If you don’t like spiders, you’re not alone. Arachnophobia is one of the most common phobias around the world, and there’s even some evidence that a fear of spiders is something we’re born with!
Some spiders, like the colloquially named “Daddy Long Legs” (which isn’t actually a spider at all), can be tolerated. But when the spiders in question are really, really big, it can send even the toughest character running for the hills.
There are a few large spiders native to the Ohio area, including wolf spiders and fishing spiders. These spiders can reach more than an inch in body length and up to four inches in leg span. They can often be found in wood piles, sheds, garages, basements, and even in houses.
If the idea of huge spiders inside your house sends shivers up your spine, it’s a good idea to know how to keep them out. Let’s talk about what attracts spiders to your home, how to keep them away, and what you should do if they’re a serious problem.
What Attracts Spiders?
The good news here is that the various species of wolf and nursing web (or fishing) spiders aren’t out to hurt you. These spiders aren’t aggressive and will only bite in self-defense. They also aren’t dangerous (unlike black widow and brown recluse spiders), so a bite is unlikely to cause significant harm.
Like other pests, spiders are attracted to your garage or home for a few key reasons: warmth and food.
Spiders will come indoors in search of shelter from the elements. For this reason, they are particularly common in the fall and winter.
They will also come into your house in pursuit of their food source: insects. Insects like stink bugs, lady beetles, cockroaches, and others will enter your home in search of food and warmth, and spiders will follow them. Because of this, one way to make your home less hospitable to spiders is to make it less hospitable for all kinds of pests.
How to Keep Large Spiders Outside
To keep spiders outside, where they belong, we recommend the following:
- Seal up cracks large enough to let spiders (and other insects) inside
- Repair or replace cracked weatherstripping around windows and doors
- Fix leaky pipes or other sources of excess moisture, which can attract pests
- Keep windows and doors closed (unless they have screens)
- Clean your home regularly to remove insect food sources
- Prune shrubs and other vegetation back from the outside of your home
- Check any plants that you bring inside the home for spiders
- Remove clutter in order to give spiders fewer places to hide
- Remove spiderwebs with a broom or vacuum cleaner as soon as you see them, as this will prevent spiders from taking up permanent residence of your home
If you can, consider trapping the odd spider you find and releasing it outside, far from your home. Spiders are an important part of the ecosystem and are key to keeping insect populations in check.
What to Do in a Spider Infestation
A few spiders here and there is not necessarily a problem. In fact, a spider or two can reduce the number of bothersome insects in your home. However, if there are a large number of spiders in your home, you’ll (understandably) want to get rid of them.
If you see unusually high spider activity, this likely means one of two things: your home has a spider infestation, or your home has an infestation of another pest, which is attracting the spiders.
Eliminating a spider infestation is a job for the professionals. Professional pest control experts have the experience and materials necessary to identify where spiders are entering your home and how to eliminate them.
If you have a serious spider problem, talk to the experts at Scherzinger Pest Control. We can resolve your pest issue fast.
Contact Scherzinger Pest Control, a trusted pest control company in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas, including Dayton, OH, and now Columbus, OH. We’ve been pioneers, engineering new standards for ways of eliminating and controlling bugs and pests. Contact us by phone at 1-877-748-9888 or through our website, Facebook, or Twitter.