A common household companion
The common house spider
So common the word “Common” is in its name, the “Common House Spider” is a staple in most North American homes…whether the occupants realize it or not. They are very adept at hiding where you’d least expect them to be, which is why any infestations that happen tend to be discrete and unrecognized until they’re quite large. Add to that the very real fear many harbor towards spiders, and this sort of infestation can strike panic.
Not to worry – house spiders are perhaps the least of your worries when it comes to infestations! But they are something to keep track of as they can be a warning bell for other pests in your home.
These spiders tend to be smaller in size, so they can go unnoticed in basements and attics for months or in some cases years. Don’t be alarmed if you suddenly see an explosion in numbers – they were probably in hiding for far longer than you realize.
While that may not be comforting, it’s important to keep in mind that spider infestations don’t happen overnight – populations don’t swell out of control as they do with other pests. If you can see them, you can eradicate them. While they may give you the heeby-jeebies, there’s no need to carpet bomb your house with a can of Raid when a couple swipes of a broom and dustpan will suffice.
Male house spiders tend to have oval shaped abdomens, while their female counterparts typically have rounder abdomens. One of the most confusing aspect of identification is their color, which can range from stark white to brown, grey, or even yellow. The markings on their bodies aren’t always consistent either, causing misidentification when using comparison alone as a gauge.
Are house spiders dangerous?
The quick answer is an emphatic no. Common house spiders are not dangerous to humans. While they may creep people out, and no one as a general rule wants to get bitten by spiders, house spiders in particular pose no health risk.
While all spiders are venomous, and the common house spider does occasionally bite humans, the reality is that the vast majority of their spider bites will elicit little to no reaction. Due to a number of factors relating to their size and venom potency, they are unable to inject enough into a human body to cause any harmful consequence.
In most cases, the worst case scenario of a common house spider bite will be a very mild amount of pain where the spider’s fangs have punctured the skin. Some people have greater reactions than others, but the extreme cases will cause temporary swelling around the area that will dissipate naturally given time.
It is perhaps more helpful to think of house spider infestations as a sort of canary in the coal mine, as their presence in large numbers tends to signal the presence of other pests. They do, after all, have to feed on something. If their numbers are increasing, it’s typically because their food source is increasing.
If you notice a swell in numbers, you’ll want to give your local pest control a call. It’s not the spiders themselves we’re concerned about so much as what’s driving their numbers.
What should I do next?
Give us a call at (269) 424-3458. We’d be happy to walk you through both the removal AND prevention process. Once we’ve eliminated the house spider problem, we’ll want to make sure we eliminate whatever other pests brought them there in the first place. Depending upon the house spider’s food, you may be in danger of illness-inducing bacteria and/or damage to your home. This will obviously vary depending upon the pest being fed upon, but we’ll want to make a thorough investigation to ensure we aren’t treating a symptom instead of whatever’s driving up the spider infestation to begin with.
- Call us to discuss a tailor-made plan of attack: (269) 424-3458
- We'll treat the affected areas, and provide guidance on ways to eliminate further pest issues.
- You may wish to seal any cracks or holes you find in your home's walls (remember - the pests house spiders feed on are tiny!)
- It's possible that the pests being fed upon by the spiders in your home are attracted to left out food. Routinely wash away, sweep up, and vacuum any food residue or crumbs to ensure there's nothing to sustain a pest you may not be aware of. In other words, hide your grandma's cookies.
- Make sure you're consistently checking the affected spaces for signs of re-infestation.
We’re here to assist! Give us a call at (269) 424-3458!
