Brown Recluse Spiders

Most cringe at the thought of brown recluse spiders…I know I do!  My downstairs had them as I live in the heart of brown recluse territory in Arkansas.

brown-recluse-map

brown-recluse-malespider1The most recognized feature of the Brown Recluse spider is violin pattern on the cephalothorax or in other words the location on the top side of the spider near the head. Thus they have been nicknamed the Fiddleback Spider.

I found a product that took away my fear of being bit-Big H Brown Recluse Spider Traps.

BIG H BROWN RECLUSE SPIDER TRAPS:

There are 5 traps in each package.  They can be folded to form a tent-like structure (which helps the spiders remain reclusive) or can be laid out flat.

1) Big H Traps are the only traps made specifically for brown recluse & hobo spiders.
2) BigH TrapsTM contain 3 times as much glue covering up to 4 times as much area as other traps.
3) The glue contains an attractant.
4) The traps have a unique design to help lure in nearby spiders.

brtrapfoldcloseIt is important to find the travel path of the brown recluse spider to know where to place the traps.  For me, I just put them everywhere downstairs to figure that out!  But realistically, other areas are from one part of  an unfinished basement to a finished part, by outside doorways, behind washer/dryers, in darkened corners or closets.  Once you figure out the travel path, that is where you want to concentrate the spider traps.

Be careful when picking up the traps because the spider can still be alive (just stuck) and bite!

Brown recluse spiders start out low, as in a 2 story house, downstairs.  When the infestation gets too large, they move upstairs.  So if you have a 2 story house with them upstairs, beware!

May, June & July are the mating and hatching times so be prepared.  Go get the Brown Recluse Spider Traps today!

Dog, Cat Flea & Tick Problems

Every year I have customers who are experiencing flea & tick problems with their animals. To combat the infestation, I believe it is a 3-fold process:
  1. Put out lawn granules in your yard (they typically last 3 months)
  2. Spray the inside of your house with an insecticide/larvacide  spray.  If you don’t add an insect growth regulator, you will not kill the larvae and stop the cycle!
  3. Treat your pets with a spot on product whether it is chemical or organic.

Another important note is to change whatever chemical method you use as soon as you see it is not working as well as it had been.  Fleas actually become immune to a particular chemical if it is used continuously.

Tick collars are a wonderful way to give added protection to your pets when spot on treatments aren’t effective enough.  Cat collars need to be breakaway so they won’t get choked if snagged on a fixed object.  Flea & Tick collars can last from 6 months to 9 months depending on the brand.