As fall progresses and we're getting into the cooler months, many people start to see an increase in spider activity and webs. While there isn't just one simple and easy answer, the answer isn't too complex. Pest control for spiders is your best option, however to help you identify why spiders come around more in the cooler months we will answer the question: Why do I have an increase in fall spiders?
Natural Predator Progression
Spiders feed on other small animals such as insects, arachnids, and even rodents. The more food they have, the more they are able to sustain a healthy spider population. If their food source increases incrementally, the spider population will increase along with it.
This gradual increase occurs throughout the year until something is done to reduce the:
- Food available to spiders
- Spider population directly
Population Shifts
Sometimes an increase in spider activity is not tied to an increase in the overall number of spiders but relates to a shift in activity or position. For example, installing additional lighting around the outside of your home. The light adds additional convenience and security for you. However, unfortunately, it's terribly convenient for the spiders as well.
Lighting attracts flying insects, and spiders love to feed on such things. With the installation of the outdoor lighting, the spiders hanging out in the surrounding areas will quickly pack up their webs and head to the luxury buffet of bugs surrounding your home.
If a population shift occurs, the remedy is reversing what caused the shift. In this instance, better light management is key. This includes timers and motion detectors that minimize the amount of food (bugs) that are drawn in at a given time in a given place. Reducing the spider population after fixing the light issue becomes easier.
Moisture Matters
In the world of spiders, moisture is a key component. In fact, the presence of spiders in certain structural areas can be clues to home inspectors to dig a little bit deeper into that area for underlying moisture issues. Moisture provides great conditions for invertebrates to bread which feeds a healthy spider population. Reducing moisture in an area greatly reduces many spider species populations.
Open Doors
While a front door of a home or business could be the culprit for granting access to spiders, most spider doors consist of small entry points that increase over time. These may be developing gaps in seams of the construction or cracks that develop in the foundation and other areas. Focusing on exclusion will help keep both spiders and their beloved food source away from your comfy living and working quarters. This is especially true of the spiders that are wandering hunters.
Construction Effects
Whenever construction occurs in an area, local, tiny wildlife populations such as insects, rodents, and arachnids get displaced. Some increases in spider populations are simply a result of spiders from another area being chased out. If they have to relocate, you may find your home chosen as the next safe place to hang out and hunt.
Winds of Change
Some spider species use silk balloons to catch a breeze and carry them from a newly hatched egg to their home starting point. With these types of spiders, a sudden uptick may just be a result of the wind blowing your direction at the wrong time. If those newly landed spiders have a nice supportive habitat, they will unfortunately thrive.
What To Do About Fall Spiders
Spider control is most efficient when it is a multifaceted approach. Things to consider include:
- Exclusion
- Moisture reduction
- Identification
- Light management
- Dust applications
- Liquid applications
- Food source reduction
- Monitoring and trapping
If you have questions regarding how to best approach pest control for spiders around you, reach out to the arachnid experts at Greenix Pest Control. Trained spider control technicians can help with identification and long-lasting, effective plans. They can even take the entire process off of your plate of worries so you can focus on more important items.
We're here to help this fall with your spiders and any other pests you may find sneaking around. Call us today to get on the schedule.
