How much does it cost to hire a brown recluse exterminator?

Reviewed by Irene Pomares remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

Brown recluse spiders, also known as violin spiders or brown spiders, are most commonly found in warmer climates throughout the central or southern United States. These spiders are often easily identified due to their distinctive features, including their body color, leg color, violin-shaped marking on their back, six eyes, fine hair, and sticky web. Due to their venomous bite, brown recluse spiders can harm humans.

The average cost to hire a brown recluse spider exterminator ranges from $450 to $600. The average homeowner spends $500 for an initial visit and four additional treatment visits over a year. However, prices can be as little as $150 for a single initial treatment of a small space or go as high as $1,000 for a one-time extermination of a severe infestation of brown recluse spiders in a large home or garage.

Brown Recluse Extermination Cost

Map of Brown Recluse Spider Locations

Brown recluse spiders are commonly found in warm climates in the central and southern United States. The spiders make homes in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Isolated incidents have also occurred in Arizona, California, Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, Washington DC, and Wyoming. In most cases, the second set of sightings is due to transporting items from a location with more frequent sightings of brown recluse spiders.

Brown Recluse Extermination Cost by Home Size

One of the most common methods of pricing brown recluse extermination is by the square foot. It costs $0.15 to $0.20 per square foot to exterminate these pests in a home, shed, or garage. Treatment for a smaller space will nearly always be less expensive than a larger area. However, the cost still varies to some extent based on the size of the infestation.

Brown Recluse Treatment Cost by Method

If you have brown recluse spiders in and around your home, it is extremely important to deal with the problem as quickly as possible. Although they will not be of any harm unless disturbed, these spiders are extremely venomous. It poses a threat to have them around your home. Professional methods of dealing with spiders include spider dust, spider sprays, spider traps, and fumigation, which costs $100 to $1,000.

Spider Dust

Residual spider dusts can be used by professionals for about $100 to $250. Spider dust can be applied in areas that sprays cannot reach, such as wall voids, cracks, and crevices. It is important that you do not spray in areas that can contaminate your belongings. Dusts often provide longer-lasting control compared to sprays.

Spider Traps

Having a professional use sticky traps typically costs between $100 and $300. Sticky traps are a very simple and non-toxic method of catching brown recluse spiders. These sticky surfaces can be set up in the basement, crawl spaces, and any other dark spaces that attract these spiders. Sticky traps are most effective for smaller infestations and have to be checked out once in a while and simply thrown away when full.

Spider Sprays

Residual sprays are another effective treatment for brown recluse infestations that cost $200 to $500 and can kill on contact. The spray can be applied to the exterior foundation, in the garage, shed, indoor closets, along the baseboards, and in many other places in the home where needed. These sprays are a pesticide that offers a long-term residual effect and good sticking power.

Spider Fumigation

The most extreme method of exterminating spiders is fumigation, which costs $300 to $1,000. This high-level and complex treatment option must be done by professionals. Rather than spot spraying areas where spiders are known to live, fumigation uses chemicals to treat an entire house or room to kill all pests in the area. Stronger chemicals are used more than associated with traditional spraying.

Brown Recluse Extermination Cost by Frequency of Treatment

If you start to notice a brown recluse problem in and around your home, call a professional exterminator. Depending on the extent of the problem, extermination involves a one-time treatment or even multiple scheduled treatments to keep the pests away.

The start of the treatment plan begins with an initial visit. The exterminator does an entry point inspection, yard examination, and moisture check. Based on the assessment, the exterminator puts together an agreement to a treatment plan by creating a contract. This contract includes the frequency of treatment, cost, and guarantee. The initial visit costs $150 to $300.

The one-time treatment is a very common approach by homeowners, involving the inspection and treatment done on the same day. The cost is higher than recurring treatments due to all the work completed in a one-time visit. A one-time visit treatment typically costs between $300 and $500.

