DIY Spider Prevention

• American House Spider:  The most common spiders found indoors that create cobwebs. Small, yellowish-brownish and can have elongated or round abdomens.  Finding messy webs in corners, your closet or basement?  These are likely your culprits.

• Long-Bodied Cellar Spider / AKA Daddy Long Legs:  These are pale yellow or light brown with very thin legs and tiny bodies.  These little guys love dark, damp areas like your cellar and bathroom.  These arachnids do not make webs and despite the myth, these spiders do not possess venom.  

• Wolf Spider:  Perhaps the most scary looking of the group, Wolf Spiders are relatively large ranging from 1/2 to 2 inches in length and generally tan, brown or gray with dark markings that stand out.  While these markings can vary, they tend to be lengthwise stripes.  These are fuzzy spiders with stout legs which sometimes get them confused as being small tarantulas.  Their bite is similar to that of a wasp sting and can be painful but they generally avoid humans and attack usually when cornered or being handled.  They don't make webs but rather run up to 2 feet per second and hunt insects.

• Jumping Spider:  Fuzzy little guys with a compact, squat body and powerful short legs.  The Zebra Jumping spider is has a flatter body with very obvious black and white striped pattern.  The Bold Jumping Spider are chunkier with generally a black body with white spots.  Fun fact: while they don't spin webs, these spiders will attach silk to their current surface before jumping to act as a bungee cord in case they miss their jumping target.  

• Grass Spider:  About 3/4 to 1 inch long, they are tan or brown with two stripes down their backs with large spinnerets that make them look like they have a tail.  These arachnids love your lawn but can end up inside your home since they generate their funnel-shaped webs near foundations.  Cracks in the foundation and gaps in windows and doors allow for home-entry when they're pursuing more prey.

Did you know spiders will start moving in with you when the weather starts getting cold? Just like cluster flies and other pests, your home is prime real estate to harbor in for the winter.

• Credit Card Rule – Any gap in your windows, foundation or conduit lines that is wider than a credit card will allow these crawly pests to enter your home. 

• Caulk is your friend – Use a high-quality exterior caulk that is designed to last and not crack. Use this to seal any of these gaps in your windows, foundation or utility lines [where electrical and other utility cables enter your home]. Expanding foam is another tool but make sure it is appropriate for the gap you are sealing.

• Screens, Sweeps and Seals – Make sure you have window screens that are in good condition without tears, install door sweepsfor exterior and garage doors, and ensure your weatherstripping are fully sealing.

• Vegetation – Bushes, flowers and other vegetation attract insects and therefore attract spiders as well. Keep vegetation including branches and leaves 2 or more feet away from your home to reduce activity.

• Wood – Keep all branches and firewood at least 20 feet from your foundation as these are hotspots for spider activity, especially Wolf Spiders. 

• Lighting: Did you know that yellow LED / Sodium Vapor Lights do not attract most of the flying insects that standard porch lights do? Changing your lights can reduce spiders by reducing their food sources.