8 Simple Signs of a Spider Infestation and What You Can Do
We all know that spiders are ultimately a beneficial species, and many of us try to live in harmony with arachnids. However, a spider infestation in a home can turn even the most easy-going homeowner into a battle-ready exterminator looking to eradicate a population from their house. We get it, they’re awful, and if you know what to look for, you may be able to avoid an infestation of spiders in your home.
What is a spider infestation?
A spider infestation occurs when multiple generations of spiders are reproducing within a home and having offspring. It’s important to distinguish an infestation from simply multiple spiders in the house, as the two may have different causes and solutions.
Essentially, an infestation of spiders occurs when a mated female spider moves into a home, lays eggs, and then those eggs hatch and mature. These newly-matured spiders will then search for a mate and repeat the process.
Since spider egg sacs can contain up to 250 eggs (this is dependent on the species), it doesn’t take long for an infestation to get out of control.
What causes a spider infestation?
Spiders prefer to be outside where the world is their buffet. However, if they head inside a home, it’s usually because they’re hungry or cold.
They’re following food
Spiders will follow their food. If there’s an abundance of insects inside the house for the spider to eat, they’ll follow them right in. They’ll typically set up shop somewhere that they can trap these insects and feed on them, while also staying hidden as much as possible. They may then lay eggs, spurring the infestation.
It’s getting cold out
Many spiders head inside in early winter in an attempt to stay warm. They’ll more-or-less hibernate the winter away, eating occasionally and staying as hidden as possible. Some spiders even produce chemicals that slow their metabolism, allowing them to hibernate the winter away.
The house is messy and cluttered
It’s also important to note that spiders can infest a messy, dirty home faster than a clean one. Cluttered messes give spiders plenty of places to hide, allowing them to live their lives in peace. If there is a true infestation at hand, it might be because the house is messy.
The perimeter of the home
Another thing to consider when tracking down the cause of all those spiders is the home’s foundation. A foundation with firewood piled next to it, or plants coming in contact with the foundation can become a superhighway for plant travel.
8 Signs of a spider infestation
Now that you know what causes spider infestations, let’s look at the signs that you might actually have one in your home.
1. Webs around the property
Most spiders spin webs to catch their prey, and spider webs around the home can be an indication that there is a spider infestation brewing. You can look for them in places like ceiling corners, light fixtures and chandeliers, and other objects that hang or project from the wall, but aren’t typically disturbed. You may even find them behind furniture or across windows in unused rooms.
One spider web doesn’t indicate that there is an active infestation, as it’s fairly normal to have a spider web pop up in a home a few times a year. However, multiple spider webs, or spider webs that continue to appear after being disturbed and removed can be the sign you’re looking for.
Also, do understand that there is a difference between a spider web and a cobweb. Spiders spin webs to catch prey or secure egg sacs for their young. Cobwebs are generally made from dust, fibers, hair, and other very light material that cling to each other and collect over time.
2. Egg sacs
When spiders lay eggs, they protect them by wrapping them up in an egg sac. Once the eggs hatch, the baby spiders break out of the egg sac and start their lives building nests and trapping prey.
These sacs are typically small white balls of webbing, and each can contain hundreds of spiders. Spiders typically attach them to their webs or leave them in spaces that are unlikely to be disturbed, like cracks and crevices, bushes, boxes, crawl spaces, and even workshop tool drawers. Leaving just one of these egg sacs to hatch can allow hundreds of spiders to crawl about the house and start their own webs and families, continuing the cycle.
3. Spider poop
Spiders eat bugs, and when they digest them, they poop them out. This is life.
Spider poop will typically collect under active webs, and it can look like dark ink stains or semi-liquid droppings. Folks will usually find it on the floor, on a window sill, or on a shelf and not realize what it is. But, several collections of these spots around the home indicates that multiple spiders are dining and pooping.
Also, it’s important to note that you should clean up spider poop. Spiders will eat a wide variety of bugs, many of which contain bacteria and pathogens. When the spiders poop these meals out, their droppings may contain those same pathogens.
4. Seeing multiple spiders each day
This might seem obvious, but if you’re seeing (and killing) multiple spiders each day, there is probably an issue that you need to look into.
One spider in the home isn’t a big deal. But, once that spider can lay eggs and those eggs hatch, one becomes hundreds. If you didn’t find the egg sacs in time, you might end up running into the mature offspring throughout the day. Once that generation of spiders mates and lays eggs, the number of eggs within the home can reach the tens of thousands in no time.
5. Finding spider molts
Spiders don’t grow like we do. Their bodies begin to outgrow their skin, meaning they need to shed their skin to continue growing. Folks will often see what appears to be dead spiders around their home, but these are the shed skin, or molt, of a growing spider.
Young spiders can molt up to once per month, as their bodies grow rapidly until they reach maturity. Older spiders may only molt once a year. At any rate, finding multiple spider molts of the same size around the house is a really good indication that multiple spiders are growing and shedding their skins, indicating that spiders may have infested the home.
