Brown Recluse & Black Widows in Midland & Odessa Garages: Fall Storage Safety for Permian Basin Homes
Fall is when a lot of Midland and Odessa families head into the garage, attic, and hall closet. Space heaters, winter coats, blankets, and holiday decorations come out of boxes that have sat untouched since last year. Those quiet, undisturbed spots are exactly where two spiders worth knowing about like to hide.
Most spiders in Permian Basin homes are harmless and even helpful, because they eat other bugs. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension lists only two kinds in Texas as medically significant: the brown recluse and the widow spiders.
How to tell them apart
Brown recluse. Light to dark brown, with no spines on the legs and usually a dark violin-shaped mark on the front body section, the "neck" of the violin pointing back. Up close, they have six eyes in pairs instead of the usual eight. They hunt at night and don't sit in a big web. They hide in cracks, boxes, and clutter.
Black widow. The adult female is shiny black with a round abdomen, often with a reddish hourglass underneath. Widows build messy, strong, sticky webs low in protected spots and hang upside down in them.
Neither spider is looking for a fight. Bites usually happen when a spider gets pressed against skin, like when you slip on a stored jacket or reach into a box or woodpile without looking.
Where they hide in a Permian Basin garage
Cardboard boxes, especially ones that are open or have been sitting for months
Under shelves, workbenches, and along the back wall behind stored items
Folded tarps, camping gear, seasonal clothes, and shoes or boots left in the garage
Firewood stacks and scrap lumber
Around gas and electric meters, and in rarely opened outdoor boxes
A safer fall cleanout
Wear gloves. Cotton or leather work gloves when you move boxes, firewood, or anything that's been stored a while.
Shake it out first. Shake out stored clothes, blankets, and shoes before using them. Texas A&M suggests a run in the dryer on high heat for about 45 minutes for clothing that's been packed away.
Switch to lidded plastic bins, or seal cardboard boxes on all seams with wide tape.
Put out sticky traps. Lay them flat against garage walls and along baseboards in storage areas. They catch spiders that travel the edges and show you whether you have a problem.
Vacuum webs and egg sacs in corners and under shelves, then empty the vacuum outside.
Stack firewood away from the house, and bring in only what you'll burn soon.
Seal obvious gaps where the garage door or utility lines meet the wall, so fewer insects (spider food) get in.
Skip the bug bomb. Texas A&M notes that foggers generally don't reach spiders hiding in cracks and boxes.
How Tejas Pest and Weed Control helps
Tejas Pest and Weed Control handles spider control for homes and light-commercial properties across Midland, Odessa, and the wider Permian Basin. We start with what you're seeing, check the garage, storage areas, eaves, and foundation line, and treat where spiders and the insects they feed on travel and hide. Ask about a one-time service or an ongoing plan.
Midland and Odessa customers are served from our Midland yard at 3112 E County Rd 139, Midland, TX 79706. Andrews and Seminole customers are served from our Andrews yard at 2184 SE 2460, Andrews, TX 79714.
Finding spiders while you clean out the garage? Call or text 432-934-5248 or visit https://www.tejaspwc.com/pest-control.
FAQ
Is every brown spider a brown recluse?
No. Wolf spiders and other harmless spiders are often mistaken for recluses. Wolf spiders usually have dark stripes and a large pair of eyes on top of the head. If you're not sure, trap it or take a clear photo and ask us.
What if someone gets bitten?
Put an ice pack on the bite and see a doctor, and take the spider along if you safely can. For a suspected black widow bite, get medical care right away.
