Spiders and Invaders

Black widow, brown recluse, wolf spider, orb weaver Know the web, know the bite, know the occasional invader Vacuum the hiding spots, webster for the webs Crack and crevice for the rest — lock these facts in your head Black widow spins a web that's irregular, scaffold type — strong and rough Those strong, irregularly-arranged webs tell you who's calling your bluff The orb weaver makes the classic Halloween web — circular and clean Brown recluse has a violin shape on the back of its neck — that's the ID scene Brown recluse measures 5 to 11 millimeters — small but don't get close Wolf spider is a hunter — no web, it stalks and roams the most All spiders have 8 legs — that's a fact across the board To treat for spiders — crack and crevice — that's the treatment scored Use a webster to knock down the webs — that's the tool you need Spray areas conducive to spiders, sweep webs, remove clutter — follow the lead Vacuum all known hiding places — that's the action for control Cut back bushes and shrubs — deny the harborage — that's the goal House centipede found inside — inspect the damp area outdoors — that's the call A centipede is elongate, flattened, one pair of legs per body segment — down the hall It uses its claw to inject poison — not a stinger, not a bite One pair per segment — flat and fast — it hunts at night Scorpions are built to survive — one full year without food and water — true They endure where nothing else can — that's the scorpion coming for you Adult ticks have 8 legs — they're arachnids, not an insect breed Black-legged deer tick carries Lyme disease — that's the one to heed Rocky Mountain spotted fever — which ticks carry it across the map? American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, brown dog tick — that's the trap Lyme disease is carried by the black-legged deer tick — one species alone Mites can transmit at least 3 diseases — and the scabies mite is the only true human parasite known Silverfish infestations are most likely found in the sub area — down below 60 to 80 degrees is the ideal temperature range — now you know Highly damaging to paper products — that insect is the silverfish, straight Primary food source in a residence? — wallpaper glue — don't conflate They eat starches, coated paper, the glue on the back of books — all three Treat them with insecticide dust in the attic — that's the formulation key Spray attic access to prevent silverfish from entering — block their route Sweep and clean all tile and wood floors before treatment — prep it out Firebrat is half an inch long, numerous dark patches, mottled grey in tone Found in bakeries — that's the environment it calls home Springtails are found in basements, kitchens, and bathrooms — occasional invader style To eliminate them — find excessive moisture areas and dry it out — that's the trial Millipedes found inside — look in cracks, crevices, moist areas, and basements — four zones Occasional invader beetles live in hardwoods — that's where the species hones Carpet beetles thrive in unsanitary areas — remove lint, hair, dead insects from the space Varied carpet beetle is the most common carpet beetle in California — know that case Adult varied carpet beetle CAN be found in birds' nests, wasp and bee nests — that's true An aerial bird nest near the structure? Watch for drugstore beetle coming through Larder beetle is commonly found in nests of bees and wasps — double check Occasional invader beetles live in hardwoods — add that to your spec Invertebrates have no backbone — that's the definition sealed All insects have 6 legs — that fact is always revealed Phylum Arthropoda covers all insects and mites — that's the class Know your spiders, know your invaders — go out there and pass Black widow, brown recluse, wolf spider, orb weaver Know the web, know the bite, know the occasional invader 8 legs on ticks and spiders, 6 on every insect you meet Vacuum, webster, crack and crevice — spider facts complete Crawlers covered — go get that license!