Brown Widow Spider–Shy but Dangerous!

The Brown Widow Spider is a cosmopolitan tropical and subtropical spider having established populations in Hawaii, Florida, some Caribbean Islands, parts of Australia, South Africa, Japan, and Cyprus.  In North America, the Brown Widow Spider was restricted for many decades to the Florida peninsula.  However, around the year 2000, it started showing up in other Gulf Coast states.  Brown widows are now known from Texas to Georgia and South Carolina. You must take the help of Orlando Pest Control to get rid of them. But before you call them, it’s best to know a little bit about these critters.

This article gives you a detailed account of the life of the Brown Widow Spider, which can help you with their eradication.

If you have specific questions about Silverfish, check out our FAQ section.

Brown Widow Spider Quick Facts

Is It a Brown Widow Spider? – Identifying a Brown Widow Spider

Unlike its starkly black-and-red colored relative, the black widow, the coloration of a brown widow consists of mottling of tan and brown with black accent marking.  In mature females, there is usually a dorsal longitudinal abdominal stripe and three diagonal stripes on each flank.  At the top of each diagonal stripe, there is a black mark, which is rather conspicuous and square-ish.  The Brown Widow Spider does have an hourglass, but it is typically an orange shade rather than the vivid red of a black widow. The brown widow looks similar to immatures of the western black widow spider, the latter of which has smaller black spots on the top of the diagonal abdominal stripes and more olive-grey background coloration.

Where Do Brown Widow Spiders Live? — Habitat of Brown Widow Spiders

The brown widow builds its web in secluded, protected sites around homes, and woody vegetation with branches.  Some typical sites selected by brown widows for web building are empty containers such as buckets and nursery pots, mailboxes, entryway corners, under eaves, storage closets and garages, recessed hand grips of plastic garbage cans, undercarriages of motor vehicles that are stationary for long periods, and the undersides of outdoor furniture and wrought-iron railings. They choose places that are more exposed than sites chosen by black widows and hence, appear to be at higher risk for interactions with humans as bites are concerned.

How Do Brown Widow Spiders behave? — The Lifestyle of Brown Widow Spiders

As of 2012, researchers at the University of California, Riverside, suggested that the brown widow spider, newly established in Southern California, maybe displacing black widow spiders from the region, competing and/or fighting for territory. While certainly not definitive, this evidence does suggest that the brown widow is likely to be more hostile and aggressive towards its relative, the black widow, than the black widow is towards it. If that proves to be true, humans may be positively affected since brown widow bites are less toxic than those of black widows, thus posing less of a threat as they displace black widows over time.

Life Cycle of The Brown Recluse Spider

Spiders have three stages in their life cycle: egg, spiderling, and adult. After mating, the female lays about 80 eggs and surrounds them with thick silk to build an egg sac. A few days later, the spiderlings hatch from the eggs. They feed on insects trapped in the web and on each other. As spiderlings eat and mature, they outgrow their skin, grow a new skin layer, and shed the old one, a process called molting. Spiders molt throughout their lives. Spiders can reproduce once they reach adult size. Female brown widows reproduce continuously and can make about 20 egg sacs over her lifetime. The web often has several eggs sacs of different ages, developing at the same time. The egg sac of the brown widow has spiny protrusions, compared to the smooth egg sac of the black widow.

How to Tell if I have Brown Widow Spiders? — Brown Widow Spider Infestation

The webs of brown and black widow spiders are made from sticky silken fibers, irregularly shaped, tangled, and constructed in hidden and protected locations. The webs can be found in dense woody plants, in empty containers, under buckets and pots, mailboxes, and under outdoor furniture. They are usually not found inside buildings. They choose more exposed sites than those chosen by black widows, which may increase their interactions with humans. A sighting of the spider is an indication of an infestation.

