Some pests choose to take shelter in your home to survive the winter by finding a warm corner, waiting out the colder months until the spring. House spiders have already made your house their home. So what exactly are these house spiders doing in the winter?

First off, do not think these are typically outdoor spiders that have found their way. House spiders are a different species than the ones you would find in your yard or garden. These spiders have adapted to indoor conditions, which supply them with a constant climate, but with a poorer food and water supply. In fact, some house spider species have been living indoors since the Roman Empire.

It is not uncommon to find other types of spiders in your house, but they are just visiting. Hunting spiders or web-building spiders are better equipped to survive outdoors, but it is unnecessary for them to spend the winter indoors. When it gets cold outside, the cold-blooded spider will go through a process of cold-hardening to survive the winter.

Outdoor species of spiders will go through a chemical transformation of their body, and may find shelter in piles of rocks, leaves or wood. The spiders then enter a slowed down state where they are mostly inactive, only emerging on warm days to hunt and feed.

As for the house spider, it is likely that they were born inside and so they will stay inside. A female likely placed one of her egg sacs in a quiet, undisturbed part of your home. When those eggs hatch, the young house spiders will instinctively search for their own secluded area, such as a crawl space, a void in the wall, or behind furniture.

One mentality to take with house spiders is “out of sight, out of mind.” Very few house spiders are harmful to humans, and they even provide a couple benefits in exchange for living rent-free in your house. These house spiders eat insects, including flies and mosquitoes, and they could keep these out of your home.

So by eliminating a house spider and its web, you might encourage other pests, both those that are a nuisance or even harmful to you or your family. One recommendation, if you are concerned with their well-being but don’t like the idea of a spider in your home, is to put them in your garage. They will survive in the garage just as they would in your house. 

Most spiders are harmless to humans. In fact, of the nearly 4,000 spider species in North America, very few are actually toxic to humans. However, a large infestation of spiders, either the house spider or those found outside, should not be ignored. If you are concerned with the spiders in and around your home, contact the pest control specialists at Van Den Berge Pest Control at 616-392-7367.

Trust the locally owned, widely renowned experts at Van Den Berge Pest Control for all of your pest needs. With over 100 years of combined experience throughout the Holland, MI-based pest control team, you know you’re in expert hands with our state-certified experts.