Spiders are a common pest problem all year round here in Vermont, but they are especially abundant in the late summer and early fall. Spiders typically hatch in the springtime. Come August and September, spider populations can be at their largest. This is also when spiders traverse into your home for several reasons. Whether to escape the heat or to look for food, water, and shelter, spiders inside your home are typically harmless. However, there are a couple spiders in particular that are more dangerous: black widows and brown recluse spiders. The team at Vermont Pest Control is here to share expert info on spiders this fall in your home.

Why Do Spiders Come Into the House?

Spiders are just like other pests in their need to seek out food, water, and shelter in order to survive. The key to keeping them away is making your home less attractive to them! Broken screens or crevices in your doors and windows often let spiders in. An unkempt yard or lawn will invite spiders to your property. You may also notice more spiders when you have other bugs and insects in your property. Spiders will be more drawn to properties that provide them with shelter and food (bugs) inside. By eliminating the conditions that invite bugs and pests indoors, you can effectively prevent spiders as well!

Black Widow vs. Brown Recluse Spider

It’s easier to tell apart a dangerous spider from your regular house spider than you think. This is because black widows and brown recluse spiders have a couple of unique characteristics:

1. Black widows
   1. These spiders have a characteristic red hourglass shape on its body.
   2. They build sticky, tangled cobwebs in garages, sheds, and near the ground.
   3. They can bite when they feel threatened.
2. Brown recluse spiders
   1. Brown recluses have a darker brown violin-shaped mark on their brown bodies.
   2. They build loose, dome-shaped webs for shelter.
   3. A brown recluse bite is known to be very painful.

What to Do When You Have a Spider Infestation

If you’ve done all you can to prevent spiders and are starting to see them on a daily basis, it’s time to take action! A professional spider exterminator such as Vermont Pest Control can help you not only control any current infestation, but also prevent future ones from happening.