I am scared of spiders infesting my home! Does anyone know about spiders in WY?

Question

I have been finding at least 2 spiders a day in my home. They are all in my basement, vary from about the size of a quarter to the size of a half dollar coin, and are brown. I did some research and i don't think it is a brown recluse, but I fear it is a hobo spider. I live in nearly central wyoming. The spider has long legs, not furry. the little ball on the bottom of it is and that little sac part also has two fang looking things on the end. I live in the basement of the house, and am deathly afraid of spiders!!! I am afraid to clean up piles of laundry, etc. because i fear a spider is lurking in them, i also am afriad to do things like slip on a close toe shoe and even sleep in my basement room! i know it sounds pathetic, but i am really scared! anybody know what this spider might be or how i can kill them?

Answer 1

Learn to ID spiders, here -

http://www.spideridentification.org/

http://www.usq.edu.au/spider/index.htm

http://www.arachnology.be/pages/Identifi...

This a very useful tool to catch spiders -

Spider and Insect Catch and Release Tool

http://www.smarthome.com/61181.html

You can remove a spider from inside your house by putting a jar over it. Then slip a piece of paper under the jar so that the opening is sealed, pick up the jar, and take the spider outside.

A broom is also a useful tool for moving a spider outside.

Chemicals Are Ineffective

Using a pesticide is not a good solution to spider problems. "Insecticides will not provide long-term control" of spiders, according to the University of California, "and should not generally be used against spiders outdoors." Inside, "control by spraying is only temporary unless accompanied by housekeeping."

Washington State University Extension has a similar perspective: "Most spider problems can be solved without the use of chemicals." -

Preventing Spider Problems

There are many ways to make your home less appealing to spiders. If there are cracks in your foundation or around windows and doors, seal them up.

Check places where water pipes and electrical lines enter your house, and caulk any openings.

Keep woodpiles and debris away from your house.

In storage areas, put boxes up off the floor and away from walls.

Seal boxes with tape to keep spiders from living inside them. In general, cleaning up clutter will mean you have fewer spiders.

Pruning vegetation away from your house and keeping the area next to the foundation clear will also make your house less attractive to spiders.

Outdoor lighting sometimes attracts insects, which in turn attracts spiders. You can move outdoor lighting away from windows and doors if this is a problem around your home. - http://www.pesticide.org/spiders.html

Overcome your fear, here -

http://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-the-Fear...