6. Experiencing spider bites
Noticing multiple bites on the body, but not really knowing where they came from could be a sign of a spider problem. These bites typically look like standard bug bites, but they may have two small holes where the spider’s fangs pierced the skin. These spots can be red, slightly inflamed, and itchy.
With the exception of a few venomous spiders, spider bites don’t typically cause a severe reaction. Many folks don’t even feel the bite occur. It’s also important to consider that the bites could be from chiggers or bed bugs, as well.
7. Excess flying insects
Spiders aren’t picky eaters, but given the chance, they’ll take a flying insect any day. They enjoy dining on flies, honey bees, mosquitos, midges, moths, bees, gnats, fruit flies, and even flying termites if they get the chance. And, since we know that spiders will follow their food, a large population of flying insects caused by standing water, leaky pipes, an infested garbage can, or any number of other causes could be all the reasons spiders need to move in.
8. Dark Muggy Spaces
If you’re living with dark, muggy spaces, such as a humid basement or even a leaky attic, there’s a good chance that spiders will find these areas suitable for starting an infestation.
These spaces typically have two things going for them (at least in a spider’s mind): plenty of food (like silverfish and earwigs) and low foot traffic. These attributes make these spaces the perfect place to build a nest to catch prey but also to lay eggs in a space where they won’t be disturbed.
How to get rid of a spider infestation
If any of those signs hit a little too close to home, you might want to brush on some ways to get rid of a spider infestation. The following are some of the most practical methods that folks should consider.
Get rid of their food source
The reality is that once their food source is gone, there aren’t any reasons for spiders to “hang” around. Taking care of ants, flies, mosquitos, and other pests around the home will likely send spiders packing as well.
- Start by running a dehumidifier in spaces that can harbor insects. This will create a less inviting environment for bugs that like moisture, leaving less food in the home.
- Use a larvicide product in any damp areas around the property to lessen the chance of a mosquito or midge issue.
- Avoid fly infestations by cleaning garbage cans and using quality garbage bags.
Also, keep an eye out for sugar ants, carpenter ants, termites, and earwigs. These can all be spider snacks, and carpenter ants and termites can be particularly damaging to have in the home.
Clean and organize the home
Spiders like to hide in places where they’ll be left alone. The more clutter a home has, the more potential hiding places spiders will have to call home.
Start by throwing out or recycling any waste around the home, including newspapers, boxes, and empty containers. Also, dust frequently, as spiders love dust and will be attracted to dusty homes. Give some thought to the messes in the kitchen as well, as leaving dishes in the sink overnight or not cleaning up spills can attract spider prey, which will then attract spiders, as well.
Move wood piles and trim back vegetation
Some of the most intimidating spiders live in wood piles. They like the shelter they get between the logs, but there is also plenty of potential food crawling around as well. Moving a wood pile away from a home rather than right up against it can minimize the number of spiders that move into the home in the winter.
Also, vegetation that touches the home can act as a superhighway for spiders. They’re able to build their webs and lay eggs in bushes and shrubs, and once these spiders hatch, their first stop may be your living room.
Use sticky traps
Sticky traps can be semi-helpful when it comes to controlling spider populations. These traps consist of a piece of cardboard with sticky glue on top, and the glue is infused with pheromones. As insects walk across the surface, they stick to the glue, eventually dehydrating and dying.
Sticky traps can be effective for a wide variety of bugs and pests. However, if there’s already an infestation, it may be too late for these products.
Use Pesticides
If your home is infested with spiders, it may be time to hit the heavy artillery and grab some pesticides. Not only are pesticides effective against spiders, but they’re also effective against their food sources.
At RiddaBugs, we suggest that homeowners try to use other methods first, but there are times when only pesticides will do. When that’s the case, we urge homeowners to read their chosen product’s instructions carefully and use only as the manufacturer suggests.
Call a professional pest control company
Rather than using pesticides yourself, you might consider calling a professional pest control company to handle that spider problem. These pros know exactly what to do about arachnids, allowing them to choose the very best pesticide to use and the treatment schedule to take care of infesting spiders in short order. There’s a better chance of success in eliminating spiders and less of a chance of pesticide misuse.
If you do decide to DIY it and feel pretty comfortable in the process, you might even consider starting a pest control business of your own.
FAQs
What causes infestation of spiders?
Like many insects, spiders will often make their way into homes during the colder months. Also, they’ll come inside to look for food, making homes with high insect populations particularly attractive.
How do I get rid of an infestation of spiders?
There are a few methods you can try, including cleaning up the house, getting rid of their food sources (other bugs), and pesticides. You can also call a professional pest control company for surefire results.
Why are there so many spiders in my house all of a sudden?
The reason for a sudden burst of spiders is either an egg sac hatched and now there are young spiders in the home or the colder weather is driving them inside your home for the winter.
How do you know if you have a spider infestation?
There are signs to look for that may indicate that spiders infested the home. These include seeing webs, finding spider molts (discarded skins), finding egg sacs, finding spider poop, and obviously seeing multiple spiders throughout the day.
