What Spider Infestations Mean for New York Residents

Most of the spiders we commonly find in our New York homes are not much of a threat to us. In fact, they pay little or no attention to us at all. We are far too large to be considered prey. When bites occur, it is usually an isolated event, and the wound that results from a spider bite isn't usually much more than a red, itchy welt. When you add to this that spiders can benefit you and your family, you might consider keeping them around. Today, we will discuss this benefit and why you may want to consider another pest control solution.

The Big Benefit Spiders Bring

When a spider comes into your home, it has one thing on its mind: It's looking for something to eat. This constant search for food can be a benefit to you and everyone living in your home. Why? Because spiders eat pests that can be dangerous to you.

• Which would you prefer, an itchy red welt from a spider or Lyme disease from a black-legged tick
• Which would you prefer, a slightly painful bite from a spider or exposure to the 33 kinds of bacteria, over 7 known human pathogens, and 6 species of parasitic worm spread by cockroaches? Yup. Those spider bites are starting to look appealing.
• Which would you prefer, a random welt on your skin every once in a while, or dozens of welts and the potential for West Nile virus, Zika virus, Malaria, Dengue, yellow fever, encephalitis, and other diseases spread by mosquitoes. Seems pretty straightforward.

We could go on, but you get the point. Many pests can make us sick. When spiders eat those pests, we're safer. Right? Well, not quite. As it turns out, spiders aren't very thorough at their job. If you have dozens, hundreds, or thousands of cockroaches in your home, how many of those insects do you think the spiders in your home are going to eat? Not all of them, that's for sure. So, what is the net result? You have cockroaches AND spiders living in your home. That's not really a great solution. While spiders are the epitome of green pest control, they aren't a complete solution. That, and they're gross.

Another Point to Consider

All spiders are not created equal. While we don't have black widow spiders and brown recluse spiders established in our New York service area, there is a medically important spider you should be aware of. The yellow sac spider can produce a bite that is often misdiagnosed as a brown recluse spider bite. This is due to the potential necrosis that can occur. Fortunately, most bites only result in an ulcerous, itchy sore that takes some time to heal. But, when one of these spiders bites a sensitive area of your body, such as your eyelids or lips, it has a far greater potential to become serious. If you see yellow sac spiders in your home, it is wise to take immediate action and contact a pest control professional.

Better Pest Control Than Having Spiders

Ongoing pest control provided by a licensed service professional is a far better way to control dangerous pests in your home, including potentially dangerous spiders like the yellow sac spider and hitchhiking black widows or brown recluse spiders that are transported to your home from a home or business in an area where these spiders have a distribution. Year-round pest control provides a barrier around your foundation perimeter that eliminates pests as they try to invade. And your pest control provider is available for emergency service if you ever see a spider (or any other pest) crawling around inside your home. This is truly the best way to control dangerous pests.

Depending on your service plan, you'll have coverage for cockroaches that try to get in through cracks, rodents that try to chew their way in, mosquitoes that try to breed or hide in your yard, or ticks and fleas that are brought into your yard and into your landscaping by rodents and other wildlife.

If you live in NYC or the surrounding area, reach out to Parkway Pest Services for a year-round pest control service that is way better than having spiders around.