ABOUT COMMON HOUSE SPIDERS

With a straightforward name derived from its habit of living inside human habitations, the common house spider is a nuisance pest. They are found in every corner of the U.S., and their presence inside homes and offices may signal a headache for Yardley area property owners.

The female common house spider places an egg sac in her web. As many as 250 eggs may be within a single sac, and it is not unusual for a female to have more than one sac at a time. Accordingly, her ability to reproduce is staggering. Young are only in the egg sac for seven to 10 days. This means that a common house spider infestation can quickly become difficult to manage.

While it is disagreeable to share living or working space with a large number of spiders, this infestation may indicate a more serious pest problem. Frequently, spiders are drawn to properties where they know they can find plenty of food. It may be that a population of common house spiders is simply going where the food is available. An inspection from an experienced pest control provider should be performed to determine whether or not this is the case.

APPEARANCE

Common house spiders are relatively small. Adult females measure between 3/16 and 5/16 of an inch. The males are less robust at between 1/8 and 3/16 of an inch. Differentiation between the sexes also is noticeable in the shape of the abdomen. Females have a distinctively rounded abdomen while males sport an abdomen that is elongated. Wide color variations are common among the species. Shades of yellow, brown and off-white frequently are seen. Many members of the species have dark stripes on their abdomen. Both males and females have eight eyes and serrated bristles on their fourth pair of legs.

DIET

Common house spiders eat a variety of insects including flies, moths and mosquitoes. Almost any insect or arachnid that becomes caught in their web will be consumed. In the sense that they are a natural form of pest control, these spiders can be considered a beneficial species.

HABITATS

Common house spiders prefer warm, dry places to live, which explains their tendency to choose manmade buildings for shelter. Entry points to the structure include open doors and windows, but this arachnid is just as likely to use any small hole or crack in the building's exterior.

Once inside, they seek a cluttered spot or a room where people rarely go. This provides them with the perfect habitat to build a web without being disturbed. Attics, basements, crawl spaces and closets all frequently are chosen. However, house spiders also may build a web on a light fixture or in the upper corner of a door or window. They recognize that these light sources may attract prey to their web.

DIET

PROBLEMS WITH COMMON HOUSE SPIDERS

In general, house spiders are not considered a threat to life or property. More of a nuisance pest, they tend to be an inconvenience rather than a danger. Their constant web spinning creates additional cleaning work for the inhabitants of the building. Additionally, many people are made distinctly uneasy by sharing their living or working area with spiders. For some individuals, this can manifest as a relatively serious condition known as arachnophobia. They may be tempted to request professional intervention after seeing just one spider.

Nonetheless, the presence of a great many common house spiders may demonstrate a need for other pest control services. Spiders feed on insects, and if they are present in large numbers, then there must be an insect population to support them. These insects may be a true threat to the property, necessitating the services of a pest management professional.

BEHAVIOR

Common house spiders create a distinctive funnel-shaped web. At the narrow end is the spider's den where they conceal themselves for sleep. Prey that becomes entangled in the web sends vibrations down its strands to the den where the spider is awakened and alerted to the fact that prey is present.

Upon entering a building, the house spider immediately begins spinning webs. Several of these may be created before the spider finds a location that is most suitable for capturing prey.

Adults have a lifespan of approximately one year. Males and females may cohabitate, mating several times to produce thousands of offspring.

HEALTH ISSUES

Few medical concerns are associated with common house spiders. Bites are rare, and when they do occur, only mild discomfort as a result of the spider's venom is experienced. However, an underlying pest infestation that may have attracted the spiders to the property may represent a significant health threat. People with compromised immune systems and respiratory ailments may want to seek pest control sooner rather than later.

SIGNS OF A COMMON HOUSE SPIDER INFESTATION

Indications of a house spider problem include:

• Several sightings of spiders indoors
• Webs strung across lighting fixtures, doors and windows

PREVENTION TIPS

SafeGuard Pest Control recommends the following common house spider prevention methods:

• Use silicone-based caulk to seal up small cracks and openings in building exteriors
• Place good-quality screens on all windows and doors
• Regularly look for and remove webs
• Use a vacuum to get rid of spiders, webs and egg sacs found indoors
• Schedule regular pest control treatments to eliminate underlying pest infestations

SPIDER CONTROL

DIY products are not usually successful in controlling spider populations. To keep a home’s spider population under control, a pest control company should be called.

Safeguard Pest Control will use a variety of treatments including dusts, gels, and specialized products to eliminate spiders in your home including attics, wall voids, and cracks and crevices.

Our technicians use environmentally safe products to repel spiders and discourage breeding and population growth.

SPIDER CONTROL