How Worried Should I Be About Brown Recluse Spiders In Streator, Illinois?

The brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, is not a common pest in Streator, Illinois. This spider species has a distribution across Iowa in into Southern Illinois. But an infestation can occur when brown recluse spiders hitchhike in boxes and other items. In cases like this, brown recluse spiders can take root in a home and grow their populations without ever going outside. They can feed on bugs and insects in the voids of a home and produce a surprising number of offspring. If you see a recluse in your Streator home, here are a few steps to help you protect yourself and everyone living in your home.

Step One: Determine that it is definitely a brown recluse spider.

There are some spiders that can be mistaken for brown recluse spiders because they are brown in color. If you see a brown or tan colored spider, look to see if it has a dark brown violin mark on its back. The stem of the violin marking will point away from the head. These spiders are around ⅜ of an inch long and have legs that grow to be up to 1 ½ inches. This makes them a little larger than a quarter. While they have fine hairs, they appear to be hairless.

Step Two: Understand the real threat brown recluse spiders present.

Have you seen the horrible pictures of disfiguring wounds caused by the venom of brown recluse spiders? Keep in mind that these are the exception, not the rule. While you should certainly be cautious about having brown recluse spiders in your home, you do not have to be fearful. Most bites have only localized necrosis. If bitten, you should definitely have the wound checked out by a physician but most bites are not a serious threat. Also, keep in mind that bites from brown recluse spiders are rare. If you refrain from going into secluded areas of your home and take measures to prevent bites, you need not be concerned about getting bitten as you wait to have these spiders eliminated by a professional—and you should have them eliminated by a professional. It is not wise to go without having these spiders treated. Brown recluse spiders can reproduce quickly, and as more spiders are hatched in your home, your chances of being bitten will increase.

Step Three: Take measures to prevent bites.

• Be cautious in areas that brown recluse spiders prefer to hide such as storage areas, attic spaces and closets. If you get a box out of storage, be careful when you open it. If you startle a recluse hiding inside, you're likely to get bitten.
• Brown recluse hide in holes. For this reason, they'll hide in boots, shoes, sneakers and other footwear. They'll hide in unmade beds. They'll get into piles of clothing or towels bunched up on the floor. Shake shoes or clothing before you wear them and check your blankets before you get into bed.
• Refrain from leaving clothing or towels on the floor so that you don't tempt these spiders to hide in them.
• Remove bed skirts to prevent brown recluse spiders from climbing up and keep your bedspreads from touching the floor.
• Reduce the clutter in your home to get rid of hiding spots for these reclusive spiders.
• Vacuum regularly, especially under furniture. This will drive the spiders out of your common areas. They prefer undisturbed areas.

Step Four: Contact a licensed professional for proper control.

Once you've done what you can to avoid getting a bite, it is time to consider brown recluse spider control from a licensed and experienced pest control provider. If you live in Streator, or somewhere else in our extensive Illinois and Iowa service area, let the team at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators make sure those spiders are completely eliminated. The last thing you want is to attempt to get rid of these spiders and not realize your DIY spider control has failed. At Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators, we use field-tested products and trusted strategies to find and exterminate potentially dangerous pests like brown recluse spiders. With Quik-Kill, you'll always get effective pest control and the highest level of service. Get started by requesting a free pest control inspection.