Are Brown Widow Spiders dangerous? — Threats of Brown Widow Spider Infestation

Brown widow bites have a milder effect than black widows, possibly because the brown widow does not have or cannot inject as much venom as its larger relative. Symptoms of a brown widow bite are similar to most spider bites: pain at the bite site and a red mark. Although its venom is as potent as black widow venom, the brown widow probably doesn’t inject very much venom, making it much less dangerous. Brown widows are shy and tend to avoid contact with humans. Females are not aggressive, make no effort to attack, and prefer to retreat or lie perfectly still. When confronted or provoked, however, they will bite. If bitten, place a cold pack on the bite to relieve the pain and seek medical attention immediately.

How to Get Rid of Brown Widow Spider? — Eradication of Brown Widow Spider

Brown Widow Spiders are not easy to get rid of, they are hard to detect and even harder to eradicate. These are the reasons that professional help from Orlando Pest Control is recommended when dealing with Brown widow Spiders. All American Pest Control gives the best Pest Control packages in Orlando! You can reach them at (321) 559-7378.

FAQ

How long do Brown Window Spider live?

They have a pretty long lifespan ranging from 1 to 2 years.

What does Brown Widow Spider eat?

Brown Widow Spider eat soft-bodied insects. They are very potent hunters.

Do Brown Widow Spider Bite?

Brown Widow Spider can bite humans if they are provoked. Their bite is poisonous.

Is Brown Widow Spider dangerous?

Yes! They have a venomous bite that can cause neurotic reactions in some cases.

How can I get rid of Brown Widow Spiders?

Brown Widow Spiders can be difficult spiders to get rid of! Call an exterminator. All American Pest Control is the best Orlando Pest Control company! You can call them at (321) 559-7378.

2014 Edgewater Dr #250, Orlando, FL 32804

A friend of ours at Orlando Pest Control told us we should write about Universal Island of Adventures. Planning and executing a trip to the Island of adventures is a lot of fun, but it can overwhelm sometimes. Starting from when to plan the visit to which Islands to visit; everything needs preparation. Don’t worry, this article will help you plan a trip of a life-time to the Universal Island of Adventure.

The Best Time to Visit the Universal Island of Adventure:

It really depends on whether you are planning to go alone, with friends or with your kids.

With Kids:

If you are going with children, it would most probably be during their holidays. So, the question here is not what the best time is but which holidays are the best to plan your Universal Island vacation. The answer is Spring Break! The weather is just perfect. It is not too hot that you melt away. If you plan to visit in March, you will be able to see Mardi gras celebrations!

If your family is big on Christmas celebration, December could be best for you too. Island of adventure has an elaborate display of Christmas and parades which are just magical!

However, keep in mind that these are peak seasons so the prices will be higher than usual. My advice will be to have your bookings done well in advance and keep an eye on last-minute deals on hotels and vacation rentals. It will save you a lot of money. Moreover, plan the trip during weekdays to avoid a bigger crowd.

Without Kids:

Off-peak seasons are best for people visiting without children. These are the times when schools are open so families with kids are not really on vacation. The perks of Off season are not just limited to smaller crowds, but cheaper prices too!

The best off-peak times for you to visit Universal Island of Adventure are:

• Start of the year (January and early February)
• A month before or a few weeks after the spring vacations.
• After the Labor Day Till just before thanksgiving.
• the period between after-thanksgiving week and mid-December.

How Long Your Trip to Universal Island Should be

Even a 7-day trip would not be enough to absorb the awesomeness that Florida offers!  Although you can also plan a day at park too, but you would just be tasting the appetizers instead of the hole 4-5 course meal this place of adventure and imagination has to offer!

Experts strongly recommend giving at least three to 4 days to really enjoy what Universal has to offer. You could combine your trip to the Islands of adventures with a Universal’s Citywalk and a visit to Universal Studios. Add Universal’s Volcano Bay to your itinerary as the cherry on top. If your pocket allows, you could combine it with a Disney world vacation and have an adventure of a lifetime!

