Spiders have a reputation as creepy crawlies. Eight legs, multiple pairs of eyes, and those webs all add to something you don’t want hanging around your home. Spider infestations can get tricky because these arachnids like to hide. They’re hard to get rid of because they’re hard to find. That’s why Bay Pest offers spider control in the Bay Area of California. Our Bay Area pest control is designed to keep pests out of your home – no matter the size or species. Contact us today to learn more about our options for spider removal.
Types Of Spiders That Commonly Invade Bay Area Homes
Many kinds of spiders infest area homes. A lot of them look similar – small, black or brown, eight legs – and most are not medically significant. The majority of household spiders do not have a venom that’s harmful to humans and most rarely, if ever, bite.
However, some spiders are significant when found in your home. Black widow spiders are the most dangerous venomous spider in California. They can be easily identified by the red hourglass on the underside of their abdomens. Black widows spin messy webs, where they tend to hang upside down.
Wolf spiders are another type of spider found in the Bay Area. Females can be anywhere between a quarter of an inch to over an inch in size, while males are between a quarter of an inch and three-quarters of an inch. Wolf spiders are dark brown with lighter stripes or markings, which act as camouflage. Wolf spiders are unique because they do not spin webs to catch prey. Instead, they run after the insects they’re hunting. These spiders hunt at night. Although their venom is not particularly harmful, they will bite if handled and can be intimidating to find in your home.
What It Means If You’re Seeing Spiders In Your Home
In general, spiders are considered to be beneficial pests. They eat insects, which means they can help keep other pests out of your home. However, a spider infestation can be an issue. Because they eat insects, the presence of many spiders means that there’s plenty for them to eat. Spiders don’t typically leave their dwelling place to find food; they’ll spin webs where they know they can find prey. So, if you have a spider infestation in your house, it’s likely because you have another pest infestation hiding somewhere. Although the spiders may take care of that other infestation, you still probably don’t want spiders crawling all over your home.
Six Environmentally Friendly Spider Prevention Tips
Spiders are excellent hiders. They tend to avoid people, which means they’ll stay out of sight as much as possible. Because of this, spider infestations are hard to treat. It’s much easier to take steps to keep them out of your house in the first place, which you can do by:
- Reducing the clutter around your home
- Storing firewood off the ground, several feet away from the house
- Sealing cracks, holes, and gaps around your home
- Laying out sticky traps to catch spiders and other pests before they have a chance to reproduce
- Spraying a strongly scented solution around the home
- Addressing other pest problems
Household clutter and piles of firewood can both create hiding places for spiders. Reducing clutter, as well as dusting and vacuuming regularly, limits the spots spiders can lurk in your home. Additionally, check firewood and other outdoor items for spiders and webs before bringing them indoors.
Many strong scents, such as peppermint, are known to repel spiders. Essential oils, vinegar, or store-bought scented sprays disrupt spiders’ ability to sense and can help keep them away. Although there are peppermint oils or sprays for spiders, you can also make them yourself.
Actual spider infestations can be a little harder to fight. These pesky arachnids like to hide in hard-to-reach places, which means it’s harder to ensure the infestation is gone. When that’s the case, the best way to get rid of spiders is to get professional treatment.
Professional Pest Control Is The Best Method Of Spider Control
Bay Pest offers an Integrated Pest Management system that’s designed to keep all pests out of your home. We’ll inspect your home, looking for webs and other signs of spiders, then create a plan to get rid of the infestation. We also work to make sure spiders and other pests don’t come back. Our goal is always to keep your home pest-free. With Bay Pest, you can rest easy, trusting that we will get the spiders out of your house. Call today to schedule an inspection and treatment.