You can expect to pay a lot less if you opt for additional, regular treatments. These treatments can occur annually, monthly, or quarterly. Yearly treatments cost between $150 to $350. Quarterly treatments are $400 to $750 for the year. Monthly treatments are also available for a yearly cost of about $800 to $1,250.

Brown Recluse Extermination Cost by Level of Infestation

The cost of extermination of brown recluse spiders varies based on the size of the infestation or how many of the spiders are in a location. For instance, removing one to five spiders would be the extermination of a small infestation and costs much less than a severe infestation where hundreds of spiders are present. Medium and large infestations are also possible. A medium infestation might have 12 to 20 spiders. A large infestation could include 100 to 200 spiders.

Brown Recluse Extermination Cost by Company

The two major national companies that offer brown recluse extermination services are Orkin and Terminix. Both companies offer various pest control services, have been in business for several decades, and offer a guarantee. Orkin offers online resources about household pests, including brown recluse spiders. Terminix is often considered very good in terms of customer service. When choosing a brown recluse pest control company, prices vary based on location, size of the infestation, and more. However, the average price for Terminix brown recluse treatment runs $400 to $650 per treatment. Services for brown recluse by Orkin cost $450 to $700.

Brown Recluse Treatment Cost by Location

Brown recluse can be found throughout a home, but some locations are more common than others. For instance, these spiders can often be found in closets, attics, basements, garages, and sheds. In most cases, the spiders spend their time in areas where they are unlikely to be disturbed. Spiders can also be found outside near rocks, bushes, and stacks of firewood. The table below provides information about how much it costs to treat various areas where brown recluse spiders are often found.

How to Identify a Brown Recluse

Brown recluse spiders are one of the most widely feared spiders and are often misidentified for other spiders with similar features. They have some distinct features that make them stand out from the rest and easy to identify. These features include body color, leg color, markings, eyes, hair, and its web.

One of the ways that some people identify a brown recluse is by the dark brown violin shape on the area where the legs attach to its body. However, many people mistake these markings, so it is not the best way to determine whether a specific spider is a brown recluse. Instead, the eyes are the best indicator. Instead of having eight eyes in two rows of four like most spiders, the brown recluse has six eyes in pairs on the front and side.

Brown recluse spiders range from light sandy brown to dark earthy brown. On the body, they will be a single color other than on the violin marking. Their legs may not have the same color as the body but will also be a single color. If the legs or abdomen have additional colors, it is not a brown recluse spider. In addition, the brown recluse has only fine hair and no thick spines on its legs.

If the spider in question has made the web in a highly visible location, this also means it is not a brown recluse. Instead, the spider web will be sticky and loose. In most cases, they will be in areas that do not see a lot of traffic. These webs are typically a color ranging from off-white to gray.

Signs of a Brown Recluse Infestation

In most cases, if you see one brown recluse spider, that means that others are inside the home. While largely solitary, brown recluses tend to live in groups. However, it takes more than one or two spiders for a home to have an infestation. Several signs indicate that your home might be infested.

Beyond a sighting, look for things like webs in corners. However, keep in mind that the brown recluse web has a different appearance than most other spiders. Another sign of an infestation is the presence of an egg sac. For a brown recluse, the sacs will often be found in the late spring through the mid-summer. The sac will be tan to off-white and have a rounded or cone shape. Each of the sacs contains up to 300 eggs. This shows that at least one male and female are present and reproducing in the home. Beyond visual symptoms, some physical symptoms can also be present. This only occurs if a human or pet has been bit by a brown recluse spider.

Preparation Before Treatment

You can do several things before a professional visits your home to treat it for brown recluse spiders. Vacuum the home, make sure it is clean, and ensure the area is accessible for the pest control expert. If webs are seen during the process, these can be knocked down before vacuuming up the spiders. Keep in mind that the presence of spiders like the brown recluse often means there are other pests in the home. An expert can assist you with all pests in your home.

