The bad news is that, no matter what measures you take to exclude or kill spiders in your home, you’re not going to get them all. The good news is that, even if you hate them, most spiders pose no threat to humans. In fact, it can be beneficial to have a few spiders living in your house, because they provide natural pest control by preying upon pesky insects like mosquitoes and flies.

Of the numerous spiders found in the Las Vegas Valley, the black widow is the only one that is dangerously venomous. Only the female of the species poses a threat, and you can recognize her by her ¼ inch shiny black body and the distinctive red hourglass marking on the underside of her abdomen. Contrary to what you may have seen in fiction, black widow venom doesn’t spell instant death and fatalities are extremely rare. However, black widow spider bites do cause feverish symptoms such as muscle pains, cramps and spasms, as well as an accelerated heart rate and excessive sweating. These symptoms may last for over a week, so use great caution if you see a black widow around your property!

Bites from most other spider species will only cause minor pain, itching and swelling, all of which go away quickly. The main drawback of spiders in the house, aside from the fear which many feel in their presence, is that they will build webs all over the place, especially on corners of the ceiling. If you want to deter spiders from building webs in your home, try spraying scented oils that will deter them, including peppermint, cinnamon, garlic and vinegar. To keep spiders from congregating in the garden beds bordering your home, use cedar mulch, which spiders tend to avoid.