Keeping spiders out of your McAllen home is especially important if you have children. Certain Texas spiders might not be a mortal threat to adults, but small children are another matter.
What's even worse is that some spider control methods might also be harmful to growing kids. That's why the best thing you can do to protect yourself and your kids is to contact local spider control professionals like the experts at Bugworks Termite & Pest Control!
Understanding Common Household Spiders
There are many types of spiders here in Texas, but the good news is that almost all of the spider varieties you will run into in your home are relatively harmless, even to children. It's true that all spiders are venomous, but most spiders do not have venom that is potent enough to endanger humans of any age. The worst you will experience with most spider bites is pain and swelling at the site of the bite that should clear up on its own.
However, there are two Texas spiders that pack a medically significant bite, and may even pose a serious threat to small kids. The brown recluse is the less dangerous threat. This spider packs a hemotoxic venom that can cause necrosis around the site of the bite. This can lead to scarring, infection, and tissue death, but even with small children, brown recluse spiders are not usually a mortal threat.
Black widow spiders can be a different story. These spiders pack a powerful neurotoxic venom that can cause systemic symptoms in adults and children alike. These symptoms include things like:
Nausea
Vomiting
Severe pain
Fever
Chills
Muscle spasms
Headaches
Fainting
Trouble breathing
While these symptoms often require medical intervention in adults, adults are usually not in mortal danger from black widows. However, black widow bites can be life-threatening to small children, so it's important to get them medical attention right away.
Educating Children About Spiders
Deadly spiders are not all that common in the United States. However, you can't expect children to know the difference between a harmless spider and a dangerous spider. That's why it's important to educate them about the dangers of spiders.
Of course, you don't want them to live their lives in terror of every spider they see, but it's vital to make them understand that they should not approach or attempt to catch spiders. It's better to make clear to them that spiders are shy and fearful, and they will run if threatened but will bite as a last resort. This way, kids can understand that they should not be terrified of spiders but should also avoid contact with them.
Safe And Effective Cleaning Practices For Spider Prevention
The best way to get rid of spiders is to eliminate attractants that draw them in. The main attractant that brings spiders creeping into your house is an infestation of their prey. Spiders do not eat the same things that humans eat. However, they like to eat the bugs that do eat our food. This means if you have ants, flies, cockroaches, or other common pests inside your house, then spiders are sure to follow.
This is why eliminating primary pest infestations is one of the best things you can do to keep spiders away. We can help you with that here at Bugworks Termite & Pest Control. Not only can our spider experts help ward off these pesky carnivores, but they can also help you figure out what is drawing them into your home and eliminate those conditions as well.
Balancing Pest Control And Child Safety
Since the best thing you can do to keep spiders out of your home is to keep their prey out of your home, you might be thinking about the kinds of baits or foggers you can buy to deal with common pest insects. However, these store-bought products can pose their own dangers to children.
A better way to keep pest insects out of your home is to eliminate things that attract them, such as:
Uncovered trash
Open food packages
Uneaten pet foods
Dirty dishes
Excess moisture
Entryways into your home
Getting rid of attractants such as these can go a long way toward warding off spiders. If there is no food to sustain them, these predatory arachnids will not enter your home.
However, if you end up needing professional home pest control despite your best efforts, the experts here at Bugworks Termite & Pest Control are only a click or call away. So don't hesitate. Contact us to set up your pest inspection today.