It is always better to prevent a problem before it occurs, rather than having to solve it later. This is especially true when it comes to pest control. When I called in a local pest control company to deal with an infestation of termites, I asked them to give me all of their best advice about how to prevent pest problems. The contractors gave me lots of useful info about the steps I can take to deter a range of different pests from setting up home in my property. I hope you find the articles I have published here useful.
There are thousands of species of spiders in Australia, but thankfully only a handful of them tend to invade homes. Spiders often make their way indoors at the end of summer when temperatures begin to drop. They look for comfortable places to hide, mate and lay hundreds of eggs at a time. Here's an overview of a few species of spider commonly found in homes and how to eradicate them:
Three Species of Spider That Love to Invade Homes
The black house spider is a web-building spider that can often be spotted around windows and doors or in roof spaces. They are dark grey and their abdomen is marked with a light pattern. Black house spiders have a poisonous bite, and while a bite is not lethal, you may experience significant localised pain, nausea and sweating.
The huntsman spider can squeeze through tiny gaps around windows and doors thanks to their flat body shape. They are fast movers and their body colour can vary, but what most people find alarming about these spiders is their size. Adult huntsman spiders can grow to over 10cm, and when you're dealing with an infestation, their size can be quite overwhelming. Thankfully, a bite from a huntsman spider is harmless, but it can still be painful.
Redback spiders are small and black and adults have a reddish marking on their back, which can vary in size and shape. They are a web-building species and tend to hide in crevices and dark spaces until they need to feed. When these spiders bite, they release a poison that affects the nervous system, which can lead to you developing a headache, nausea and gastric upset. A bite can even be lethal without prompt treatment, so be sure to shake out shoes and boots before slipping your feet into them if you suspect you have a spider problem.
Eradicating Spiders
In order to eradicate spiders from your home, you will need to seal off their entrance points. Your pest control specialist can help you identify entrance points and destroy existing webs. You should also reduce their food source by making your home less attractive to the small flying insects that spiders love. You can do this by changing the way you light the perimeter of your home. Try to replace bright white light with dimmer yellow lights, which are less attractive to flying insects. Your pest control specialist will then use barrier treatment insecticides around the foundation of your home to prevent access.
You can also use a slow-release residual insecticide inside your home to eradicate adult spiders. Insecticides aren't always effective at destroying eggs, so using a slow-release formulation will ensure any spiders that hatch over the next couple of weeks will also be eradicated.
If you think you need spider extermination services, call your local pest control company for an inspection as soon as possible.