What To Do If You Have A Brown Recluse Infestation In Your Garage

Spiders are helpful animals to have around, despite their creepiness. They eat a lot of other pests that may get into your home, including flies and silverfish. However, some of them, including brown recluses, can be dangerous to encounter because of their venom. If you notice one or two, it's not necessarily a sign they're taking up residence, but if you start to see several of them in your garage, it may be time to call in the professionals. While you're waiting for them to arrive, though, there are some steps you can take.

Insect glue traps placed around the webs may help you confirm what is crawling through your garage since you can get a closer view of identifying markings without danger of a bite. Thankfully, brown recluses are easily identifiable: on their backs is a distinct violin shape, with the neck of the instrument facing down towards the abdomen, and they only have six eyes instead of the usual eight. Glue traps also kill off a few spiders, and using them around your house can help you identify where most of the activity is. That way, you can guide the professionals in the right direction. However, don't use these long-term; they can also trap animals such as mice.

These creatures are shy, so if you start seeing multiple running around your garage or sheds, or see several dead spiders, especially in the summer, it's a sign they're beginning to take over. You may also notice webs hidden in corners and behind boxes (brown recluse spiders tend to hide in small, dark places you can't easily reach). However, brown recluse spider webs look different from others you may be used to seeing. They tend to be looser and messier since they're hiding spots instead of nets to catch insects.

Unfortunately, once an infestation starts, it's hard to stop. A female can create multiple egg sacs a year with up to 50 babies each. Because of this, if you spot a brown recluse egg sac in your home, get rid of it to help reduce the population. Don't use pesticides; they aren't that effective on arachnids, and don't reduce the population much, if at all. Additionally, while cleaning up can slow down your visitors, it doesn't solve the problem. If you really have an infestation, you still need to call a professional team. They get into the areas where brown recluse spiders hide with the right products.

Once you get a brown recluse infestation cleared out, take steps to keep one from returning to your home. Start by closing off any cracks or openings, including around your garage door. You can eliminate the places where brown recluses hide by keeping your space tidy, even in the dark and quiet spots. Do a good clean at the beginning of spring to make sure everything is tidied up. Check every few weeks in corners and quiet spaces for webs and egg sacs.

Also, work on removing their prey. Make sure your humidity and moisture levels aren't too high. The same steps you take to get rid of spiders, such as sealing cracks and keeping your garage clean, eliminates other bugs, too. You can add a healthy sprinkle of diatomaceous earth along the outside as well. 

You can keep spiders from invading your home with the help of one popular scent: peppermint. This essential oil mixed with water in a spray bottle can also be a way to keep away insects. Like diatomaceous earth, use it around your home's exterior and in places they tend to hide. This one, though, you should be cautious with; it can harm your pets.