Pro Tips for An Epic Trip to Universal’s Island of adventure:

• Ticket Booking: Book your ticket online! This will not only save you from long lines at the ticket counter, but if you book the tickets in advance, you will save money and avoid the price hikes of peak seasons.
• Universal Express Pass: If you are visiting during the peak season, be sure to buy an express pass! Most of the rides will have long wait-times during the busy season so it will save you a lot of time.

• Official Universal Orlando App: Be sure to download the official app as it will help you plan your route around the Islands of Adventure ahead of time. You could see what wait times can be expected on each ride, timings of the shows, as well as the order food online from some park restaurants so you don’t have to stand in the line!
• Packing List: First, be sure to pack an umbrella or a poncho! With the Florida weather, you never know when it will start raining. Comfortable shoes, sun protection, and lightweight clothing should also be a part of your list. Don’t forget to carry a small bag along with hand sanitizers, sunglasses, small snacks and reusable water bottle in it.
• Arrival Time: Island of Adventure can get really busy as the day passes. If you want to save your precious hours at the park, arrive at least one hour before the park opens!

• Lunch and Dinner Time: Eateries can get crowded around lunch and dinnertime. It is best to plan your meals around these times.

• Single Riders: are you traveling solo? Be sure to stand in solo riders’ line It will cut waiting time in half! Although you might not want to miss the magical experience of waiting in Hogwarts Castle queue, so experts recommend taking the regular waiting line for Harry Potter and the forbidden Journey.
• Virtual Line Pass: Don’t want to wait in line? Get a virtual Line Pass on select attractions using the official Universal Orlando App. Reserve a return time for your group and then explore the island until your ride time!
• The Port of Entry: Spend some time looking around and discovering the Port of Entry. It has some amazing themed shops and the restaurants that are often overlooked because of the excitement of getting to the rides and adventure.
• Lockers: These are free for a certain amount of period if the attraction requires you to leave behind loose items. Always take a picture of your locker to eliminate the risk of forgetting your locker number.
• Ride Height: At the entrance of the park there is a height chart. It is best for you to take your kids there first and have them look at what rides they are eligible to take. This step would prevent the latter disappointment they might face on finding out they are not allowed on a particular ride!
• Child Swipe Program: If you have children that are not eligible for certain rides, you can take advantage of this program. Your partner and you can take turns on a ride while one of you stays with the little one in the family room for each ride.

7 Attractions You Must Experience at Universal’s Island of Adventure:

1. Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure: First choose who wants to be Hagrid and ride the bike and who wants to ride the side cart as Harry potter. Get on this thrill ride and explore the grounds of Hogwarts and the forbidden forest while encountering magical creatures.
2. Enjoy Butterbeer: An alert for all the Potterheads! Do not forget to have the famous butterbeer when you are at IOA. You can try cold, hot, frozen, or Potted cream butterbeer. Fudge and soft serve ice-creams are also available in butterbeer flavor. Apart from the butterbeer carts, these must-have drinks for all the muggles can be ordered at Three broomsticks, Hog’s head pub and Honeydukes in Hogsmeade section.
3. Jurassic Park River Adventure: This cool water ride lets you take an 85-foot plunge into the world of dinosaurs.  Be ready to encounter a hungry T. Rex!
4. Raptor Encounter: Did you fall in love with Blue while watching Jurassic World? Well, if you did, add meeting Blue to your checklist at the Raptor encounter! If you are courageous enough, you could slowly approach her to snap a quick photo.
5. The Amazing adventures of Spider-Man: This Virtual 3D/ 4D motion Simulation experience will have you laugh and scream on the same ride! Filled with fun this ride in Marvel Superhero Island lets you face marvel characters while you move through the streets and fight Syndicate along with Spidey.
6. The Incredible Hulk Coaster: If you like fast rides, this is the one for you! One of a kind, Hulk coaster will move at 67 miles per hour. It will keep your adrenaline level high throughout the ride.
7. Skull Island- Reign of Kong: One of the coolest rides with amazing details and animatronics, this ride will take you to a journey through the jungle. Spoiler alert: You might get a Kongfrontation.
8. Seuss Character Zone: If you grew up reading Dr. Seuss like me, you wouldn’t want to miss a meet up with your favorite storybook characters!

