254 AMERICAN SPIDERS 



numerous and only rarely found in houses, control is not a real 

 problem. In southern and western states, on the other hand, there 

 exists an equable climate more suitable to the needs of the spider; it 

 responds by maintaining a substantial population. As is true of 

 most animals, the spider becomes more abundant in certain years, 

 in response to abnormal climatic or changed biotic conditions. Re- 

 adjustment to the normal population is usually swift, however, and 

 there need be little fear that these creatures will maintain for any 

 long period a vastly increased population. In nature the black 

 widow is controlled by a host of predators and various parasites 

 which decimate the numbers in all the life stages. 



It is now generally believed that a periodical eradication of the 

 spiders and their egg masses by mechanical means is the most satis- 

 factory method of control. At night the spiders can be easily de- 

 tected with the aid of a headlamp or flashlight, and destroyed by 

 hand. A reasonable amount of neatness in the storage of equipment 

 and disposition of rubbish will reduce the available sites for nests 

 and webs. Everyone should know this brilliantly marked spider by 

 sight, and avoid contact with it. A periodic examination of outdoor 

 privies should be made, and the undersides of the seats should be 

 painted with creosote, crude oil, or some other repellant. 



