Spiders are pretty common in most homes. However, for many people, their sight can dredge up the fear of creepy crawlers and arachnophobia. Spiders are usually attracted to bugs, which make up the majority of their diet.
Having a few spiders in your home is actually a good thing. They prey on other pests and control their infestation rates.
The female spider enters your home with an egg sac that can contain around 100 eggs. When these eggs hatch, baby spiders will emerge and begin to spread out across your house. These spiderlings are cannibalistic by nature and need to leave the egg sac, so they don’t eat one another.
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Where are these spiders coming from?
1. Spiders are attracted to light
One of the primary reasons that spiders may be drawn to your home is that they are attracted to light. Spiders are nocturnal creatures that prefer to hunt at night, and your home provides a perfect light source. If you have a lot of spiders in your home, you may want to consider keeping your lights off or dimming them at night.
2. Spiders are looking for food
Another reason that spiders may be entering your home is that they are looking for food. Spiders are predators that typically eat insects, and your home is likely full of potential prey for them. If you have a spider problem, it may be due to an infestation of other pests in your home.
3. Spiders are seeking shelter
Spiders may also be entering your home in search of shelter. Your home provides a warm, dry environment that is ideal for spiders to build their webs and raise their young. If you have spiders in your home, it is important to seal any cracks or openings that they may be used to get inside.
4. Spiders follow pheromones
Another possibility is that the spiders in your home are following pheromones left behind by other spiders. When a spider enters a new environment, it leaves behind a trail of pheromones that can attract other spiders to the area. If you have a spider problem, it may be due to pheromones left behind by other spiders that have already entered your home.
5. You have brought them in yourself
Finally, it is possible that you have inadvertently brought spiders into your home yourself. If you live in an area with a lot of spiders, it is possible that some have hitchhiked their way into your home on clothing or shoes.
6. Spider eggs
The female spider lays her eggs and produces a silken sac to protect them. Usually, each sac contains 100 eggs. The sac may be attached to a surface, hidden in the web, or carried by the female. If you see signs of the sacs indoors, it means that more spiders are coming soon. When the eggs hatch, hundreds of baby spiders can emerge from the egg sac and crawl all over your walls and into tiny spaces throughout your home. Since these spiders are cannibalistic by nature, they will try to spread out so that they don’t eat each other. As a result, spiderlings might end up all over your house.
What are the most common spider species found in homes?
There are several species of spiders that are found in homes. Some may be harmful to humans and even poisonous. However, a majority of common spiders are harmless. Here is a list of both harmful and harmless spiders that are commonly found in our homes.
1. American house spider
These are tiny, grey spiders that have round stomachs, and their web is usually tangled in shape and messy in appearance. They are frequently found in dark and obscure places such as the basement and garages. They may also be found around windows, where they catch tiny flies. This specie is not harmful.
2. Wolf spider
They are hairy and appear to have grey, black or brown colors. These spiders do not form webs to catch their prey; hence they hunt them. Sometimes they can be confused for tarantulas. There are over two hundred species of these wolf spiders.
They are normally found where insects are in plenty, such as in the garage and basement. They prefer to hide in debris or under materials such as boards and may also be found in cracks or gaps around the house. They are not harmful since they prefer to hide.
3. Black widow
These spiders are shiny black with red markings running through their backs. They also have a red hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen. They are normally found in garages and dark corners of the house.
Bites from these spiders are dangerous and sometimes may lead to severe health complications. People bitten often experience great pain, nausea, vomiting, and also muscles in the bit region can stiffen.
4. Daddy long legs
This species is one of the most common house spiders. It has very long legs and a circular body. They are commonly found in dark, secluded areas of the house and form strong webs to capture flies and insects. This spider is not harmful to human beings.
5. Brown recluse
This spider has a violin-shaped marking running from the top of its head to the rear end. It appears as brown and also has six eyes instead of the common eight in other spiders. They are normally found in unruffled corners of the house.
They can also be found in unfolded clothes and also inside shoes, where most bites occur. The bites are harmful and cause death to surrounding cells which also causes severe pain.
