OK, hear us out on this one: Objectively, spiders are incredibly beneficial for a habitat. Indeed, like other predators, they act as nature’s own pest control service, feeding on troublesome bugs like mosquitoes, flies, and roaches.
However, it’s a bit harder to be grateful for spiders when they’ve moved into your habitat. While a spider web here and there is one thing, finding dozens of webs or egg sacs is often where homeowners (understandably) draw the line.
Maybe you have a decent amount of spiders, but aren’t sure if it’s a problem. If you do have a spider infestation in your house, what should you do?
Signs of a Spider Infestation
If you suspect a family of spiders may have taken up residence, there are some signs you can look out for.
Active Spiderwebs
If you only have a few webs in your basement or attic, this is normal. These may also be cobwebs (abandoned spider webs). After a spider leaves its web, the sticky threads trap dust over time, giving cobwebs a thicker or droopier appearance A sparse population of spiders in an attic or basement can actually reduce the amount of flies, mosquitoes, and other insect pests in your home.
Of course, every homeowner has their own tolerance level for spiders. While some may not mind a few hanging around in darker, unused places, a few can quickly become hundreds if they are reproducing effectively.
Still other homeowners will not tolerate any arachnids in their home, especially if anyone in the household suffers from arachnophobia (a condition that should always be taken seriously).
Spider Egg Sacs
Spider egg sacs are small, white balls, often located near a spiderweb. Depending on the type of spider, an egg sac can have anywhere between dozens and hundreds of eggs.
What Kind of Spider Am I Dealing With?
It’s nearly impossible to identify the type of spider in your home from the egg sac or web alone. Instead, you’ll need an adult spider to inspect.
In Northern Colorado, the most common types of spiders we see indoors are:
- House spiders
- Grass spiders
- Cellar spiders (daddy longlegs)
- Wood louse spiders
- Wolf spiders
- Black widow (less common but venomous)
The only species in Colorado that warrants immediate concern for safety is the black widow, as it has a potent venom and, while generally avoidant of people, can be aggressive if surprised or in defense of egg sacs. All other spiders found here are not venomous and are far less aggressive.
How Do I Get Rid of Spiders?
There are many ways to free yourself from a spider infestation in your home, from simple cleaning and disposal of webs and egg sacs to chemicals, glue traps, and natural pesticides such as diatomaceous earth, which will kill spiders after they ingest it.
Most household spider issues can be kept at bay with regular cleaning of windows, basements, and attics. If you’d rather not kill the creatures, you can try to catch and release the specimens you find and spray a mixture of peppermint oil and water near entrances and windows to discourage them from returning.
There are also some outside-the-box remedies you can try. Cats are known spider hunters, and they can help catch the arachnids you miss—but the downside is that spiders are more toy than prey for a cat, and they will often simply lose interest or play with the spider until it scurries underneath a baseboard.
Should I Hire a Professional?
The decision to hire a professional spider removal service often comes down to peace of mind. You can try DIY removal methods first, but if you’re really intent on getting rid of spiders, you may find that they’re not 100% effective. If you feel uncomfortable in your own home on account of spiders, don’t hesitate to call a pest control company to completely eliminate them.
If you want to learn how Bug Control Specialist can resolve your spider problem, fill out our contact form or give us a call today.