Spider Control

Spider control is a service that is called for on a daily bases in many parts of the country.
It’s normal to have spiders: they’re everywhere, and if you can tolerate their presence, they’ll help keep populations of other bugs (silverfish, clothes moths, cupboard pests, flies, and each other) under control for you.

But sometimes, especially in the fall, it can feel like the spider population in your house is booming. Resident spiders might be hitting some serious growth spurts and getting more active; outdoor spiders may crawl in through cracks in the foundation, under doors or through torn window screens, in search of shelter or food. While most of these newcomer spiders don’t survive long, either dying of hunger or thirst, or becoming food to resident spiders, it sometimes can seem like your house is being invaded. Chances are it isn’t, and the problem will clear up on its own in a few weeks. If you’re unable or unwilling to wait, however, here’s what to do at any time during the year. Some of the spiders the companies listed on these pages are efficient in controlling are wolf spiders, Kissing bugs, Jumping Spiders, Daddy long legs, Black Widows, and Brown recluse spiders.

Getting Rid of Spiders

This is an organized, thorough system to deal with spider populations: do these things, and you’ll greatly reduce your chances of having problems later on, too. Of course, these methods may not get rid of 100% of your spiders, but they should cut the populations down by a lot. While you’re at it, wear gloves.

1. Start outside: spiders that try to migrate into your house in the fall usually come from wood or junk piles, disused yard furniture or toys, trash bins, outdoor stairwells and under porch structures, window frames, brick piles, etc. Clean up (carefully! Gloves and long sleeves are our friends!) and cover piles of firewood.

2. And stay out! Fix tears in screens; install or repair weatherstripping around doors; fill any gaps around water pipes under sinks; and be zealous about sealing up cracks and openings in the foundation, such as wear utility lines enter the house.

3. All the hiding places: Now is a great time for spring or fall cleaning, regardless of what the calendar says. If you’ve got areas of stored boxes, magazine piles, or where belongings are sitting undisturbed for long periods of time, you’ve got spider hideouts. Clean them up (wear gloves). Vacuum behind and under bookshelves and furniture, along baseboards and corners, especially in areas likely to house spiders.

4. Bombs away! Indoor aerosol bombs or foggers will be a lot more effective if you’ve done the work to clean up spider hiding places first. They probably won’t provide residual control for any spiders coming in later, though; seal up cracks and openings as described in point #2, above, if you haven’t already. It’s crucial that you use a product that’s labeled for use on spiders, and is labeled for indoor use; follow label instructions and don’t use more product than recommended. If your first round of fogging doesn’t work, look again for hiding places outside and inside your home, or call in the pros.

5. Boric acid works, but a bit more slowly. The upside is that it isn’t toxic to humans. Spiders pick it up on their bodies as they go about their business, then ingest it when they groom themselves.

6. If you spray outside: Reading the small print on the label might not be fun, but it is extremely important. Use only pesticides labeled to be effective against spiders and for use outside; spray around any crack or opening. Do not overspray.

7. Firewood: Don’t spray the firewood pile, unless you plan on throwing it all away afterwards. It is not safe to burn firewood after you’ve doused it with pesticides.
8. New construction or remodeling: If you’re building a house or adding a room, have the wall voids treated with boric acid.

Professional pest control operators or exterminators will tackle the job for you, saving you a lot of work and worry. Look for ones with experience with spider problems in your area.

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