Does Arizona Have Black Widow Spiders?
Black widows are some of the nastiest spiders in Arizona.
Although there are many perks of living in Arizona, some might also insist there are downsides. The desert attracts different types of pests that can make your skin crawl. Black widows are a common spider found around Arizona. Black widows are not only a fast-producing pest, but they are also venomous. Identifying black widows can help prevent them from invading your home or business.
Identifying Black Widow Spiders
Female black widows can be identified by their shiny black bodies and red hourglass-shaped marking on their backs. Alternatively, male black widows are much smaller than females and have a lighter color. Additionally, female black widows are the most venomous. Male black widows are almost half the size of females, which typically are .50 inches long.
When are black widows most active?
Black widow season in Arizona can start as early as February and last until November. During this time, black widows tend to build webs close to the ground to catch their prey. If disturbed, a black widow spider can bite and inject small amounts of venom into its victims.
In one summer, a female can lay up to 750 eggs and only needs to mate once in her lifetime to produce these eggs. Since these venomous arachnids are sneaky and can reproduce quickly, it’s essential to know how to identify them and prevent potential infestation.
How dangerous are black widows?
Thankfully, people rarely die from black widow bites and can be treated easily. Since black widows only inject a small amount of venom, there’s no need to panic, but you do want to prevent infestation as best as you can. Symptoms of a black widow bite include nausea, dizziness, abdominal cramps, and pain around the bite area.
Treating Black Widow Infestations
While you can’t completely avoid spider infestations without professional pest control treatments, there are a few tips to help prevent infestation. A few steps include:
- When handling materials such as firewood, wear protective gloves.
- Trim down weeds or bushes that may touch the exterior of your home or windows.
- Avoid piling items around the exterior of your home to prevent spider webs.
As soon as you spot a black widow or a sign of black widow infestation, contact our pest control experts at Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control. We offer a wide variety of pest control solutions to remove pests from your home and keep them out for good. Contact us today for a free quote!
