As the seasons change in Ontario and the temperature starts to drop, chances are you’ve had an encounter or two (or more) with spiders! Fall is upon us and most of us are enjoying the less humid weather and spending more time outdoors, but it's hard to relax when these creepy crawls pests seem to be everywhere all of a sudden. Maybe you’ve noticed a spider crawling across your floor or a cobweb in the corner of your living room. Maybe you walked out your front door right into a spider web! One thing is for sure – spiders are out in full force in the fall. But why is that? Why do we see more spiders in the fall and what can we do to keep these annoying pests out of our homes?
Spiders in the fall are often the babies from the previous spring. They’ve been around all summer long, too small to even notice. By September, they’ve had time to grow, and grow big. That makes them more visible to us in the fall. Still, that’s not the only reason they seem to be everywhere.
There are two main reasons you are seeing spiders more often in the fall:
1. When fall arrives, many spiders are searching for mates and laying eggs. This activity increases the chance of a human-spider encounter.
Fall is also mating season for most spiders. Females are usually the spiders we see in webs while males are usually the ones out roaming around. Most spiders emerge in the fall in search of a mate so they can lay their eggs before winter sets in, for their hatchlings in the spring. What we don’t realize is that most of the spiders we see moving around in our homes in the fall have actually been there all along – in the walls or voids. We just see them more often in the fall once they emerge to mate and then they will disappear again.
2. Spiders seek warmth, so when the cold winds arrive they are sheltered. Unfortunately, that’s when they may make their way inside your home.
Spiders move indoors in the fall to set up their homes for the winter. Spiders will come into our homes in search of warmth, food, and shelter during the cold months.
So now that you know why we see more spiders in the fall, what can you do to prevent them? Check out these 10 tips to prevent a spider infestation this fall.
Around your home, remove webs as soon as you see them in doorways, ceilings, wall corners, and hanging fixtures. This will encourage the spiders to go back into hiding or go elsewhere.
Kill any spiders you see, especially inside your home. Keep a fly swatter handy to have an easy way to kill them when you see them.
Vacuum all your indoor nooks and crannies. When vacuuming be sure to get those hard-to-reach spiders and webs under beds, behind curtains, and under furniture.
Seal any entry points around your home to keep spiders and other insects out. This includes cracks around doors, windows, and pipes in any exterior walls.
Make sure window and door screens are free of tears and holes. Especially when opening windows more often to enjoy the cooler weather.
Keep your home, especially your kitchen, free of crumbs and unsealed food. Wipe your counters to be sure all food is gone. Food attracts insects which attract spiders.
Keep exterior lights off as much as possible, such as floodlights and porch lights. Again, these attract insects which attract spiders in search of food.
Keep your basements dry. Spiders are attracted to dark, damp environments.
Check the items that you bring inside. Spiders usually enter your home underneath doors or through holes in screens, but they are often brought into your home accidentally inside storage boxes or grocery bags, or in firewood brought inside so always give everything a quick once over before bringing inside in the fall.
The most effective way to rid your home of spiders in the fall is to hire a reputable pest exterminator like Ontario Pest Prevention. With all of the latest and greatest in pest control techniques, pesticides, and services, Ontario Pest Prevention can take control of your situation so you don't need to worry. Call Ontario Pest Prevention today at (365) 309 - PEST (7378), to provide you with a thorough, affordable treatment and prevention plan.
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