House Spiders: Dealing with Unwanted Arachnid Guests
Ah, yes, the lovely fall season has arrived. With gorgeous leaves and bonfires and football games and sweaters and…spiders. In all likelihood, regardless of where you live, you are spotting a whole lot of these little critters. Fall is prime time for house spiders to appear seemingly out of nowhere. If you are one of the rare individuals who loves spiders, you may be observing them with curiosity and then gently relocating them outside.
If you are like the majority of homeowners, however, you may be reaching for a heavy shoe each time you spot one in your house. Before you start your next game of Whack-a-Spider, however, consider reaching out to us at Environmental Pest Management. Our environmentally friendly methods and our focus on prevention and management over eradication are healthy for the earth and healthy for your home.
Common Types of House Spiders
In general, house spiders tend to fall into two categories: those that build webs and those that hunt. Web builders are the more common type to find in your home. Some likely spider house guests include:
American House Spider: Although these spiders create some messy-looking cobwebs, they are otherwise very harmless. They are small to medium in size and brown or gray. They like dark places like basements and crawl spaces.
Long-Legged Cellar Spiders: Although these creatures are arachnids, they are not technically spiders. They have only one body section as opposed to a true spider’s two body sections. As their name indicates, they like to live in basements and cellars and crawl spaces.
Brown Recluse: Also called fiddleback or violin spiders due to their distinctive markings, brown recluse spiders are native to the southern and midwestern parts of the United States. This is a shy spider that will not attack if left alone. It does have a highly venomous bite, though, that can cause a severe reaction in someone with an allergy or other underlying conditions. Although they do bite, most supposed bites are later found to be from ticks or mites instead.
Wolf Spiders: These harmless spiders are hunters and are on the larger side. They often are mistaken for the brown recluse, but these guys actually are safe enough that many people keep them as pets.
Also Read: The Best Ways to Get Rid of Mice this Spring
Why Shouldn’t I Try to Smash All of Them?
Despite the widespread fear of spiders, these creatures are both amazing and necessary. They are vital to our local and global ecosystem and are helpful in all of the following ways:
1. Spiders are nature’s pest control. Most house spiders are web builders who are busy trapping other bugs that you’d rather not have living with you. Bed bugs, flies, mosquitoes, and moths are all on the menu for spiders. Without these arachnids, you may have infestations to deal with.
2. The majority of spiders are not harmful to humans or pets. Let’s face it; you don’t fit in a spider’s web. Neither do your pets. Almost every spider in your home wants nothing to do with you, is not going to bite, and is not dangerous. The few venomous spiders that may find their way into your home, such as a black widow, brown recluse, or a hobo spider, are unlikely to bite unless directly threatened.
3. Many long-legged cellar spiders will kill black widows, further protecting you and your pets.
4. As spiders gobble up fleas and cockroaches and mosquitoes, they are helping to control the spread of disease.
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Also Read: Spiders Pest Control
‘Tis the Season
Why do you see so many spiders in your house during late summer and into fall? The truth is, they’ve probably been there since last spring when they hatched. With an average lifespan of two years, many house spiders may have been your roommates for well over a year already. Now not only are they big enough for you to notice them, but they are also looking for a mate. So it’s not your imagination that spiders seem to be everywhere this time of year. They are!
The Best Methods for Dealing with House Spiders
Before reaching for a shoe, a newspaper or a pesticide, try these options for managing the house spider population in your home:
1. Block entry into the house. Caulk and fill cracks and holes that would allow spiders and other bugs to come in.
2. Trim bushes that brush against the house or windows. Clear any debris that is near the house. Spiders are likely living there already, making it just a quick jaunt into your home. Trimming and clearing will leave space between your house and the spider’s domain.
3. Store seasonal items and clothing in plastic tubs with secure lids. Insects like cardboard, and spiders like insects. If you can make sure you aren’t attracting their food source, you will stop more spiders from coming in.
4. Periodically clean out basement and garage floors and ceilings to remove webs, debris, and other detritus.
5. When dealing with an infestation call the experts, Environmental Pest Management.
Responsible Spider Control
We get it. Spiders can be a nuisance in your home. And when things exist such as jumping spiders and hairy legs and eight eyes, we understand how house spiders can be creepy. We’re here to help. The experts at Environmental Pest Management are committed to treating your home and the earth responsibly. We offer care that manages the pest issues in your home without creating undue harm.
Through the use of integrated pest management practices, our technicians first determine if pest control is necessary. These animals exist with a purpose, so eradication is not our goal. We actively identify and monitor pests to determine if they pose a risk or not. We focus on prevention and environmentally safe management first, and if we see that there is a health or economic risk for your home, we will employ the targeted use of pesticides.
If you have any questions about spiders or other critters you’ve seen in and around your house, please reach out today. Our friendly, professional technicians are ready to help ensure your home is safe and comfortable all year round.