Spider and Wasp Control in Parkland

The spider people worry about most in Parkland yards is the brown widow. UF/IFAS describes it as tan to dark brown, a bit smaller than a black widow, with an orange to yellow-orange hourglass on its underside. Its egg sac is the giveaway: round and covered in little spikes, not smooth.

Brown widows are shy and bite mostly when someone presses against one by accident. UF lists the spots they like: under outside chairs, inside mailboxes, entryway corners, under eaves, in buckets and pots, and behind hurricane shutters.

Signs to look for

Spiky, cream-colored egg sacs under chairs, tables or the grill
Messy webs in pool cage corners and screen frames
Spiders living in the hurricane shutter tracks
Paper wasp nests under the eaves or inside the pool cage frame

What helps most

UF calls sanitation the most important strategy against widow spiders. That means clearing clutter, moving stacked pots and buckets, wearing gloves when you reach into dark spots, and vacuuming egg sacs and webs. Seal gaps around windows and doors so they don't move inside.

When that isn't enough, a provider can treat web sites directly and use dusts in outdoor voids. Ask them to go over the lanai, the pool cage frame and the shutter tracks.

Flip outdoor chairs and check underneath before sitting
Store pots, buckets and toys off the ground
Clean out the mailbox and hurricane shutter tracks
Turn off lanai lights you don't need, since they draw the insects spiders eat

Seeing this at your place? Call (954) 555-0108

Wasps on the house

Paper wasps build open, gray, umbrella-shaped combs hanging from one stalk, often under eaves, inside the top rail of a pool cage or behind shutters. They defend the nest. If one is over a doorway or where kids play, have it removed rather than knocking it down with a broom.

Questions people ask

Are brown widow bites dangerous?

UF says their venom is strong but they inject less of it than black widows, and they rarely bite. If you're bitten and have symptoms, call a doctor.

Can they get rid of all the spiders?

No one can clear every spider from a Florida yard. The aim is to cut down the ones near doors, furniture and play areas.