How To Prevent Spiders From Invading Your Bay Area Home

Spiders can be a welcome sight for gardeners hoping to keep plants safe from destructive insects, but spiders inside the home are hardly ever so well received. While there are only a few spiders dangerous to humans in the United States, they can be hard to identify, and some other species common to California look a lot worse than they are. If you have an indoor spider problem and are worried about the implications, this article will cover everything you need to know to squash the problem and keep your home spider-free.

3 Common Spiders In The Area

Orb-Weaver Spider

One of the most common species in the area has variations of its own. Because of its rounded shape, large body, and bright colors, many fear they’ve come across a more dangerous spider, but the orb-weaver spider is as harmless as they come. In California, the cross orb-weaver and golden orb-weaver are just two of many variations of this common garden spider. They often boast colorful patterns on their larger than average body size that can be unsettling to come across, especially if you spot them in their large, intricate webs. Thankfully, orb-weavers are harmless to people and keep your garden pest-free.

Cellar Spider

Another harmless, but common spider to the Bay Area is the cellar spider. Otherwise known as the daddy-long-legs spider, this pest can grow to startlingly large sizes and hang from the ceiling in dark, damp places like the basement or cellar. Body sizes may vary along with their coloration ranging from light brown to gray, but the common denominator for cellar spiders is the long, jointed legs. While unpleasant to look at, these spiders are also harmless to humans.

Black Widow Spider

While most California spiders are harmless, there is one common species that residents should be able to identify by sight, and that is the black widow spider. Most are familiar with the tell-tale red hourglass on the abdomen of a black widow, but it’s not often safe to get that close to this efficient predator.

You can also identify a black widow by its characteristic body shape, which is quite rounded and shiny. Males, often lighter in color, cannot harm humans with their bites. All black widows may have yellow hourglasses and light-colored spots on their backs.

Contrary to popular belief, spiders don’t need to come indoors to survive. Unfortunately, this means that if you have spiders in your house, there’s an underlying cause that needs to be dealt with.

Pest Prey Prevention Tips

If you have a spider problem, you most likely have an insect problem, or what is called a pest prey problem. Because spiders prey on pests in your home, they stick around when the eating is good. Spider prevention, then, starts with general pest prevention:

• Store indoor and outdoor trash in a sealed receptacle that gets cleaned at least once a week. Take indoor trash out regularly and keep outdoor trash far away from the home.
• Food in cabinets and pantries should ideally be stored in glass or metal containers, and food spills should be cleaned up immediately.
• Keep a clutter-free home. If you must store things, store them in sealed, plastic containers.
• Fix any cause of standing water around your home by addressing leaking pipes or landscaping issues.
• De-web regularly, especially if your resident spider is making a lot of good catches.

When in doubt, good sanitation and home maintenance can go a long way to keeping your home pest-free.

General Spider Prevention Tips

Oftentimes, spiders come indoors accidentally, or they’re drawn to your home because of favorable conditions. Dealing with these things can reduce the chances of an indoor spider problem:

• De-webbing regularly can let the resident spiders know that this isn’t a safe place to build their webs or nests.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the home, shake logs out before bringing them indoors, and wear gloves when moving them.
• Seal cracks and crevices around the home’s exterior with silicone-based caulk and keep your window and door screens hole-free.
• Make sure windows and doors seal properly, especially on doors that lead to pest-ridden areas like the garage or back yard.
• Keep your porch light off at night.

It may seem difficult to perform this level of home maintenance, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember that you don’t have to do it on your own.

Contact Bay Pest Solution For More Advice Or Assistance

For more than forty years, Bay Pest Solution has been protecting homes in the Bay Area. We know, especially in a climate like ours where pests thrive, it can be difficult to protect your home. Not only can we help to guard your home against pests by fixing your high-risk areas, but we can keep your home pest-free with customizable pest control plans. Call Bay Pest Solution for a free estimate, and get started with regular visits that can restore your peace of mind.