Help! I have spiders in my house! Find out why your home seems to be more inviting to common house spiders in the summer months.
Summer is almost here, and most of us are dreaming of longer and warmer days spent blissfully by the water, or playing in the shade. We aren’t anticipating the unwanted guests who want to move in during this time of year: spiders!
If you’ve noticed more than a few creepy crawlies hanging around your home, you might wonder, “Why are there so many spiders in my house?” Today, we’re sharing a few of the most common reasons they come indoors during this time of year, and what you can do about it.
Common Summertime Spiders
As the weather warms up, it helps to know which spider species are most likely to enter your home. A few of the most common types include:
- Common house spiders
- Jumping spiders
- Daddy long-leg spiders
- Cellar spiders
- Wolf spiders
- Black widow spiders
- Yellow sac spiders
If you notice an infestation of any of these, go ahead and contact your local pest control experts for a more thorough inspection!
Spiders Seeking Shelter
Think about what you like to do when it gets too hot outside. You seek shelter, where you can find refreshingly cooler temperatures and a place to chill out.
Unfortunately, spiders have the same mentality.
When it heats up around their outdoor home, they’ll look for any way possible to sneak into yours. Here, they can find relief from the pounding sun and unbearable heat.
Likewise, in the winter, they travel indoors to escape the brutal cold. In both seasons, they’ll visit your home in search of narrow gaps and piles of clutter, where they can hide out and regulate their body temperature.
In addition, spiders will also make this journey if it gets too wet or too dry this summer. They like their homes to be comfortable at all times, so heavy rains will send them packing, as will periods of drought.
Spiders Looking for Water
Another reason you might need spider control this summer? The arachnids need a steady supply of water. They will often travel indoors to look for any areas of standing water that they can drink.
Most of the time, they can locate an outdoor water source with ease. However, in excessively hot summers, those areas can become scarcer and more difficult to find. Spiders need water to survive, and they’ll travel anywhere to find it.
Spiders Looking for Food
Along the same vein, spiders may also come into your house in search of food. If they’re unable to fill their bellies with the unfortunate pests they trap in their webs, they’ll supplement those meals by snacking on the foods you have on hand.
From your pantry to your kitchen island, they’re ready to nibble on anything you may drop or leave out unattended.
Spiders Trying to Find a Mate
Did you know your home could serve as the backdrop for a spider mating session? It’s true! Some spider species mate during July and August.
When female spiders sneak inside of your home, they can begin to send out mating calls to male spiders nearby. For your part, you won’t be able to hear or discern the call, because it won’t be audible.
Rather, these mating calls are sent via pheromones. These are special chemicals that insects secrete in an effort to attract a potential mate. Each bug species releases pheromones in its own way, and female spiders are no exception.
These spiders release theirs in an airborne manner, sending out strongly-scented cuticular or silk-based pheromones. When those chemicals come into contact with a male spider’s chemoreceptors, the male spider will trace the scent back to the source.
In his quest to find a mate, this might mean that a male spider inadvertently makes his way into your home! It’s common for just a few female spiders to attract the attention and presence of many more male suitors.
Following Other Bugs
Spiders tend to follow the crowd. If they sense that there are other pests taking shelter in your home, they will want to join them! They have special sensors that allow them to detect the presence of bugs in your home, even if they’re far away from it.
How does it work?
When the bugs inside of your home begin to move, they create a subtle vibration in the air. Spiders can sense this vibration through the sensitive hairs on their legs. Called trichobothria, these hairs detect even the most minor shifts in vibration, and they can lead the spider to the source of the activity.
If you already have flies, ants, or other insects inside your home, then don’t be surprised to find spiders there in the near future, too.
How to Keep Your Home Spider-Free
You may be a hospitable host, but it’s unlikely that you want to live with spiders this summer. Here are a few easy tips to help keep your home clean and safe:
- Remove piles of leaves and debris from your yard.
- Seal gaps and cracks around your home.
- Keep your doors closed when you’re not using them.
- Eliminate any other bug species inside your home.
If these methods don’t solve the issue, it might be time to call a professional pest control expert to take care of your spider situation for you! At Official Pest Prevention, our residential services are gentle yet effective, giving you and your family peace of mind.
Spiders in My House: Who to Call
Once you know the answer to “Why are there so many spiders in my house?”, you can take the necessary steps to eliminate them.
Spiders need water, food, company, and a comfortable place to relax. If your home can meet those needs this summer, they may come indoors. If you notice them, reach out to our team.
We’ll provide a free, no-obligation inspection to help you understand the root of your pest problem, as well as the damage it’s causing. Then, we’ll work to develop a treatment plan to remove them at the source. Contact us today to get started!
Official Pest Prevention is a family-owned, licensed pest control company celebrating 20 years serving over 100,000 satisfied customers in five area codes throughout Northern and Central California. Starting with a few contacts, and only four full-time employees, our small company has grown into an organization that today employs over 100 people, maintains a fleet of 75 vehicles, and has serviced over 100,000 Northern California households. This tremendous growth has come from loyal customers, who have recommended our work to their friends, family, and neighbors.
We are a full-service pest control company. Whatever your pest problem, we have a solution. Our goal is to make your property pest-free. Guaranteed. Contact us online or by phone (877) 711 2847 – for immediate assistance. Same-day bookings and flexible payment plans available – because pest invasions wait for no one.
