Noticing an uptick of webs around your home? It happens to the best of us! And the last thing anyone wants is to walk into a spider web first thing in the morning or get scared by an eight-legged visitor running across our porch on our way out the door. Where did all these arachnids come from?
The best way to learn how to reduce spiders around your house is to understand why they’re there in the first place. Let’s talk about some common reasons why there are so many spiders outside you house and what you can do to stop them!
Common Reasons for Spiders Gathering Outside Homes
When you see a spider or a web, it’s normal to want to grab the bug spray and let them know who’s boss. But wait! Before you do that, let’s understand why they’re drawn to your house and what you can do to control them and prevent them from seeing your home as the perfect breeding ground in the future.
Outdoor Lighting and Insects
Lighting is one of the most common reasons why spiders (or any insects, really!) are drawn to someone’s home. Other insects are drawn to the light, and since spiders need those other insects for nourishment, they are drawn there, too. After all, spiders are just hunters looking for their prey!
Ideal Shelters and Breeding Spots
In addition to looking for food, another common reasons for why there are so many spiders outside your house is they are often on the lookout for perfect breeding spots. They want places that will give them moisture and shelter all while being also close to food sources.
That’s why dense plant life, cluttered gardens, woodpiles, and neglected corners of your property’s exterior are the perfect places for them. These places offer excellent shelter from predators and weather and are usually full of other bugs for spiders to snack on.
Seasonal Behavior Patterns
Notice a lot of spiders around your home during a certain season? This is normal! Temperature changes impact spider breeding and feeding habits. As the weather warms up, spiders don’t mind traveling a little bit further for food and shelter.
On the flip side, as fall and winter approach, spiders are going to focus on finding warm, safe spaces to ride out the cold. This means you probably won’t see them outside as much.
Effective Ways to Reduce Spiders Around Your Home
It’s true that spiders play an important role in our ecosystem, but that doesn’t mean an overabundance of them isn’t a problem. Fortunately, there are things you can do to reduce spiders around a house.
Adjusting Outdoor Lighting to Deter Insects
Since bright lighting is one of the most attractive aspects of your home’s exterior, reducing the brightness can also reduce the number of spiders in your space.
Consider changing your lightbulbs from traditional white to yellow or sodium vapor lights. These types of bulbs are dimmer and known to attract fewer insects.
Another way to reduce spiders around your home is to invest in motion sensors for your outdoor lighting. This way, you’ll get the light when you need it, and it will turn off when you don’t, giving insects and spiders less time to find your brightly lit home.
Following Yard Maintenance Tips to Eliminate Spider Shelters Near Your Home
Maintaining your yard is one of the best things you can do regarding spiders near house prevention. Regularly trimming bushes, mowing your lawn, clearing away fallen leaves, and removing unnecessary natural debris will eliminate prime hiding spots for spiders. It also makes your property less attractive to other insects, so you’ll eliminate their food source, too.
Keep any woodpiles and storage areas neat, tidy, and away from your house. The closer they are to your house, the more opportunities you give spiders and other insects to crawl inside your home, especially if they find gaps in your foundation, cracks in walls, and unsealed vents and windows.
Using Eco-Friendly Spider Repellents
Strong scents like peppermint, tea tree, and lavender may smell great to us but not to spiders! Mix a few drops of these essential oils with water to create an eco-friendly solution to spray around the outside of your home during your home pest inspection. Focus on entry points like windows and door frames. The scent will repel spiders and encourage them to settle down elsewhere.
Professional Attention to Reduce Your Spiders Outside Your House
If DIY strategies aren’t working and spiders are still creeping and crawling all over your property, give your local professional a call! Our Mosquito Joe® outdoor spider exterminators can help rid your outdoor space of unwanted spiders and insects in the blink of an eye.
All our services are backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ and the Mosquito Joe Satisfaction Guarantee to give you extra peace of mind.
If you ask yourself, “why are there so many spiders outside my house?” every time you open your door, it’s time to get help. Request a free estimate today!
This article is intended for general guidance only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Mosquito Joe is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Mosquito Joe for more information and a professional on-site assessment.
