Spiders in Safford and Thatcher: Black Widows, "Brown Recluse" Look-Alikes and Fall Spider Season

Quick answer: Spiders are the pest Gila Valley customers contact Hydra about most, and fall is when Safford and Thatcher homeowners notice them inside. Mature spiders wander looking for mates and follow insects indoors. Most are harmless, but black widows and Arizona recluse spiders deserve respect. Seal gaps, clear clutter, wear gloves, and call (928) 432-6200 if widows keep showing up.

Why am I seeing so many spiders in my Safford home right now?

It's a normal fall pattern. University of Arizona Extension explains that large hunting spiders found in homes and garages are often fully grown wolf spiders or male tarantulas that have reached maturity and are searching for females, and that the more insects there are in and around a building, the more likely spiders are to live there (UA Extension, Backyard Gardener #177). Spiders get in either because they were carried in on firewood, boxes or stored items, or because they slipped through a crack chasing prey or warmer temperatures (same source).

We cover the seasonal side in more detail in why there are so many spiders in your house in the fall.

Which spiders in Thatcher and Safford are actually dangerous?

According to University of Arizona Extension, Arizona's two most common venomous spiders are the western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus) and the Arizona recluse (Loxosceles arizonica), also called the Arizona brown spider (UA Extension). Most of the other spiders you'll find around a Gila Valley home, including the big, fast ones in the garage, can't seriously harm people.

| Spider | How to recognize it | Where it hides | |---|---|---| | Western black widow | Adult female is shiny black with a red hourglass underneath; males and young ones show orange, red and white markings | Messy, strong, irregular webs in seldom-disturbed spots | | Arizona recluse (Arizona brown spider) | Tan to brown, darker violin-shaped mark with the neck pointing toward the abdomen, three pairs of eyes in a semicircle | Under wood, debris and dead cactus; brought in on firewood or cactus skeletons |

Sources: UA Extension, Backyard Gardener #177 and UA Cooperative Extension, Pinal County, July 2020 newsletter.

Where do black widows hide around Gila Valley homes?

Black widows are shy and stick to places nobody disturbs. On Safford, Thatcher and Pima properties, our Service Pros most often find them in:

• •Block walls and the gaps where walls meet the ground
• •Water meter boxes and irrigation boxes
• •Garage corners, under shelves and behind stored boxes
• •Sheds, stacked firewood and outdoor equipment
• •Under patio furniture, flower pots and parked vehicles

UA Extension notes widows hide during the day and hang upside down in their webs at night, and that egg sacs are most often found from May to October, when a guarding female is most likely to bite (UA Cooperative Extension, Pinal County). That's why fall cleanups of garages and sheds are when a lot of people run into them. More in what to do if you find black widows around your house.

Is it a brown recluse?

Almost certainly not. UA Extension says the brown recluse is not a normal resident of Arizona; the only ones here arrived in luggage or belongings from states where it lives, which doesn't happen often (UA Cooperative Extension, Pinal County). What Arizonans do have is the native Arizona recluse, a close relative with similar venom. It's small (about the size of a nickel with its legs), active at night, timid, and usually bites only when trapped (same source). University of Arizona researchers have recorded it in surveys between roughly 2,600 and 4,750 feet in elevation, under dead cactus and debris like cardboard boxes (University of Arizona telemedicine presentation).

Many spiders people call a "brown recluse" turn out to be wolf spiders or sun spiders. Our Service Pros will identify what you actually have before recommending any specialized treatment.

What should I do if a spider bites me?

Call Arizona Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away (Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center). UA Extension says black widow venom affects the nervous system and can cause progressive muscle pain and sometimes trouble breathing, and that an Arizona recluse bite may form a blister that can become an open sore, sometimes with fever and nausea (UA Cooperative Extension, Pinal County). If you can do it safely, capture the spider (even a smashed one helps) so doctors can identify it (UA Extension). Get emergency care for severe symptoms.

How can I keep spiders out of my house in Safford and Thatcher?

• •Seal the way in: weather-strip doors, repair window screens and caulk cracks and utility openings (UA Extension).
• •Cut their food supply: fewer insects around the house means fewer spiders. Porch and window lights pull in the insects spiders hunt.
• •Store firewood and boxes away from the house and check them before bringing them inside.
• •Clear clutter in garages, sheds and closets where widows build webs.
• •Wear gloves and long sleeves when moving stored items, firewood or yard equipment (UA Extension).
• •Knock down webs with a long-handled brush or vacuum, keeping your hands clear (UA Cooperative Extension, Pinal County).

When should I call a pro for spiders in the Gila Valley?

Call if you keep finding black widows near doors, patios or where kids play, you're seeing egg sacs, you think you have a recluse, or spiders keep coming back no matter how often you sweep. General spraying alone often misses widows, because they rarely leave their webs.

How does Hydra handle spider control in Safford, Thatcher and Pima?

Our spider control service treats every common Arizona spider in one program:

1. 1.Honest identification first. We tell you what you have before any specialized plan.
2. 2.Exterior perimeter treatment with a residual spider product.
3. 3.Web sweeping of eaves, soffits and porch corners on every visit.
4. 4.Black widow harborage work in block walls, water meters, irrigation boxes and garage corners, with web and egg-sac removal where we can reach.
5. 5.Interior crack-and-crevice work in garages, closets and storage areas as needed.

Spider service can be added to a recurring general pest control plan, and recurring plans include free re-services if covered pests come back between scheduled visits.

Why Gila Valley homeowners choose Hydra

• •Locally owned and operated, with our Gila Valley branch at 2158 N Reay Ln, Thatcher, AZ 85552
• •Call or text for the next available appointment, and we answer both
• •Our services are guaranteed to take care of our customers
• •Licensed and insured in Arizona (AZ license #9790)
• •Serving Safford, Thatcher, Pima and the rest of Graham and Greenlee counties, plus Willcox

Call or text (928) 432-6200, or request a free custom quote.

FAQ

What are the most dangerous spiders in Safford, AZ?

The western black widow and the Arizona recluse (Arizona brown spider) are Arizona's two most common venomous spiders, according to University of Arizona Extension. Most other spiders around Gila Valley homes are harmless to people.

Are there brown recluse spiders in Thatcher or Safford?

Not normally. UA Extension says brown recluses in Arizona are rare hitchhikers. The native look-alike is the Arizona recluse, a close relative with a violin-shaped mark and similar venom.

Why are there more spiders in my house in October?

Mature spiders, especially males, wander in search of mates in fall, and spiders follow insects and warmth indoors through cracks and gaps. Many of these wanderers are harmless.

When are black widows most active in the Gila Valley?

Black widows are around all year in sheltered spots, and UA Extension notes egg sacs are most often found from May to October. Fall garage and shed cleanups are a common time to run into them.

What should I do if a black widow bites me?

Call Arizona Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away, and get emergency care for severe muscle pain, cramping or trouble breathing.

Does Hydra include spiders in regular pest control?

Spider service can be added to a recurring general pest plan, which includes web sweeping on every visit and free re-services between visits. We'll confirm coverage in your free custom quote.