Spiders are predators that feed on insects and other spiders. They are well-known creatures that play an important role in many books, movies, and most importantly, the ecosystem! A spider's feeding habits help stop garden pests and other problematic pests from taking over outdoor spaces.

Spiders have become common household pests because they thrive in our backyards which offer them easy access to food, water, and shelter. Spiders prefer to live outside but regularly travel into our homes, following their insect prey or searching for a sheltered spot to lay their eggs. Once inside, spiders quickly make themselves at home, and as long as there are insects for them to hunt, they will stay. Spiders are living creatures that we can't live without but don't want to live either!

Implement the following prevention tips to keep spiders out of your Houston home:

• Seal gaps in its exterior walls and under doors, place weatherstripping around windows and doors, and repair damaged trim. 

• Regularly vacuum and dust your home to dislodge and remove hiding spiders. 

• Avoid attracting the insects to your property that spiders eat by keeping lids on trash cans and maintaining outdoor eating areas and gardens. 

• For professional help controlling spiders on your property, reach out today.

Scorpions are adept hunters and, like other predators, help control nuisance pest populations. Scorpions living in Texas often find their way onto our properties because our yards, gardens, and houses provide a home for the insects they like to feed on and shelter for the scorpions themselves. They also have high moisture needs, so leaky pipes and outdoor fixtures offer them reliable water sources.

The long segmented tail that curves over a scorpion's body has a stinger at its end that delivers painful, venom-filled stings. Sharing your yard or home with scorpions is never a good idea because of their ability to sting and inject people with their potent venom. Scorpions prefer to live outside but often move into homes following their insect prey or in an effort to find a dark, cool place to hang out. If a scorpion's basic needs are met, they won't hesitate to turn your house into their permanent residence.

Implement the following prevention tips to keep scorpions out of your home:

• Eliminate standing water from in and around your house that will provide scorpions with the moisture they need to survive. 

• Clear away brush, leaf piles, and other debris from your property that provides scorpions with hiding spots on your property. 

• Seal cracks or gaps discovered around windows or doors and in your foundation or exterior walls that provide entry points. If you need professional help ridding your property of scorpions, reach out today.