If the treatment plan extends to the outdoors, talk to your neighbors about shutting their windows and keeping their pets away from their yards during the treatment. For indoor treatment, everyone should remain away from the treated area. Relocate the family until the process is complete. It may also be useful to remove carpets and cover furniture with a thick film that can be thrown out later.

Keep all four-legged pets in a kennel or cage. If you do not have one available, pets can be put in the garage or other room in the house. For fish, birds, and reptiles, cover their tanks and cages using a blanket or towel to avoid any airborne pesticide particles.

Are Brown Recluse Spiders Deadly?

Brown recluse spiders are one of few venomous spiders found in the United States and can cause serious harmful effects on humans if bitten. Their venom contains a rare protein that causes a dangerous reaction in humans at the site of the bite. The bite can form blisters and rashes and even leave some side effects such as nausea, chills, fever, vomiting, or even more serious conditions such as necrosis.

Where Do Brown Recluse Spiders Live?

Brown recluses seek places to live that make for a good hiding spot. These places include dark and cluttered spaces inside and outside a home. Some common livable spaces for brown recluse spiders include closets, attics, basements, rocks, bushes, garages, or sheds. Once inside the home, these spiders can be found in boxes, shoes, bedding, clothing, and furniture. It is important to keep these places clean and decluttered and set some traps or take the necessary measures if you see any brown recluse.

What Does a Brown Recluse Spider Bite Look Like?

The brown recluse spider has tiny fangs, so most bites do not cause pain. If the spider bite was not seen, it may take a few hours before you know it occurred. However, the area of the bite will become tender, inflamed, and red two to eight hours later. As additional hours pass, the irritation may include a burning feeling.

The look of the bite will often have two small puncture areas. Immediately after the bite occurs, the center tends to be pale with a red ring of inflammation along the outside. Pain will typically amplify and be at its worst around 24 hours after the bite. The look of the bite remains the same for one to two days. In three to five days, the look of the bite may change. Some individuals notice that the venom spreads out over days to weeks. This can result in a blister at the bite wound, which turns into a necrotic lesion. The lesion appears as an open sore or ulcer, and the tissue nearby starts to die. During this period, you may have a dry patch of skin, skin that has a blue tinge, a bite wound with a red outer circle, and a central blister.

Most people will have healed in one to two weeks. However, for a serious bite, the toxin continues to destroy the skin tissue. If this occurs, dead tissue may be visible at the spider bite and the area around it. This will look like a large black scab that covers the area of the bite.

Within three months, most bites will have fully healed. If the bite introduces a huge amount of venom, the necrosis may move beyond the skin to your muscles. There will be a large amount of dead tissue, and a medical professional may need to remove it surgically.

What Happens If You Get Bit by a Brown Recluse?

Brown recluse spiders are very shy and harmless if they are not disturbed. If they are trapped in clothing or any tight space and become disturbed, they may bite. Most people do not feel it when a brown recluse spider bites until you see a reaction on your skin. The bite of a brown recluse spider is harmful due to its venom. A person’s reaction depends on the amount of venom and their sensitivity to the bite. Symptoms typically do not develop for several hours, followed by a burning, itching, or painful sensation around the bite. Additional symptoms may include nausea, fever, rash, chills, sweating, or a unique pattern of discoloration. The site of the bite may appear red, purple, or blue with a whitish ring around it. A blister or ulcer may appear and can grow for weeks.

If you are bitten by a brown recluse spider, it is important to consult your doctor immediately or take a trip to the nearest emergency room. If possible, place the spider in a jar and bring it with you so that the doctor can identify the spider and provide you with a treatment plan. No medication counteracts the venom for brown recluse spiders. Doctors often have you wash the bite with soap and water, give you a tetanus booster, have you rest, ice, and elevate the area, and recommend applying a cool pack for swelling.

