Brown recluses are some of the most dangerous spiders you’ll find in Kansas City, so spotting one in your home is never a welcome surprise. But does seeing a single spider mean you have an infestation on your hands?
Let’s break down what you need to know about brown recluse behavior and how to tell if that lone spider is just passing through or a sign of a bigger problem.
Are Brown Recluse Spiders Dangerous?
Brown recluses aren’t as dangerous as many people think. Typically, they aren’t aggressive, preferring to hide alone in dark, quiet places unless provoked. If you don’t bother them, chances are brown recluse spiders won’t bother you. If you see a brown recluse, you don’t have to be afraid. Get in touch with pest management pros who can help keep you and your household safe!
Despite their reclusive nature, they can still pose a threat and deserve caution. A bite from a brown recluse spider is much more painful than the average spider bite and can cause severe reactions in children, the elderly, or those with preexisting conditions. If a brown recluse bite is left untreated, it can lead to bruising, a blister, an open sore, or scarring. However, the majority of brown recluse bites will ultimately just cause a red mark that heals on its own without any severe scarring.
While not as dangerous as a bite from a black widow or tarantula, Kansas and Missouri homeowners should be especially mindful of brown recluse spiders because they are one of the most common household spiders in the area. Knowing what to look for will make it easier to avoid a close encounter with a brown recluse if they happen to appear in your home.
What Qualifies as a Brown Recluse Infestation?
Brown recluses tend to live alone, so finding a single spider isn’t always a sign of a larger problem. These spiders aren’t swarming invaders like termites or many other household pests in Kansas City, but they do reproduce very quickly. A female brown recluse spider can produce as many as five egg sacs, and each of those can contain hundreds of eggs! If a female brown recluse has the chance to lay eggs in your home, one single spider can quickly multiply into an infestation.
Since you probably don’t want to take the time to closely study a brown recluse and figure out if it’s female, you don’t necessarily want to take action on your first sighting of a live brown recluse in your home. If you know you’re sharing your space with a brown recluse, take preventative steps to deter them from getting too close:
- Remove bed skirts from beds and keep beds away from the wall so spiders won’t be able to easily climb into your sheets.
- Store clutter in sealed containers and plastic bags — including winter boots, baseball gloves, and other items you might infrequently stick your hands and feet into.
- Avoid leaving piles of clothes on the floor. If you do, shake them out before putting them on again.
- Avoid stacking woodpiles against the side of the house.
It’s always safest to contact a trusted pest control company if you see a brown recluse and suspect a growing infestation!
Three Signs of a Brown Recluse Infestation
Homeowners should know all the possible signs of a brown recluse infestation to remain one step ahead before it becomes a serious problem. Here are three signs the brown recluse’s presence in your home may have reached the point of infestation:
1. Frequent Spider Sightings
Spotting a singular brown recluse does not automatically mean an infestation, but it does mean you should be on the lookout! If that one spider is female, they may produce and lay egg sacs in your home at some point. Even if it is just one spider for now, brown recluses can quickly multiply. So you should still contact pest management for a brown recluse sighting.
2. Dense Spider Webs in Dark, Tight Spaces
Because they prefer dark, small spaces, you’re most likely to find brown recluse webs in hidden corners and crevices around your home, especially in dark locations like under desks or in the garage. Brown recluse spiders don’t build their webs to catch prey, so the design is much more irregular and loose than a typical spider web. A female brown recluse will build a thick, dense web to create a nest for her egg sacs.
3. Egg Sacs
Brown recluse egg sacs are two to three inches in diameter and loosely woven in strands of off-white silky web for protection. If you see an egg sac in a brown recluse web, contact a pest management service right away! Time is of the essence. The moment those eggs hatch, you will have a larger and much more difficult-to-handle infestation in your home.
When to Call a Pest Management Company
There is no wrong time to contact a pest management company about a potential brown recluse infestation. If you see any of the above-mentioned signs, Advantage Termite and Pest Control is ready to create a custom treatment plan to protect your home from infestations of all kinds!
If you’re looking for year-round pest management services in Kansas City or the surrounding areas, give Advantage Termite & Pest Control a call and say goodbye to your infestation woes! Call us at first sight — we do it right!
