Family Owned Pest Control in Washington & Utah
License # 101704
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- License # 101704
Do you have a spider problem? You’re not alone. Spiders are a common nuisance in homes across the U.S. and Canada. They can be unsettling to find lurking in corners, weaving webs in basements, or scuttling across your floors. But why are they drawn to your home in the first place?
In this post, we’ll break down what attracts spiders and the kinds of food sources that keep them coming back. Plus, we’ll cover practical steps you can take to reduce their numbers and keep your home spider-free.
The most common type of spider you'll find in a US home is the common house spider. Some species of house spiders include daddy-long-legs, common cellar spiders, jumping spiders, hobo spiders, and rarely, the more dangerous black widows and brown recluses.
These spiders are generally not aggressive and will only bite humans if they feel threatened. Don't worry; the vast majority of North American spiders are mostly harmless, and their bites will only mildly irritate most people!
However, please be cautious around large brown spiders, as the various species of brown spiders are the most common poisonous spiders in the US. The bite of a brown recluse spider can cause pain and possible skin damage.
Despite that, you usually don't have to worry about the spiders themselves. But their presence can indicate that you have another more pressing pest issue at hand.
Curious about the types of spiders in Washington? Check out this article to learn what creepy crawlers might invade your home.
It is estimated that spiders worldwide eat approximately 400-800 million tons of insects and pests yearly, drastically reducing disease spread in grasslands, forests, and urban environments. So, they aren't all bad!
Spiders are carnivores that primarily hunt for live prey. Their diet mostly consists of insects and other small arthropods like ants, flies, beetles, and moths. Some species, such as jumping spiders, actively hunt their prey, while others rely on webs to catch their meals.
But what do spiders eat besides insects? While they mainly feed on live prey, they can also consume other spiders, nectar, and fruits if accessible. In fact, if you're noticing tiny spiders in your house or even small house spiders, it's often because they’ve found a consistent food source.
Common food sources for spiders in the home can also include uncovered meats, wet cat food, and spilled drinks. If you can eliminate these food sources by keeping a clean kitchen and sealing off your trash, you will also be able to reduce the population of spiders in your home.
But what eats spiders? Despite being skilled predators, spiders have their own enemies. Wasps, mites, snakes, frogs, lizards, and birds are all natural predators. Interestingly, some ants eat spiders as well, especially when they come across eggs or small species.
If you are finding a lot of spiders in your home, it is likely because there are also a lot of insects for them to eat. As such, spiders in the home can be seen as a symptom of a pest issue, as opposed to the problem itself.
What attracts spiders in a house? Easy meals. If you’re dealing with spiders in your house, chances are their food source is the real issue.
From small house spiders to wolf spiders, most species are there to hunt pests like ants, flies, and beetles. The key to effective spider control is eliminating what they eat and blocking their entry points. Here's how to do it:
Reducing spiders in your home starts by keeping their prey out. As a rule of thumb, to keep pests away from your home, you should seal up any cracks or openings where they might be getting into the building. If you're a homeowner, check the foundation of the house. If there are cracks, not only will it encourage pests to break in, but it's bad for the home!
Another way bugs can easily get in is through your windows. Invest in screens if you don't already have them, and check your existing ones for holes or damage. Check the siding around the window as well; some bugs can bore into wood such as termites and carpenter bees, creating a way in for their friends.
Eliminate any food sources that would attract insects. Check for leaky pipes and clean up excess moisture in your kitchen, bathrooms, or basement. Since bugs tend to gather near sources of moisture, you'll likely find spiders congregating nearby.
Check your pantry and cupboards regularly for food scraps left behind from packaging, as well as in between kitchen appliances and in crevices where you regularly eat. Basically, look anywhere where there could be food scraps that could have been forgotten.
Sweep and vacuum regularly to pick up any crumbs or other small food particles. Take out the trash often, and remember to clean behind appliances where spiders could be hiding.
You should also be diligent about taking out your recycling, as many bugs are attracted to the sweet smell of soda cans or beer bottles. If you leave them sitting out, you're practically inviting a buffet for spiders and other pests. If you're still having problems, try washing out the insides of your garbage cans with soap and hot water. As an added bonus, it may help it smell better on garbage day!
Keeping spiders out of your house can be as simple as cutting off their food supply and cleaning up the spaces that attract pests. But if you’re still dealing with spiders in your home, especially venomous spiders or stubborn infestations, it’s time to call a professional.
The pest control pros here at Zunex can help identify what kind of insects are getting into your home and provide a solution to get rid of them. In the meantime, try to relax and remember that spiders are actually doing you a favor by eating all those other bugs. Just don't let them get too comfortable in your home!
Thanks for reading! We hope this post has been helpful in understanding the diet of common house spiders and what you can do to reduce their population in your home.
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