At a glance
- The western black widow is the spider of most medical concern around East Valley homes, where it hides at the base of block walls, in meter and irrigation boxes, around pool equipment and in garages.
- Bites from the Arizona recluse, a native desert spider, are uncommon, and the brown recluse is not established in Arizona.
- Desert tarantulas are harmless to people, and the ones seen in East Valley yards in late summer and fall are mostly males searching for mates.
- Platinum Pest Management starts spider control by removing webs and egg sacs from eaves and corners, then treats the places where spiders hide.
- Heavy spider activity around an East Valley home usually means there is a steady supply of insects nearby for the spiders to eat.
On this page
Where black widows live around Valley homes
Of the spiders found around East Valley homes, the western black widow is the one most likely to cause a medical problem. Adult females are glossy black with a round abdomen and a red hourglass on the underside, and their bodies are about half an inch long. Males and young widows are smaller and lighter, with tan, cream or orange markings.
Widows build an untidy, tangled web of unusually strong silk, low to the ground in a dark, sheltered spot. Around Valley homes they turn up most often in these places.
- Cracks and holes at the base of block walls
- Irrigation valve boxes and water meter boxes
- Pool pumps and filters
- The undersides of patio chairs and tables
- Garages, especially along the bottom of the door, in corners and behind stored boxes
Black widows bite when pressed against skin, which usually happens when someone reaches into a meter box, pulls on a stored glove or moves boxes in the garage. The venom can cause muscle pain and cramping that spreads from the bite. Anyone bitten should call the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at 1-800-222-1222, and young children and older adults should get medical care promptly.
Arizona recluse and brown recluse spiders in Arizona
The Arizona recluse is a native desert spider and a close relative of the brown recluse. It lives mostly in rodent burrows, pack rat nests and debris, and occasionally turns up in garages and sheds near open desert. Recluses are light brown, usually with a darker violin-shaped mark on the front half of the body. They also have six eyes in three pairs, where most spiders have eight.
Bites from the Arizona recluse are uncommon, and the brown recluse, which lives in the central and southern United States, is not established in Arizona. Many sores blamed on a recluse turn out to be something else, often a bacterial skin infection. A wound that is spreading or slow to heal should be checked by a doctor.
Desert tarantulas, wolf spiders and giant crab spiders
Several large East Valley spiders look alarming but pose little risk to people.
Desert tarantulas
Desert tarantulas are big and slow-moving, and they are harmless to people. Most of the ones seen crossing roads and yards in late summer and fall are males looking for females. They need no treatment, but they can flick irritating hairs, so it is best not to pick one up.
Wolf spiders
Wolf spiders are brown or gray ground hunters that do not build webs. A female keeps her egg sac attached to her spinnerets and later carries the young on her back. They sometimes wander in under doors, and a bite is painful but not medically significant.
Giant crab spiders
Giant crab spiders move quickly and have pale tan bodies with long legs that spread sideways like a crab's. They hunt at night on walls and eaves, often near lights, and sometimes wander indoors. The bite is painful but not considered dangerous.
Many of the webs on eaves and patio covers belong to cobweb spiders, cellar spiders and small orb weavers, which are a nuisance more than a health concern.
How spider control treatment works
Platinum Pest Management starts every spider treatment by removing webs. Technicians clear webs and egg sacs from eaves, window corners, patio covers, light fixtures and garage corners before treating. Removing egg sacs matters, since a single black widow sac can hold hundreds of eggs and sprays do not reliably get through the silk.
Next, we treat the spots where spiders hide and wait for prey, such as block wall bases, foundation cracks, meter and irrigation boxes, pool equipment and the garage. Inside the house, treatment goes where the inspection shows activity. We use EPA-registered products, applied by licensed technicians according to the label.
Webs and egg sacs build back up over time, so spider control works best on a regular schedule. If covered pests return between scheduled visits, we come back and re-treat at no extra charge. The pest control plans page lists the service schedules we offer.
Why lots of spiders usually means lots of insects
Spiders settle where food is easy to catch, so a house with heavy spider activity usually has a steady insect supply close by. Common sources are moths and flies drawn to porch lights, crickets along block walls, and roaches or silverfish in the garage. Reducing those insects with general pest control is often what brings spider numbers down. Crickets are a common food source in late summer, and our cricket control page explains how we handle them.
How to cut down on spider hiding places
A few habits around the house and garage leave spiders fewer places to settle.
- Store garage items in sealed plastic bins and keep them off the floor where possible.
- Clear cardboard and clutter out of the garage and away from the base of block walls.
- Stack firewood and building materials away from the house.
- Wear gloves when reaching into meter boxes, irrigation boxes and pool equipment.
- Shake out gloves, shoes and patio cushions that have been left outside or in the garage.
- Switch porch lights to yellow bulbs so they draw fewer insects.
- Knock down new webs with a broom between visits.
These steps also help with scorpion control, since both pests hide in the same walls and clutter. For help telling spiders apart, see our pest identification guide or schedule a free inspection. Platinum Pest Management provides spider control in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler and the rest of the East Valley.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do after a black widow bite?
Wash the bite with soap and water, apply a cool compress and call the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at 1-800-222-1222. Get medical care promptly for a young child or an older adult, and for anyone with severe pain, spreading muscle cramps or trouble breathing.
Are there brown recluse spiders in Arizona?
The brown recluse is not established in Arizona, though the state has a native relative, the Arizona recluse, which lives mostly in desert debris, rodent burrows and pack rat nests. Bites from the Arizona recluse are uncommon, and many sores blamed on recluse bites turn out to be skin infections or other conditions. A wound that is spreading or slow to heal should be checked by a doctor.
Why are there so many spiders around my house?
Spiders gather where insects are easy to catch. Porch lights and irrigated landscaping draw moths, crickets and other insects, and spiders follow them. Regular general pest control to reduce that insect supply, along with removing webs and clutter, usually brings spider numbers down.
Are desert tarantulas dangerous?
Desert tarantulas are harmless to people and rarely bite. The ones seen on roads and in yards in late summer and fall are mostly males looking for mates, and they do not need treatment. Handling them is still a bad idea, since tarantulas can flick irritating hairs from the abdomen.
How often should spider control be done?
Webs and egg sacs build back up, so spider control works best on a regular schedule. The right frequency depends on how much activity the inspection finds, especially black widow activity around block walls, meter boxes and pool equipment. Our pest control plans page describes the monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly and one-time options.