The various black widow species are distinguished by the red markings, usually in the shape of an hourglass, on their abdomen’s underside. They spin funnel-shaped cobwebs, and their egg sacs are beige to yellow, smooth, round, and 1 to 1. 25 centimetres (0. 39 to 0. 49 in) in diameter. [1] X Research source Brown widows are venomous, but not as aggressive as black widows. The hourglass-shaped markings under their abdomen can be yellow or orange, and they have dark bands on their legs. Their egg sacs are also beige to yellow, but are covered with little silk spikes. [2] X Research source Brown recluse spiders have long bodies and slender legs. They are distinguished by a dark, violin-shaped mark on their back, and unlike most spiders, they only have 6 eyes. [3] X Research source Their webs are flat, patternless, and sheet-like, and their egg sacs are silky, somewhat rough and irregularly shaped, and average 1. 5 centimetres (0. 59 in) in diameter. [4] X Research source

Brown recluse spiders can go months without food or water. Since they’re hunting spiders, they wander, hide, and are fast. Spiders that wait in their webs for prey are easier to control.

You can also use a duster to remove any webbing and eggs. [8] X Research source Joshua Bloom. Pest Control Specialist. Personal interview. 8 May 2020.

Spiders are fragile, so vacuuming one up will easily kill it. However, the egg sac offers a little more protection, so eggs or spiderlings might survive.

Give your freezer chest or cooler a good cleaning when you’re finished.

Since egg sacs are water repellent, water-based pesticides are ineffective. Go for a direct aerosol, or spray, product. Foggers are also ineffective against spiders.

Oil-based products are highly effective egg killers, but you don’t want to take any chances. In addition, if you just leave a web intact, it might trap insects and attract other spiders.

Pesticides are more effective against web-weavers than hunting spiders, which can just run away from chemical spray. If you’ve sprayed an egg sac but the mother spider scurried away, you might have another egg sac on your hands sooner rather than later. Most spiders only need to mate once in their life, but can produce up to 5 egg sacs.