Household pests like termites and ants can cause quite a headache for many homeowners since they are known to bring hundreds of dollars in structural damage and repairs. However, brown recluse spiders are also a dreaded breed of their own and seeing them lurking in the dark areas and corners of the home is an unwanted sight.
So which months or seasons are brown recluses mostly active? Brown recluse spiders like to dwell in dark and isolated areas indoors. These species of spiders mostly roam around and look for food prey at night and they make their presence hidden in secluded locations and structures during the day. They’re also said to be active during the months of March to October and they tend to spend their time in hibernation when winter comes along.
Brown recluse spiders belong to the family of Loxosceles spiders or also known as Loxosceles reclusa. These spider species are recognized as nocturnal spiders and they prefer to stay hidden and resting in dark places during the day. A brown recluse spider is very solitary and warm and secluded areas like the basements, attic spaces, corners of crawl spaces, wall voids, garages, and storage sheds provide a conducive living environment for them.
But like most pests and creepy crawlies, brown recluses also need a source of food to survive. At night, both the male and female brown recluse spider will leave their webs to hunt for food. They mainly like to feed on other spiders or freshly killed and dead insects such as mosquitoes, flies, roaches, moths, and other small bugs. Most of the time, their food gets stuck on their spider webs but they may also hunt them down around the house.
A brown recluse infestation is usually common during the months of March and October. This is the season when the brown spider comes out to move from one place to another in search of new shelter with an abundant supply of food. The increase in the brown recluse spider population during these months can also be attributed to the increase in the activity of flying insects due to the warm temperatures.
Brown recluses tend to be more dormant during winter since they also dislike colder temperatures. Their survival instincts would lead them to seek warmth and insulation so there’s a chance you may find brown recluses coming from the outdoors to settle in the dark areas in your homes.
Brown recluse spiders are not the only type of spider that can be found invading residences in the United States. Professional pest control companies can identify the most common types of spiders that can be found in houses are the black widow spider, wolf spider, yellow sac spider, hobo spider, jumping spiders, cellar spider, and American house spider.
You can easily distinguish a brown recluse spider from the other species by looking at its body and color. Brown spiders are also known as a violin spider because of their unique violin-shaped or fiddle markings on their back. The markings extend from their head to their upper body. Their bodies have a uniform color unlike other spiders that can have different colors for their bodies and legs. A recluse spider can appear light tan to dark brown and they have six eyes.
The most obvious sign of brown recluse spider infestation is when you see them out in plain sight. Some other evidence of recluse spider activity in your home is seeing spider webs in every corner of the walls and surfaces, the presence of an egg sac, and decreased swarms of flying insects and other pests.
Brown recluses are notoriously known as one of the most dangerous spiders. When they are disturbed in their hiding places, black recluses can bite people and they can leave behind a poisonous venom that can cause tissue damage and necrotic wounds or scars.
A brown recluse spider bite is rarely lethal but it can cause certain symptoms such as swelling, redness, tenderness, and itching at the site of the bite on the skin. Unlike a black widow spider bite that can cause serious neurological effects, a brown recluse bite rarely leads to severe symptoms or adverse reactions. Additional symptoms that you may experience are fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, rash, body sweating, or restlessness.
You can easily remedy a brown recluse bite at home with some topical medications and creams that can manage inflammation and pain. An antivenom drug or antibiotic may also be prescribed to help the infected wound. If a skin or health complication develops after home treatments have been administered, you will need to get immediate medical attention.
Pest and spider control measures are important to maintain the sanitation of your home and the safety of your family. Because brown recluses are known to have a venomous bite, it’s best to keep your house clean and free from any kind of clutter to avoid attracting brown recluses inside. A regular pest inspection will also help to manage the population of household pests to minimize damage and lessen the primary food source of the brown spiders.
Brown recluses can be hard to manage and exterminate once they’ve started to infest your homes. Here are some of the best things you can do to minimize the risks of having a serious brown recluse spider infestation:
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At Yale Pest Control, we provide the assurance of quality pest control solutions by using the latest pest management services. We’ve helped thousands of residential homes and commercial properties eliminate different kinds of pests including spiders, rodents, termites, fleas, roaches, bed bugs, and more! Contact us now to learn more about our offers or schedule your initial home inspection!