Top 6 Kid Friendly Rides at the Islands of adventure:

1. Flight of the Hippogriff at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
2. The Hogwarts Express at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
3. Storm-Force Accelatron at Marvel Superhero Island
4. Pteranodon Flyers at the Jurassic Park
5. The Cat in the Hat at Seuss Landing
6. One fish two fish red fish blue fish at Seuss Landing

Universal’s Island of Adventure has something for everyone! You simply couldn’t stop yourself from having fun — even if you wanted to!

After you day, visit our friends at All American Pest Control.

2014 Edgewater Dr #250, Orlando, FL 32804

The tropical climate of Florida is home to several species of ants. One of these species is Florida Carpenter ants, named after the state because of its prevalence here. The ‘carpenter’ refers to their habit of building nests in wooden structures. These pests are active year-round and can be a nuisance for homeowners due to their painful bite. In any case, Florida Carpenter ant infestation should not be taken lightly. Orlando Pest Control must be contacted to get rid of these ants professionally!

In this article, you will find how to identify Florida Carpenter ants, their habitat, lifestyle and life cycle, and the signs that you need to look for their infestation.

If you have specific questions about Florida Carpenter ants, check out our FAQ section.

Florida Carpenter Ants Quick Facts

Is It A Florida Carpenter Ant? – Identifying A Florida Carpenter Ant

Florida Carpenter ants are bi-colored insects, with an orange to brown colored head and thorax, and dark-colored abdomen. The worker ants can range from 5 to 10 mm in length, whereas female alates, which later become queens, can reach up to 20 mm long. The swarmer males are smaller than the queens and have smaller heads.

A key feature of Carpenter ants is their evenly convex thorax. The two antennas are segmented and have long golden-brown hair on them. A circular ring of golden-brown hair can be seen at the end of the abdomen. The waist consists of a single node.

The male and female alate can be mistaken for Termite alate. However, there are some key physical differences between the two. Unlike Termite alates, Florida Carpenter alates have elbowed antennas, constricted waists, and fore wings larger than those of the hind wings.

Habitat of the Florida Carpenter Ants

Florida Carpenter ants usually nest in moist, humid areas that are near a food source. Their colonies can be found in dampened woods or other structure that provides the right temperature, protection from the predators, and best possible environmental conditions.

In houses, nests of Florida carpenter ants can be found in the damp areas. The nest can be located in the attics, or the cracked ceilings, gaps in the walls, wood log piles, plumbing, vents, sheds, doghouses, or gutters.

The Lifestyle of the Florida Carpenter Ants

Food

Florida Carpenter ants are nocturnal and will often be seen forging food during the dark hours. Their trails are loosely defined; some worker ants can even be seen wandering alone. These ants are omnivores and feed on other insects as well as flower nectars. Like sugar ants, these bi-color ants also have a sweet tooth. In your house, these ants may feast on syrups, cookie crumbs, meat, or pet food.

Communication

Florida Carpenter ants may use their saliva to pass along chemical signals to their nestmates when it comes to communication. They use their antennae for smelling and communication as well. In general, ants use pheromones to communicate among themselves. Different types of pheromones are released to signal danger, attract mates, or guide other worker ants to the food source.

Life Cycle of the Florida Carpenter Ants

Florida Carpenter ants belong to the order Hymenoptera. This means that a Florida Carpenter ant egg would go through complete metamorphosis to become an adult. These ants reproduced through swarming. The lifecycle of these ants starts in the mating season, which extends from April to November.

During spring, the swarmer ants perform nuptial flights. Attracted by the production of pheromones by the males, winged females fly to look for mates. Swarms of females can be seen during spring, mostly after the rainfalls.

The female-only needs to mate once in her life, as they store sperms. Shortly after the mating, the male ant dies, whereas the female ant sheds its wings and starts looking for a nest.

