Halloween has come and gone, which means those spider webs in the corners of your house that you kept up as decorations don’t really work anymore. Once you start cleaning them up, though, you might notice that there are more around than you realized.
Fall is the time of year when people in Lexington notice an uptick in spider activity inside their homes. The weather has cooled considerably, which means spiders need a warmer place to spend the winter. Where they end up in your home often depends on the type of spider.
House Spiders
House spiders are those you’re most likely to see hanging around, although they do prefer dark, quiet areas. You are likely to find more of them in your basement than in your main living area. They need relatively high humidity levels to survive, and will build webs in various places to try and catch themselves a meal.
The good news is that these spiders are not dangerous, and they don’t pose any type of threat to you or your family. The bad news is that they are a nuisance and, if you don’t keep them under control, your house will look like it’s perpetually ready for Halloween.
Brown Recluse Spiders
As their name indicates, brown recluse spiders are reclusive. They prefer small, dark, quiet areas where they will not be disturbed. While you may consider this a good thing, problems occur when they choose a secluded spot that suddenly becomes not-so-secluded. For example, if you store a pair of boots in the basement and a brown recluse makes its home in the toe, you’ll both be in for a nasty surprise the next time you slip your foot into that boot.
Brown recluse spiders will bite when threatened, and their bites can cause serious problems that may require medical attention.
Black Widow Spiders
Black widows are another type of spider that prefer dark, secluded areas in which to live. Like the brown recluse, they have a poisonous bite, causing symptoms that include muscle cramps, labored breathing, and fever.
None of these Lexington spiders are welcome guests in your home. Luckily, there are a few ways to prevent spider access to your home.
Spider Prevention Tips
- Reduce areas of debris outside your home. Spiders will hide in wood and brush piles, leaf litter, and more. The fewer areas like this there are around your property, the fewer spiders you’ll have in and around your home.
- Reduce other bug populations. Spiders eat insects, so reducing the number of insects around your home will result in a smaller number of spiders around your home.
- Check the outside of your home for cracks, gaps, and holes, and seal them.
- Eliminate clutter inside your home, especially in attics, basements, and storage areas
- Keep moisture levels low with good ventilation, and use of dehumidifiers, if necessary.
Of course, the best option is to engage the help of a professional home pest control company. Action Pest Control can inspect your property, identify weak areas in your pest defenses, take care of any current pest problems, and help prevent future pest occurrences. Give us a call today to decide which pest control program best meets the needs of your Lexington home.