How To Keep Spiders Out Of Your Home Each Fall

Spider prevention tips for Maine homeowners

Whether spiders make you a bit uncomfortable or you’re completely repulsed by them, the truth is that Maine homeowners are more likely to find themselves in close proximity to arachnids each fall. If you’re wondering why spider infestations increase every autumn and need advice on how to keep these eight-legged pests out of your home, the local pest control specialists at Pine State Pest Solutions are here to explain. 

The house spider: a brief bio of Maine’s most common spider problem

A frequent guest in houses, camps, barns, and other structures, house spiders construct their webs in the corners of rooms and windows as well as other places where they’re likely to capture lunch. 

Identifying characteristics of the common house spider include:

• Yellowish-brown coloring
• Dark chevron-like markings
• Range in size from 1/8th to 5/16 of an inch

Unlike the black widow and brown recluse spiders that plague property owners in other states, the common house spider is not venomous and poses no real danger to human health. 

Why spiders show up in and around Maine homes every fall

It’s not necessarily that spider activity increases during the fall months, it’s just that homeowners are more likely to see them. Why? Well, there are a few reasons. 

• Spiders have grown over the summer and are bigger and braver
• Spiders are looking for love – or at least a mate
• Spiders are on the hunt for food 
• Spiders are looking for shelter from bad weather and enemies

If a spider (or several) finds a way into your home and it provides everything they need to survive, there’s a wicked good chance you’ll have a spider problem in the fall and throughout the year. 

Potential entry points for opportunistic spiders

Every home has a weak point, if yours is gaps under doors, torn window screens, holes around utility lines, cracks in the foundation, and other openings that a spider could fit through, you’re likely to develop an infestation of spiders. The bugs they eat probably enter your home the same way. 

Sometimes spiders are inadvertently introduced on items you yourself bring into the house; items such as:

• Houseplants
• Cardboard boxes
• Firewood 
• Toys brought in from the yard
• Items that are typically stored in sheds and other outbuildings
• Camping gear

It’s also entirely possible they hitched a ride inside on a person or pet.  

Spider prevention tips from the Maine exterminating pros 

To keep spiders as far from the inside of your home as possible, we recommend trying out these spider prevention tips:

• Seal every crack, gap, hole, and opening you can find on the outside of your house – from the foundation to the top of the roof 
• Clear your yard of debris and keep the grass mowed they become dormant for the winter
• Trim back trees, shrubs, and other landscaping elements so that they don’t come into contact with the house 
• Declutter your garage, attic, and basement and organize your storage closets 
• Practice excellent sanitation practices in your home 
• Don’t bring anything into your home that has not been inspected for signs of spider activity 
• Keep outdoor lighting off when not needed 
• Switch to outdoor lighting that doesn’t attract bugs 
• Eliminate potential food sources

Professional pest control keeps spiders and other pests out no matter the season!

The prevention tips above will certainly help make your home less attractive to arachnids and the bugs they eat but the best way to achieve and maintain a spider and pest-free home are by signing up for ongoing pest control.  

Keep spiders, insects, and rodents out of your home this fall and all year round when you sign up for effective and affordable home pest control services from Pine State Pest Solutions. Serving Auburn, Portland, and Scarborough as well as communities throughout our multi-county service areas, our Home Protection plans are the smart choice for Maine homeowners. Check out our residential plans and pricing below or contact us via phone or form if you have questions or want to discuss your pest problem.