According to researchers at The Brooklyn Hospital Center, St. Luke’s University Health Network, and Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine, black widow encounters tend to peak in late summer and early fall—and those unexpected pests are being found inside homes more frequently than you might expect. Read on to discover where pest experts say you’re most likely to encounter a black widow in your home and how to protect yourself and your space. RELATED: If You Never Clean This, You’re Inviting Black Widows Into Your Home. That stack of firewood in your living room may look charming—and it may be essential for keeping your house warm. Unfortunately, it may also be providing a safe haven where black widows can go unnoticed, explains Tom Mascari, PhD, an expert entomologist at SC Johnson. In fact, seeing black widows in your wood pile may indicate that there’s yet another pest camping out in your space. “Black widow spiders prey upon insects and other spiders, so if you find them in your home it may be a sign that there are other insects present,” Mascari says. Before you pull out your outdoor furniture or tools from your crawl space, you may want to don some protective gear first. “You may encounter black widow spiders in dark, sheltered, undisturbed places in and around your home such as crawl spaces,” says Mascari. Mascari explains that black widows may hide in boxes in sheltered areas like crawl spaces, so it’s best to inspect any containers carefully before plunging your hands in. If you’re clearing clutter from your basement this fall, you may want to be extra careful, as black widows tend to thrive in these low-traffic areas. “Just like outside, where they try to find places they won’t be disturbed, inside they are found in seldom-used areas such as basements,” says Michael Thome, an associate certified entomologist and technical service manager for Ehrlich Pest Control. Thome says that keeping clutter at bay is a great way to limit black widows’ ability to take up residence in your home, but notes that if you do notice a problem, it’s best to call in a pro to handle it. If you do choose to move items in a potentially infested area, Thome recommends wearing work gloves to avoid being bitten. For more home safety tips delivered to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter! That rarely used attic can quickly become a comfortable space for black widows to call home.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb “It is more likely that black widows will be attracted to cluttered areas,” including attics, says Jordan Foster, a pest management expert at Fantastic Pest Control. “Cluttered and poorly ventilated storage areas are more likely to be home to their preferred prey,” Foster explains, noting that dark and dry environments, like attics, are prime territory for these pests. Your garage is the perfect place to protect your car from the elements—and it’s also a pretty ideal habitat for black widows, as well. “We often find black widows in garages,” says Charles Lang, a senior pest control technician with Debug Pest Control of Rhode Island. “They especially love to spin webs and nest near the garage doors where they can capture and eat small insects entering the garage.” If you want to lower your risk of these pests becoming a permanent fixture in your garage, clearing out any clutter is a simple first step toward reducing the likelihood of a problem. RELATED: If You Live in These States, Prepare for More of This Deadly Spider, Experts Say.