6. Jumping spider
One of the most distinguishing factors about this spider is the large, front, and middle set of eyes. There are almost three hundred species of jumping spiders, with each having different shades of color, but the most common appear black.
They are normally found in dark areas of the house and are heavily active during the daytime. They do not build webs and thus hunt down their prey. They are harmless to human beings since they do not bite.
7. Hobo spider
The spider is brown, with dark and lighter spots on the top side. They are generally found in unfolded clothes, inside shoes, and on top of beddings. They pack a painful bite which can cause swelling but the cells around will not die, and symptoms disappear after one day.
8. Grass spider
It is one of the most common spiders, which are tiny and brown. They have appendages at the end of the abdomen, which makes it easy to differentiate from the brown recluse.
They are found around the house foundation, where they set traps for small insects. They can also be found in dark corners inside the house. They do bite but do not cause any medical emergency.
9. Orb-weaver spider
The webs that are normally seen in the house in the morning dew come from these spiders. They are brown or grey with smooth bodies.
They are generally found in areas with many flies around the house, preferably around windows, doors, and vents where they can easily set their webs. They do not bite and hence are not harmful to us.
10. Yellow sac spider
This spider has a v shape on the abdomen and appears yellowish or beige. They are nocturnal since they hunt at night. They build their webs from silk and form it like a sac where they hide during the day.
They are normally found in living spaces around the house, such as the bedroom and kitchen. They are also found on the ceiling corners where they build their webs. They normally do not bite us, but in some instances, the bites can lead to hospitalization.
General places where spiders use as hiding spots in the house
Spiders prefer different hiding spots within the house. Some are attracted to moisture and dump places, while others prefer drier environments.
- Plant materials such as flowers or herbs found in the house are a major attraction to spiders. These plants provide a natural setting for them to form webs, and also, plants attract insects which are the main food source for spiders.
- Dark and obscure places are another site for spiders to hide. The spiders may be found under furniture and closets around the house. Also, household objects such as carpets and mats can be good hiding spots for spiders.
- Messy environments such as clutter of books, magazines, and kitchen utensils provide good hiding spots for spiders. They prefer untouched areas such as these to form webs and lay eggs.
- Wolf spiders prefer to hide in cracks and holes found around the house. They are mainly attracted to these spots because they do not form webs.
- The most common place to spot a spider in the home is on the corners of the ceiling in the house. These spots may not be a hiding area, but they are good breeding sites and also provide a perfect ambushing area since most flies are found in these places.
- Threatening spiders like the black widow and hobo spider tend to hide underwood and rock materials such as plant pots in the house. They require such an environment for them to lay numerous eggs and also to set their webs.
- The garage is the most likely area to find a spider infestation. This area provides the best environment since it contains clutters of materials that spiders use for nesting and breeding. The spiders enter the garage through holes, cracks, and the main entrance door.
How can you get rid of tiny spiders that are already in your home?
- Identify the spiders – are they brown recluse/black widow spiders or just common house spiders?
- If they are brown recluse/black widow spiders, take precautions and call a professional to get rid of them.
- If they are just common house spiders, you can get rid of them yourself with a vacuum cleaner and some sticky traps.
- Keep your house clean and free of clutter, so the spiders have nowhere to hide.
- Seal any cracks or openings in your home’s exterior that the spiders could use as entry points.
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How can you prevent tiny spiders from entering your home?
- Inspect windows and doors for any cracks or gaps that tiny spiders could use to enter your home.
- Seal up any cracks or gaps using caulk or weatherstripping.
- Install door sweeps on all exterior doors and window screens to keep spiders out.
- Keep vegetation and debris away from the exterior of your home.
- Remove cobwebs regularly.
- Use a spider-repellent spray or deterrent candles to keep them away.
- Use sticky traps near the entrances to your home to catch any spiders that do make it inside.
Final Thoughts
While most spiders are harmless, on rare occasions, bites from certain types of spiders are known to have been fatal. Therefore, the key is to identify the types of spiders that have invaded your apartment. In case of a bite, you should visit the hospital as soon as possible. This is because while the bite may not be fatal, the side effects may be horrendous. Certain bites from spiders are known to cause skin ulcers.
Related article:
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Last update on 2023-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
