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Not many people actually enjoy finding spiders in their homes. Seldom few people have grown tolerant of their presence, and even fewer enjoy having them as pets, but more often than not they're viewed as unwanted and potentially dangerous pests. While it's true there are plenty of spiders that are dangerous to have around, some are much less hazardous than others, and such is the case of the humble house spider. They're still pretty creepy, but how dangerous are they?
What Is The Common House Spider?
The common house spider, also known as the American house spider, is one of the most abundant home-dwelling spiders in the southern states. They're a fairly small species, females only growing up to 5/16 of an inch long and males only 3/16 of an inch. The females, which are more likely to be seen, have hairless reddish-brown bodies with white banded legs, and their abdomens are nearly spherical in appearance. They only tend to live a little over a year, but a female can lay up to seven egg sacs in her lifetime.
Every species of spider is venomous, but not all spider venom is harmful to humans. They require their venom to paralyze and consume their prey, and it doubles as a handy defense mechanism, but species like the common house spider can't inflict significant damage on people. They're more nuisance pests than anything else, but they're also a big indicator of other pest problems that could be plaguing your Tampa home:
- Ants
- Fleas
- Gnats
- Flies
- Mosquitoes
- Wasps
- Cockroaches
- Other spiders
Where House Spiders May Hide In Your Tampa Home
Like most spiders, common house spiders prefer clutter and cramped spaces to hide within. These are also areas that are more likely to house other pests, like ants, cockroaches, and other spiders. This species far prefers concealment and solitude rather than spending time out in the open, so if you've discovered house spiders setting up webs in a more open environment, you probably have a much larger house spider population in your Tampa home than you're aware of.
How To Prevent A House Spider Infestation In Your Tampa Home
While addressing entry points and hiding spots is an important step to a spider-free home, minimizing attractive qualities for other pests that house spiders enjoy feeding on is crucial:
- Repair cracks, holes, and gaps around the exterior of your home; be sure to check siding, foundation, around pipes and wires, exposed wood panels, roof, and trim
- Replace any worn-down insulation around doors and windows
- Downsize on any excessive clutter around your home
- Maintain proper food storage by keeping dry goods in airtight containers and never leaving leftovers out overnight
- Wipe down counters and food prep areas daily
- Clean up any food and drink spills immediately after they occur
- Keep tight-fitting lids on both indoor and outdoor trash cans
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum regularly to keep excess food particles off the floor
Eliminating A House Spider Infestation In Your Tampa Home
Spiders are notorious for being resilient against store-bought pesticides, and they're far too good at hiding for you to be able to discover the entire infestation on your own. Store-bought pesticides also contain some seriously harmful chemicals, and using them would expose you and your loved ones to dangerous carcinogens. Instead of relying on guesswork to resolve your pest problems, you might want to hand this task over to the professionals
Our pest technicians at Bold Servicing know a thing or two about house spider infestations and the various other pests that attract them. We offer a wide range of services to meet the needs of every customer, and we only use the best quality pest control products in every treatment we provide. With free inspections and our pest-free guarantee, why not choose us as your pest control provider? Get in contact with us today to start discussing your options.