What do black widow spiders look like?
Black widow spiders are generally identified by their shiny black bodies and red “hourglass” marking found on the underside of their abdomen. They may also have lighter red or white spots on their abdomen. Black widow spiders are in the arachnid family and, therefore, have 8 legs. They also have 8 eyes that are arranged in two rows of four. Female black widow spiders are larger than the males, ranging in size from one and one half to one and three-eighths of an inch in length.
Are black widow spiders really a problem in New Jersey?
Believe it or not, the answer to this question is yes. Black widow spiders are found living throughout New Jersey, and while there may not be large herds of black widow spiders coming together to invade properties, they are common enough that you should be aware of their presence and take precautions.
Black widow spiders are usually found living in wooded areas but commonly enter homes, garages, and sheds to build their webs and hunt for food. Inside homes, they typically reside in crawl spaces, in basements, underneath furniture, around air conditioners, and other dark, closed spaces. People often accidentally come in contact with them while putting on clothing, shoes, or while reaching into a box or other dark space.
Are black widow spiders dangerous?
Black widow spiders are a venomous spider with venom that is strong enough to adversely affect humans, so they are considered to be a dangerous pest. The good news is that in most cases, there are no long-term complications to being bitten by a black widow spider. The severity of symptoms depends on the location of the bite and how much venom the spider was able to inject. The venom affects a person’s nervous system and symptoms may include stomach pain, fever, and labored breathing; these symptoms usually go away within a few days. While black widow spider bites do not usually result in long term issues, if you have been bitten or think you have been bitten by a black widow spider, you should seek immediate medical attention.
What do I do If I have black widow spiders?
If you have discovered black widow spiders on your property or in your home, you should contact a pest control professional. Because black widow spiders are venomous, extreme care should be taken when around them. Professionals are familiar with their most common hiding spots and will make sure that all of the spiders have been eliminated from your property. In New Jersey, the pest control professionals at Arrow Pest Control have the experience and training needed to remove black widow spiders that have infested your property. Contact us today to learn more about our pest control services for black widows.
How do I prevent black widow spiders?
The best way to prevent black widow infestations is to make sure these arachnids aren’t attracted to your home and can’t access your home.
- Seal off any cracks, gaps or openings on the exterior of the structure
- Make sure there are not open spaces around air-conditioning units and utility entrances
- Caulk spaces around doors and windows
- Install door sweeps on all exterior doors
- Repair or replace screens that have ripped or torn
- Organize closets, attics and basements so that black widows don’t find suitable hiding spots among boxes and clutter
- Keep your yard free of debris and clutter
- Store woodpiles away from the outside of your house
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‟We have a quarterly service plan with Arrow. They are not only focused on addressing issues they put preventative measures in place to prevent issues from happening, like looking for and sealing the places where bugs can get into the home. The team are professional, friendly, thorough and provide details about every step of their process. We have had several different technicians over the last 2 years and each follows the same process and guidelines. Definitely recommend for treatment and prevention.”
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‟I used Arrow Pest Control for the first time today and I was totally satisfied, I reached out to them on Sunday and spoke to Beatrice and she set me up an appointment for Monday morn for an estimate and Monday afternoon the technician came and serviced my house.....I wish I could have gave them 10 stars, very helpful, right to the point, very professional, on time and no games.....I highly recommend arrow pest control in Morganville.......thank you J.F.”
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‟With Covid hitting everyone, the exterminator that helped us was respectful of the safety with a mask, boots and gloves. He was very informative and explained everything as he did it.”
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‟We’ve been using Arrow for the last 4 years. We have a monthly plan, so they come and service the interior and exterior regularly. We can also call them anytime for anything we see...wasp, wasp nests, rodents, ants, whatever...our coverage literally includes the mailbox at the curb all the way to the furthest point of our backyard fence and everything in between. All the technicians we’ve had, including Jason, were friendly and knowledgeable. But, Jason, goes above and beyond with his service and willingness to do more for his customers. Highly recommend Arrow Pest Control!”
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‟Tom is amazing! Arrow is the best company! Love their services. They truly care about their clients. ”
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‟Today was my first appointment with Arrow and Jason made everything seamless and efficient. Not only was he knowledgeable, he took his time explaining everything to me which proved he cared. I’m happy to have found Arrow and will continue to request Jason for my services! Thank you!”
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‟All the professional qualities a business such as Arrow Pest Control would expect a service technician to exhibit, Brian, effortlessly presented. From my standpoint, he offered GOLD STAR ”
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‟Recommended to us by neighbors, Arrow arrived promptly to treat our new to us home. The house is built on a slab which small ants love to nest in.
Their program is such that they return til the problem is solved. Today was their third visit. Steve was very thorough, professional and had a great sense of humor. I am hoping not to see him again this season! I would recommend based on our current relationship.
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‟I’m so happy we went with Arrow! We had been using another pest control company and still had a lot of spiders and crickets!! We switched to Arrow and after the first use with them, all the bugs were gone. They do a great job, very thorough, professional, friendly and very knowledgeable. I highly recommend using their services if you have any bug issues!”
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‟We were very pleased with how easy it was to schedule a first appointment with Rob and how reassuring and thorough his inspection was. A few hours later Josh arrived for the first treatment and was professional and took the time to answer all our questions. We didn’t hesitate to sign-up for Home Protection Program after seeing the quality and level of service we will receive.”
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‟Arrow and Brian with Arrow were amazing! He came same day when we heard scary noises in our attic. He found mice and a loose wire and even took a photo so we could see. He worked hard to crawl into a tiny space and we are so appreciate!! We can sleep tonight thanks to him.”
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‟Extremely professional and always on time. I was having an issue with mice and decided to call Arrow. They were able to get here next day and have an inspection. I set up with one of their monthly contracts and they were out to my home once a week continuously monitoring the situation until it was fully taken care of. I truly couldn’t recommend them more.”
