Ah yes, spiders, the most famous arachnids. These creepy crawlies have always weirded out humans for a long time and they have solidified themselves as a symbol of Halloween and all things scary, but every so often, we ask ourselves, what harm can spiders cause? While MOST spiders are harmless, they can cause infestations, which can be a nuisance, and there are a few spiders that can cause more lethal harm. For these reasons, it is essential to know what kinds of spiders can cause damage, what the consequences of a spider infestation are, and what steps you can take to prevent it.
It is also essential for Aurora residents to know this since we are entering summer, and spiders are common in Aurora homes, especially during this time of year.
Aurora, IL’s hot summers, humid weather, and well-maintained suburban landscaping offer the ideal environment for residential spiders to thrive. As the temperatures rise, especially during the warmer months, spiders become more active and are likely to venture indoors on a mission for food and shelter. The area’s gardens, trees, and manicured lawns offer insects bait, which in turn attract spiders on the hunt for their next source of nutrition. Although most of the spiders in the house are harmless, their presence can prove disturbing for homeowners who want to have a pest-free home.
What are spiders? What harm can they cause? What are the common types of spiders?
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that walk on eight limbs. They are tiny creatures with an average body size of .2 to .28 inches. While they are active throughout the year, they are primarily active during the summer and fall months for various reasons. They are active during the summer since it is their breeding season and when their prey is most active outside. They are also active during the fall since the weather cools down, and they will seek shelter, many times in people’s homes during this time.They are also active during the fall since many of their hatchlings have matured, which leads to more spiders overall.
Some of the most common types of spiders in Aurora are house, wolf, cellar, and black widows.
- House Spiders: The American house spider is North America’s most commonly-seen spider. It ranges in size from about ⅛ to ⅚ inches and is generally harmless, although it can bite when threatened. However, this bite is not poisonous.
- Wolf Spiders: Wolf spiders are larger than house spiders, ranging in size from about ½ inches to 2 inches. They are usually black or brown but can sometimes be gray. They are rarely inside people’s homes as they hunt outside and do not build webs. Their bite is not poisonous, but due to their size, their bite may hurt.
- Cellar Spider: These grayish-yellow spiders have long legs and are between House and Wolf spiders in size, ranging from 1 ¾ inches to 1 15/16 inches. Their bite is not poisonous, and their jaws cannot pierce human skin.
- Black Widow: No, not the Avenger! Black widows are spiders that can grow up to 1.5 inches in size. They can be black or brown, but they all have a distinct reddish-orange hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen. A bite from a black widow is extremely dangerous. Their venom is infected with toxic chemicals that can affect nerve endings (The Spruce).
How to Prevent Spiders from Entering Your Home
There are many ways to prevent spiders from entering your home.
One such method is sealing entry points around the house. Spiders usually enter people’s homes through gaps within the walls or near windows or doors. For any cracks and crevices found around the house, using caulk or weatherstripping is useful to help seal these entry points. Installing door sweeps and screens on windows and doors is another effective method since you can open them occasionally without spiders sneaking in.
Another helpful method is to reduce any clutter around your house. Spiders tend to hide in clutter and build their webs there, so regularly vacuuming and cleaning your space can make the area less attractive to them. Storing items properly in sealed containers and paying attention to corners and crevices are some of the ways you can make sure your house is clutter-free.
Leaving exterior lights on at night attracts flying insects, which in turn serve as a food source for spiders. To reduce this, consider using timers or motion sensors on your exterior lights. Another effective solution is to replace standard bulbs with bug-repellent amber bulbs, which are less attractive to insects.
Using natural repellants can also be useful, peppermint oil, vinegar, or essential oils such as eucalyptus and cedar are some natural repellants that are useful in repelling spiders.
When to Call a Professional Spider Control Service in Aurora
There can be many reasons to call a professional pest control service to help with spider issues:
- One scenario is if a black widow is in your house. These spiders are extremely dangerous and pose a serious risk to yourself and anyone else in your household; taking them out yourself is very risky, and therefore, in this situation, it is best to seek professional services.
- Another scenario is if there are a significant number of spiders or webs in your house; having many spiders makes it difficult for you to remove them all on your own, making a professional service helpful.
- Finally, if you have tried all the DIY methods and have had no success isa good reason to contact a professional spider control service.
To recap, most spiders are generally harmless. However, they can cause nuisance in large numbers, and some of them are quite dangerous, such as the black widow. While there are methods you can use on your own to prevent a spider infestation, the most effective method would be to call a professional pest control service and have them eliminate the current issue and prevent any future infestations from occurring.
If you are looking for services that offer Spider Control in Aurora, Naperville & surrounding areas in Northern Illinois, feel free to contact Yosemite Pest and Rodent Solutions, Inc at (630) 779-7674.
