Eliminate dangerous and nuisance spiders with residual treatments that keep working long after we leave.
East Tennessee is home to several spider species that range from harmless nuisances to medically significant threats. Brown recluse bites can cause necrotic tissue damage, while black widow venom is a serious medical concern, especially for children and the elderly. OnGuard's treatment program targets spiders where they hide — undisturbed corners, crawl spaces, garages, and attics — not just where you see them.
Violin-shaped marking on cephalothorax. Hides in undisturbed areas: closets, behind furniture, stored boxes, crawl spaces. Bites are rarely felt but can produce a necrotic wound that takes months to heal.
Shiny black with red hourglass marking on the abdomen. Found in woodpiles, garages, outbuildings, and under decks. Venom is neurotoxic — medical attention required for bites.
Large, hairy, fast-moving ground hunters. Often mistaken for tarantulas. Not medically significant but startling. Enter homes through gaps around doors and foundations in fall.
Small tan spider responsible for most household cobwebs. More of a nuisance than a threat, but webs signal a broader pest issue — spiders follow their prey inside.
If you see a brown recluse or black widow indoors, do not attempt to handle it. Keep children and pets away and call OnGuard at 423-951-5667 for a same-week inspection.
As temperatures drop in September and October, spiders — and the insects they eat — seek shelter inside homes. Bradley and McMinn County homeowners see a spike in spider sightings every fall. Our preventive treatments in late summer create a barrier that significantly reduces fall invasion pressure. Every-other-month maintenance customers are protected year-round.
Same-week appointments available in Cleveland, Athens, and surrounding communities. Call 423-951-5667 or request a free quote online.
Yes. Brown recluse spiders are well-established throughout East Tennessee, including Bradley and McMinn counties. They favor undisturbed areas — closets, stored boxes, crawl spaces, behind furniture, and attic spaces. Most bites occur when someone reaches into an area without looking first. If you're seeing brown spiders with a violin-shaped marking indoors, call OnGuard for a professional inspection.
Black widows are shiny black with a red hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen. They are found throughout East Tennessee, particularly in woodpiles, outbuildings, under decks, and dark corners of garages. Brown widows are tan to brown with an orange hourglass and are less commonly encountered in our area. Both produce medically significant venom requiring professional treatment if bitten.
Spiders and their prey — flies, beetles, and other insects — seek shelter as temperatures drop in September and October. East Tennessee's rural-suburban mix means there's significant pressure every fall. Spiders enter through gaps around doors, windows, utility lines, and foundation cracks. Our late-summer perimeter treatment creates a barrier that significantly reduces fall spider invasion.
Web removal eliminates egg sacs and reduces visible signs, but it doesn't address the population. Spiders rebuild quickly. Without treating the harborage areas — crawl spaces, attic corners, exterior foundation — the spider population remains. Professional treatment combines physical web removal with residual insecticide applied to where spiders actually live, not just where webs appear.
OnGuard uses pyrethroid-based residual products that are applied to targeted surfaces and dry quickly. We advise keeping children and pets away from treated surfaces for 1–2 hours until dry. Once dry, treated surfaces are safe for normal household activity. We use the smallest effective application to minimize exposure and always follow EPA-registered label directions.
Same-week appointments available. No commitment required. We'll call you within 1 business hour.