Rainy Summer Means More Spiders

We've had a lot of rainy days this summer. Have you noticed? Have you also noticed an increase in spider activity? It isn't your imagination. Rainy summers often mean more spiders. Let's take a look at why this is the case. We'll break it down fact by fact and tell you what you can do about these unwanted guests. 

Water is a source of life. 

When the rain comes, every living creature takes notice. Here are a few ways moisture will increase pest activity and how this increased activity leads to more spiders.

• Most mosquito species lay their eggs in stagnant water, and stagnant water resources increase after rainstorms.
• Most flies lay their eggs in decaying organic matter; damp conditions increase the amount of decaying matter available.
• Centipedes, silverfish, termites, and many other pests require high humidity levels to stay hydrated. Rainstorms increase humidity and get these pests moving.

Spiders are hunters. Some use their webs as traps to capture mosquitoes, flies, and other flying insects. Some, like wolf spiders, crawl around on the ground searching for prey such as centipedes, silverfish, and other skittering critters. 

Is there a way to keep spiders out of your home?

There are many ways to keep spiders out of your home if you don't mind rolling up your sleeves. Here are a few suggestions from our local pest control experts:

• Rake leaves and remove other organic debris near your home to deter insect breeding and general insect activity.
• Pick up pet waste in your yard to remove breeding sites for files.
• Clean your trash bins and make sure they stay covered to help keep all flies away.
• Remove any objects in your yard that capture rainwater. This will deter mosquito production.
• Remove dead branches, logs, and other wood debris.
• Trim grass and landscape plants to reduce moisture.
• Reduce lawn weeds to remove nectar as a food source for the insects that spiders eat.
• Replace exterior white lights with yellow lights. Insects cannot see yellow light and are not attracted to it.
• Clear out gutter clogs and fix damaged gutter troughs, downspouts, and splash blocks.

When you take these steps, you'll reduce spider food and conditions that attract spiders. Once this is done, consider direct spider management tips like these:

• Remove spider webs and destroy any spider egg sacs you find.
• Fill in ground holes to deter wolf spiders from moving in.
• Remove objects that rest on the ground next to your home.
• Pick up junk piles near your exterior and store the materials in a covered container. Spiders use these as hiding places. 

You're almost done. You also need to consider entry points. Here are some tips to help you with exclusion work:

• Use a caulking gun to fill in gaps around window and door frames.
• Replace worn-out weatherstripping and door sweeps.
• Repair damaged glass panes and screens.
• Use expanding foam to fill in structural voids, gaps, and cavities.
• Use expanding foam to seal around wire conduits or plumbing pipes.

Remember that all these steps will help you manage more than spiders. It is well worth the effort to put the work in.

How the Harris Pest Control team can help

We are a premier pest control service provider in South Carolina, specifically the Pee Dee and Grand Strand areas. With over 50 years of experience, we've learned what works best to keep spiders out. Our year-round home pest control services include:

• Quarterly pest inspections and treatments
• Exterior pest treatments
• De-webbing around structures
• Indoor pest control services, as needed
• Preventative pest maintenance 

Finding a spider (or several) in your home is no fun. Let your Harris Pest Control service team help you maintain a spider-free home. For help getting rid of spiders in Florence, Myrtle Beach, or elsewhere in our multi-county service area, please get in touch with us today! We look forward to helping you stay one step ahead of spiders, and the bugs that attract them.