Spiders are one pest that you likely dread finding in your home. Even if you don't have a fear of spiders, their appearance can be unsettling, and you might worry that spiders can harm you. While spiders do look scary, and they all have fangs and venom, most species in the United States can’t hurt people.

While they use their venom to stop and kill their prey, most spiders don’t have potent enough venom to impact humans or pets. However, there are two species in the area, the brown recluse and black widow, which are dangerous.

Here is a brief guide to common area spiders and how to tell them apart:

Black Widow

One of two dangerous species, the black widow has a jet black bulbous body with a red hourglass marking on their underbelly.

Brown Recluse

The second dangerous spider, this species is a light brown color and doesn't have any markings other than the fiddle-shaped one on their backs behind their heads.

Carolina Wolf Spider

This is a large spider that is furry with thick legs. They are dark brown or black with reddish stripes on their backs. While they may look frightening this spider is relatively harmless.

Cellar Spiders

This is a smaller spider that isn’t dangerous. They are a pale yellow color and have particularly long and skinny legs.

Why Are Spiders Coming Into Your Home?

Many pests come into your home in search of shelter from the elements or because they are looking for food and water sources, such as human or pet food. Spiders are different. Instead, they come indoors in search of their prey.

Because their prey is other pests, especially smaller insects, seeing spiders around your home often means you have other underlying pest infestations. More spiders usually mean more pests in general, so addressing spider problems means you’ll need to get rid of other insect populations, too. Otherwise, spiders will likely keep coming back in search of food.

There are some things you can do on your own to prevent both spiders and other small pests. Just keep in mind that you can’t always completely prevent spiders, but you can make your property less appealing to them.

The Best Spider Prevention Tips

The following tips are some of the simplest and most effective ways to keep spiders out:

  • Remove any webs both inside and outside of your home.
  • Focus on decluttering. Many spiders, including black widows, often hide in cluttered areas.
  • Clean your home often including sweeping and vacuuming.
  • Remove access points by repairing any broken screens in doors or windows.
  • Make sure that doors and windows are tightly fitted in their frames.
  • Install weather stripping and door sweeps.
  • Seal up any cracks in walls or the home’s foundations.
  • Store firewood away from the exterior of your home.
  • Address underlying pest problems by getting help from pest control experts.

How To Get Rid Of A Spider Infestation

No matter what kind of spider you’re dealing with around your Winston-Salem home, the most effective way to prevent and control them is to contact the pest control professionals at Ray’s Pest Control. We can protect you and your family from dangerous spiders as well as nuisance species. We can also prevent and eliminate underlying pest issues that attract spiders.

With over 45 years of experience, our technicians have the expertise you can trust. Contact us today to book a free inspection, and learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control options.