Even if you are terrified of spiders, know that they are not out to get you! Spiders play an important role in the ecosystems around your residence. Spiders that are not venomous should be left in place if possible because they contribute to biological control (i.e. eating other insects). If you are determined to get rid of them here are some tips and tricks to control populations.
Spiders are difficult to control because they hang out in dark, cluttered areas away from predators and humans. Places like closets, garages, attics, wall voids and under furniture are prime habitats for 8-legged arachnids to live.
Inspections & Monitoring
A proper inspection is needed to determine the species and numbers of active spiders in a home. Check in the corners of closets, around light fixtures, under cabinets, inside cabinets, behind or inside boxes in garages, around electrical outlets, as well as around vegetation on the outside of the foundation. I tend to find the most spiders around light fixtures that stay on all night and in garages where there is plentiful prey for spiders.
Natural Control Methods
Glue boards, also called sticky traps, are a great way to monitor activity and find problem areas. This will help to properly identify which species are the problem as well as reduce other pest populations that go in the traps too! Removing and brushing away webs will also help reduce populations and irritate them so they will hopefully move on to another nesting area. Keeping bushes and trees trimmed away from the house a few feet will also help reduce harborage locations for spiders and other insects and also eliminate direct pathways for bugs to enter your house.
Filling in weep holes with mesh products like copper, stainless steel, or steel wool help keep eliminate entry points. Sealing plumbing and air conditioning pipe penetrations will help with other problem insects as well as spiders. Removing clutter and keeping storage items in tightly sealed containers take away dark habitats that spiders enjoy.
The most effective control measure I have found at my own house is switching to amber light bulbs on any lights that stay on at night. With newer LED bulbs in modern homes the insects are attracted to them at night and spiders spin webs where those lights are to catch prey. Switching to the amber or yellow bulbs makes a tremendous difference. Turning off all lights at night is recommended, but not always practical. Closing blinds at night will also help.
Natural Predators
Spiders are prey to lizards, birds, toads, frogs, and other spiders. Although it would be difficult to rely solely on natural predators to gain control of spider populations, creating a habitat that is hospitable for these predators will help the spider populations decrease slightly. The frogs will also help with mosquito control.
Chemical Control
I can say that after many years in pest control around Canyon Lake, Bulverde and Spring Branch, we can achieve about 80% or so reduction in spider populations with just a general pest control treatment alone, without doing a whole lot of extra exclusion or deep cleaning. Using a good residual concentrate designed for spiders along with proper use of dust products in voids and attics can greatly reduce the spider numbers as long as the service is maintained.
With the homeowner adding in some weep hole sealing, sealing gaps and cracks, de-cluttering, and other housekeeping measures, spiders can really become a non-issue.
Contact us today if you have questions or you’re ready to schedule pest control service!
