February 7, 2023

Can Spiders Survive in the Cold?

Whenever the winter chill sets in, you and your family may grab a favorite throw blanket and snuggle up in front of the fireplace or heater. Who wouldn’t want to escape the frigid weather?

Many pests also head inside during the cold, sneaking in through tiny cracks and crevices to reach the warm air. Plus, an abundance of food in your pantry doesn’t hurt, either!

Spiders may sneak inside, following a long line of pests like roaches, silverfish, and earwigs to catch a bite. But this may not be the only reason they come inside. Can spiders survive in the cold, or do the outdoor temperatures send them packing from their summer webs?

Take a look at our blog, where we’ll fill you in on everything you need to know about spiders and winter weather. 

Do Spiders Only Come Inside During the Winter?

Many homeowners report seeing spiders during dreary winter days when the weather outdoors is too cold to handle. Halloween wouldn’t be complete without a slight chill and a spiderweb hanging around too!

Despite their general prevalence during the winter, spiders can come indoors any time of year, mainly if they’re acclimated to living around humans like many common house spider species. 

House spiders regularly live inside homes without spending much time outside, as their name suggests. While some can stay alive in your yard, most are better suited for indoor living and won’t attempt to leave.

You can see any of these species no matter the time of year. They’ll stick around and create webs from the summer’s hottest days to the chilliest winter night. Like most spiders, these pests are generally non-aggressive unless directly handled. 

What about other spider species that may infest your home for food and shelter?

Spiders may come indoors throughout the year. Fall is mating season for most spiders, so you’re likely to see more pop up looking for a mate. During the spring, many spiders hunt for the perfect place to lay their eggs.

Because summer and winter typically have much more extreme temperatures and weather, it’s not uncommon to see spiders inching their way inside for shelter. Plus, if more of their food head into your home, spiders could follow suit. 

Can Spiders Survive in the Cold?

While some spiders may sneak inside any season, that doesn’t mean they can’t handle a little chill! 

We associate cold weather with pests like rodents and spiders, but this doesn’t mean they solely come indoors during this season. 

Most of the spiders you find in your house probably already have lived there for some time. In fact, almost all of the spiders you see indoors were perhaps born in your home and have never left

Common house spiders will typically spend their entire lives within your home, never exiting to forage or live outdoors. These pests prey on common insects like roaches, flies, moths, and earwigs that regularly infest Washington households. 

Plus, if a spider has enough to eat, they’re less likely to leave. Other spider species, like black widows, wolf spiders, and brown recluse spiders, could extend their stay in your home if existing pests are abundant. 

But can spiders survive in the cold when they don’t shelter in our homes?

Spiders aren’t typically attracted to warmth and won’t come indoors unless the external conditions are below freezing. Instead, you’re more likely to find them outside or in structures with regular access to your lawn, like garages or sheds. 

Once the temperatures grow too cold, spiders will stay in one spot and remain dormant until the weather heats up again, utilizing unique antifreeze-like compounds in their bodies that keep them from freezing.

These components help a spider’s body develop a hard exterior that protects its exoskeleton and internal organs from damage. To further preserve themselves, the spiders will cease movement for a period of time.

These pests may hunker down in rock beds or brush piles until the weather heats up again a few weeks or months later. Because of their adaptability, you shouldn’t see many garden or outdoor spiders in your home during winter. 

However, can house spiders survive in the cold? While other spider species may easily weather the cold, many house spiders aren’t well equipped to handle the chill. They’re primarily acclimated to the indoor elements and won’t live long outside.

If you spot a spider indoors during the winter, it’s most likely a house spider that’s resided there all year long. You can quickly remedy your problem by taking the spider outdoors or contacting a pest control agency for larger infestations. 

House spiders aren’t typically venomous species, but they’re still nuisance pests that can overtake your home. 

No matter the season, spiders can be a problem. Whether you’re dealing with year-round house spiders or occasional invaders like wolf spiders, black widows, and brown recluse spiders, we’re here to help. 

Zunex can swiftly eliminate all of the spiders in your home and even get rid of the pests they regularly consume. Once we remove the insects that keep them coming around, you should notice fewer spiders overall. 

Contact us today to schedule an appointment!

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