Why Are There So Many Spiders in My House This Winter?

It seems like the same question comes up year after year: why are there so many spiders in my house this winter? Here’s the thing: if you feel like you are seeing more spiders this winter, it’s probably not your imagination, there probably are more spiders in your house. But spider infestations are highly localized. If you’re dealing with one, there are a number of possible reasons why.

In this article, we’ll discuss the myths and facts about spiders in houses during the wintertime.

No, Spider Populations Do Not Go Up in the Wintertime

Some people speculate that spider populations peak in the wintertime. This is definitely not the case. As is true for most animals and insects that live in the northern hemisphere, life gets hard for spiders in the wintertime. The cold temperatures and lack of sunlight impact the entire food chain from top to bottom. There’s less food available to spiders during the winter, and as a result, many die off. Spider populations peak in the late summer – August and September.

Spiders Push Pause During the Winter: “Diapause”

Spiders are cold-blooded. They don’t feel discomfort in the cold – or heat. They do, however, have less energy when it becomes cold and even go dormant for prolonged periods of time.

When the weather starts to get colder and you start seeing spiders wandering around, it’s not because they’re trying to stay warm. They’ve probably been there all along, hatched earlier in the year, and now with winter approaching they’re entering a phase called “diapause.” They’re looking for safety – in the form of a quiet, out-of-the-way spot to hunker down for the winter so they can conserve energy.

Do Spiders Wander Inside During the Winter?

Spiders do occasionally come inside from outside, but that’s unlikely to be the reason for an uptick in spider activity in your house. Outdoor spiders and indoor spiders are adapted differently. They have different requirements for survival. Being inside a house is not an ideal environment for an outdoor spider – and being outside is not ideal for indoor spiders. It’s estimated that 95% of indoor spiders spend their entire lives in the house where they’re hatched.

Sorry, Arachnophobes: Spider Populations Are Trending Up

One reason you might be seeing more spiders in your home is that, according to a few studies, we’ve seen spider populations rising in areas around the world. Along with Australia, where kingdom Arachnid is already thriving without any extra help, rising population trends have been observed in the UK and here in the USA. Experts have suggested these rising populations are linked to rising temperatures.

If this is true – if hotter weather is favorable to spiders and leads to more of them in the summer – it would make sense that more of them would also survive later in the year into winter. There’s also evidence that hotter temperatures are making spiders bigger. According to National Geographic, it’s a good thing.

How Can You Prevent Spiders Next Winter?

Spiders can be a difficult pest for DIYers to eradicate because most pesticides remain on the ground. Spiders, with their longer legs, have bodies higher off the ground than most pests, which means they don’t come in contact with pesticides as easily. That’s why, for spiders, the most effective kind of pest control is bringing in an experienced pest control professional who’s trained to find spider infestations and easily eliminate them.

One spider prevention tactic that’s very effective is preventing other pests. After all, most household pests are potential spider meals. If you eliminate them, there’s less food available to spiders, and your home becomes much less inviting to them.

The All-Natural Option: Do Nothing

A rise in spider sightings in your house can be unnerving, but it’s not necessarily a sign of anything. Major spider infestations in clean well-maintained homes do happen, but they’re not very common. That’s why, in many cases, ignoring the spiders is a perfectly reasonable response. Spider populations have a way of leveling off, and the situation is likely nothing more than a short-term anomaly.

The All-In Option: Call Us

At Pest Control Inc., we find spiders endlessly fascinating. But we understand that for many, one spider is too many. If that’s the case and you want them gone, give us a call. We’ll take care of the problem for you quickly and completely with effective targeted treatment.