Why Am I Suddenly Seeing Spiders In My House?

As the days get shorter and the temperatures start to dip, you may notice unwelcome guests making themselves at home in your home. Although spiders have been active all summer, homeowners in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins, as well as across Colorado have noticed a significant uptick in spider activity in and around their homes in recent weeks. And really, it’s not unexpected as we transition into fall. In this post we’ll unravel this web of mystery and offer advice on how to keep your home spider-free.

“Tons and tons of spiders coming in, they just won’t stop coming”

If you’re like this Longmont homeowner who is dealing with spiders, you’re probably wondering why they’ve suddenly decided to grace us with their presence. Well, it all comes down to biology and the changing seasons. As summer turns into fall in Colorado, spiders are more noticeable and here’s why:

• It's mating season for some spider species
  While black widow spiders mate in springtime and into early summer, the mating season for other types of spiders runs late summer into early fall. Around this time spiders begin searching for mates and this quest causes them to move around more and often leads them indoors, inadvertently invading our homes in the process.
• There are more adult spiders around
  Unlike in the spring, spiders will be more noticeable now that they’ve matured and reached adulthood. So, it’s not necessarily that there are more of them, just that they are larger and easier to see.
• These cold-blooded arachnids can’t take the dip in temperatures
  Spiders are cold-blooded creatures, which means they rely on the environment to regulate their body temperature since they don’t have a built-in mechanism to take care of it.  As the weather grows cooler outside, spiders seek shelter indoors to stay warm.
• Other insects are making their way into the house
  Spiders follow their prey. With the abundance of insects also seeking refuge from the colder weather, your home could become a haven for all kinds of creepy crawly things and the spiders that love to eat them.

How do spiders get inside and where do they hang out once they’re in?

Like other pests that seek refuge indoors, spiders will use any opening to gain entry. Cracks in the foundation, an open garage door, the gap under the front door, vents and ductwork, gaps around utility entrances, and holes in the roof are just a few of the ways spiders get inside. The reality is any tiny gap, crack, or opening is a potential entry point for spiders.

Once inside, spiders prefer to hide out in areas that offer safety, security, and that are relatively close to their prey. Here are some common places where Colorado homeowners might find spiders in their homes:

• Corners of ceilings, walls, and windows
• Closets & storage areas (the more clutter the better)
• Bathrooms
• Under furniture
• Attics
• Basements and crawlspaces
• Garages

How to keep spiders out of the house this fall

Rather than spend fall and the ensuing winter cohabiting with these eight-legged, multi-eyed pests, here are a few prevention tips you can implement to keep spiders and other pests out of your home:

• Seal entry points on the outside of the house (from the ground to the top)
• Install weather stripping around doors to eliminate gaps
• Keep windows closed unless they’re covered in screens free of holes
• Declutter your home including the basement, attic, and garage to eliminate hiding spots
• Clean your home regularly to remove webs as well as food debris and spills that attract insects that attract spiders
• Remove leaves, twigs, and other debris from gutters and make sure downspouts divert water away from the home’s foundation
• Swap out exterior lights that attract bugs to yellow or sodium vapor lights
• Remove compost piles, old boards, tree limbs, and other yard debris
• Store firewood several feet away from the house and off the ground

How to get rid of spiders in your house

If you’ve already found spiders or other pests in your home this fall, contact EnviroPest today.  Our Colorado pest control company has been getting rid of spiders since 1965 and our pest control specialists are ready to tackle your spider problem.

In fact, we offer home pest control services in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and NoCo that offer ongoing protection against spiders, ants, cockroaches, and mice as well as other house-infesting pests. Our initial service includes an inspection, interior pest treatment, cobweb removal, and exterior barrier treatment. After that, a highly trained and fully licensed pest control specialist will return to service the exterior of the house every season. If you’ve noticed covered pests indoors, we’ll treat in there too!

Check out the plan benefits below or give us a call for help taking back your home from spiders!