing with pests. If they return between scheduled visits, we will, too. Call or visit us online today for a free estimate.