Although the likelihood of a serious condition from a brown recluse spider bite is very rare, there is a slight chance of further serious conditions, including blood disorders, kidney failure, or even death. The doctor may also prescribe antibiotics if the bite wound becomes infected. It is always best to seek professional medical care if bitten by a brown recluse spider.

How to Prevent Brown Recluse Spiders

While brown recluse spiders can come around any time, some prevention techniques make your home unappealing to them and keep them outdoors. Since brown recluse spiders prefer areas of clutter, dark, and undisturbed hiding spaces, the preventative techniques are all related to making these spaces unavailable.

Some preventative techniques include decluttering the interior and exterior of the home and keeping your home clean and organized, installing screens to windows to prevent entry, sealing wall and foundation cracks, and removing piles of wood and other debris away from the house. Checking items and boxes before bringing them into your home prevents spiders inside.

Other steps to take to prevent brown recluses from getting into your home include hanging up clothes rather than leaving them on the ground, being cautious when opening boxes that were in storage, reducing any hiding spots where brown recluses might lurk, and keeping unused areas like the attic clean and neat.

Brown Recluse vs Wolf Spider

The brown recluse spider and is often mistaken for the wolf spider due to their many similarities. However, distinguishing between the two is often very critical because one is venomous while the other is harmless.

Brown recluse spiders are primarily found in many regions throughout the United States including Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama and parts of Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. They are light brown to dark brown in color and have lighter legs compared to their bodies. The violin mark on their back makes them most distinguishable from a wolf spider. Brown recluse spiders prefer dark, cluttered places, that make for a good hiding spot.

Wolf spiders are found throughout the country. They are grayish-brown in color. Unlike brown recluse spiders, wolf spiders are hairy and have a bar pattern found on their stomachs. They do not have any noticeable markings that make them easily distinguishable. Wolf spiders prefer warmer climates and prefer dwelling areas, in plants, under rocks, around windows and doors, and in garages. Their bite is not harmful to humans but may cause some skin irritation, or swelling.

Brown Recluse vs House Spider

The house spider is commonly mistaken for a brown recluse spider. Properly identifying a brown recluse spider from a house spider requires knowledge of their differences in appearance and location.

While house spiders are found in all types of climates and locations, brown recluse spiders prefer warmer clients and are mostly found in regions from Texas to Florida and up to Ohio. House spiders can be seen crawling around your house at any time of the day, while brown recluse spiders typically only come out at night time and prefer dark areas of the home.

The two types of spiders differ in their appearance; brown recluse spiders are varying shades of brown from light to dark and have a dark violin-shaped mark on their back. House spiders are varying shades of brown but do not have a mark on their back. House spiders are often visible while brown recluse spiders are hard to find as they hide in very secluded areas.

Lastly, most house spiders do not bite. If they do, it is often not felt and results in a minor irritation such as a bump or rash that will go away fairly quickly. Brown recluse spiders are venomous and will inflict a very painful bite.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Cleaning Services

A housecleaning service can be a great investment in helping to prevent brown recluse spiders from infesting your home. House cleaning services average $75 to $125 per visit for a 2,000 sq. ft. home. The cost depends on a variety of factors including the size of the home, how many rooms, level of dirtiness, flooring materials, and the size of the house.

Weather-Stripping

One of the best prevention strategies for brown recluse spiders is weatherstripping. Having weatherstripping installed costs $200 to $600. Weatherstripping can be used along the sides and top of doors or around windows to prevent various pests from entering a home. It is simple to install and can be used in tandem with a door sweep to protect the bottom of the door from letting in spiders and insects.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Survivors. After your spider treatment is complete, you want to look for possible survivors and report it to the exterminator. It is good to keep your eye out on the treated and untreated areas to see if any spiders return to other areas.
• Let your neighbors know. It is a kind gesture to notify your neighbors of your brown recluse infestation issue. This could also mean that your neighbors are experiencing a similar issue but may not have noticed it yet. Knowing the problem, they may want to engage in some preventive measures to make sure they do not experience any similar problems.