Stage 1: Florida Carpenter Ant Eggs

A small crack in any wooden structure is perfect for laying eggs. The queen ant lays the first batch of eggs. Using her fat reserves and wing muscles, the queen provides nourishment for the first brood. This brood turns into adult workers and is responsible for the nourishment of all the subsequent broods. It can take about 6 to 12 weeks for a carpenter ant egg to turn into an adult. During the colder season, it may take up to 10 months.

Stage 2: Florida Carpenter Ants Larva

Small, legless, and white, larvae of a Florida Carpenter ant look like a grub. The larvae are essential for the development and survival of their colonies. They process the solid food, foraged by the worker ants, and disgorge it in liquid form for the consumption of the other ants.

Stage 3: Florida Carpenter Ants Pupa

Pupae of a Florida Carpenter Ant reside in a white silk cocoon. They are often mistaken for eggs.

Stage 4: Florida Carpenter Ants Adults

The pupae turn into one of the three castes of the ant community:

• Worker ants: Non-breeding ants responsible for the protection and nourishment of the colonies. They forage food for the young, tend to them, and burrow galleries to propagate their nests. The worker ants can live up to 7 years.
• Queen ants: The alate females shed their wings after mating to become a queen. The primary role of a queen is to lay eggs once the first brood matures into worker adults. Alate males and females are only produced under the right conditions, after two or more years. A queen Florida Carpenter ant can live up to 10 years!
• Male ants: All the male Florida Carpenter ants are winged. Their primary role is to mate with the alate females, and they die soon after it.

Florida Carpenter Ants Infestation

Florida Carpenter ants can find their way into your house through wires and cables. The firewood that is often stored against the house wall could become a nesting ground for these uninvited invaders. Tall trees that touch the houses and buildings can often act as a bridge for these ants into our dwellings. In apartment buildings, Florida carpet could find their way into your apartment through vents, plumbing, and gaps between the doors and windows.

A commonly asked question by the homeowners is: How do they know if there is a Florida Carpenter Ant infestation?

There are signs one must look for:

• You may find worker ants on forging mission or swarmer ants during flight season.
• A mixture of wood shavings and dead ants.
• Sawdust in the attics or crawlspaces.
• A ‘rustling’ sound can be heard as they burrow through the wood.

Threats Of Florida Carpenter Ants Infestation

Florida Carpenter ants are non-stingers; however, their bite can be quite painful. This is because as they break through the skin with their large mandible, and release formic acid into the bite. Though painful, formic acid is not harmful.

Eradication Of Florida Carpenter Ants

If you are worried that these little invaders have infested your house, professional help from Orlando Pest Control can get rid of the Florida Carpenter ants.  All American Pest Control gives the best Pest Control packages in Orland! You can reach them at (321) 559-7378.

FAQ

How long does a Florida Carpenter ant live?

It depends. The queen can live up to 10 years, and worker Florida Carpenter ants can live for seven years. The males, however, have a small life span, and they die right after mating.

What do Florida Carpenter ants eat?

Sweet food! Florida Carpenter ants are omnivores, which means they can eat flower nectar as well as dead/live insects. In homes, these ants may feast on food crumbs, pet food, and syrups/

How do Florida Carpenter ants get into my house?

Florida Carpenter ants can find their way into your house through gaps in the walls, plumbing systems, wires, and cables. They can form their dwellings in the firewood stored near your home.

Do Florida Carpenter ants bite?

Yes! Bites of Florida Carpenter ants can be very painful! They pierce through the skin using their large mandibles and spray formic acid into the bite. Formic acid, though non-threatening, can cause irritation or mild allergic reaction in some ants.

How can I get rid of Florida Carpenter ants?

Orlando Pest Control can help you get rid of the Florida Carpenter. All American Pest Control is the best Orlando Pest Control company! You can call them at (321) 559-7378.

All American Pest Control

2014 Edgewater Dr #250, Orlando, FL 32804