Spiders are classified as ‘Arachnids,’ which are very different from ‘Insects.’ Arachnids have eight legs, no antennae, and no wings. There are about 45,000 different types of Spiders in the world, and they are found on every continent except Antarctica. Spiders are cold-blooded, highly adaptable creatures, and they have evolved to withstand sub-zero temperatures.
How do spiders survive winter?
Naturally, spiders begin a winter-hardening process once the weather gets cold. Their bodies undergo a chemical change and build an anti-freeze substance, very similar to the anti-freeze we put in our vehicles. This waxy coating reduces the spiders’ freezing temperature and makes them more tolerant to cold. With this defense system, spiders easily live in their natural habitat, that’s mostly in piles of leaves and the crevices of tree barks. As a result, they probably won’t need your home’s central heating or a fireplace.
Spiders do not hibernate; instead, they remain in a sort of “diapause,” meaning they come out of hiding on warmer days in search of food. This means if they can’t find enough prey outside, they might enter your home.
Though most spiders are non-aggressive and are nothing more than a nuisance, you may still not like the idea of sharing your living space with crawling creatures. In fact, arachnophobia (the fear of spiders) is the real reason most people want to get rid of them. So what can you do to have a safe, pest-free living space for your family?
Universal Pest & Termite can do the job for your home in Virginia Beach and surrounding areas. We are a locally owned and operated business working for 18 years to offer quality pest control services to our customers.
Our Border-Guard pest program ensures that spiders and other insects won’t crawl in your home. Our experts do all the necessary inspections and treat the problematic areas to give you a comfortable home.
House spiders in winters
The
re are diverse species of spiders, some live through winters without a problem, some lay eggs in fall and die, and others have evolved to live indoors in the hidden dark places of your homes. And these are the house spiders you spot under the sink and in the corners of your closed cabinets.
House spiders live in dark places with lots of moisture, and they happily set into spaces where they have the least chance of getting disturbed. If your house has become home to these spiders, you’ll probably often see them hopping around in search of prey. They’re more common in summer and spring, the mating season for the spiders. But it doesn’t mean your house has no spiders in winter. They’re always there, just waiting for the right time to come out.
House spiders live for one to two years; some species like ‘grass spider’ and ‘daddy long legs’ lay eggs in the fall, and the mature spider dies. However, their egg sacs remain attached to the furniture, cabinets, or curtains until spring when the young spiders hatch. Other species like ‘wolf spiders’ live through the winter with the help of their anti-freeze mechanism.
You won’t even realize they’re there until the spring, but these house spiders will be increasing their numbers inside egg sacs. As soon as the temperature rises, they’ll be coming out of these hidden spaces to look for a mate and food. To save yourself from the horror, it’s better to get rid of them before they become a big problem. To do that, you’ll have to find and eliminate those egg sacs, and it’s best to call a pest control expert if you don’t want to risk yourself or your family.
Our Exclusive Uni-Guard Program for Spider Control and Termite Control will do the job for you. If you’re anywhere in Virginia Beach or around Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, you can always call the Universal pest and Termite control for all your pest control needs. Our Uni-Guard program offers unlimited pest control treatment both inside and outside, along with year-round emergency returns. We’ll fully customize a package as per your needs. With this plan, you can stay rest assured that you have a pest-free home, whatever the season might be.
How to keep spiders out of the house
Fortunately, spiders are not impossible to keep out of your home. With a few easy measures, you will be able to evict the unwanted house spiders.
- Make sure that the doors and windows close properly. Seal the cracks and openings in the walls.
- Inspect your attic and basement for any cracks or holes. Spiders may be using these areas as their entry points into your home. A good pest control company will emphasize doing these two points first.
- Keep any refuse or firewood away from the house. Spiders like to make these places their home.
- Vacuum regularly, especially in corners and closets.
- Make a habit of cleaning up the hardly cleaned areas like behind the fridge or oven.
- Wipe down any spider webs you see. You can also spray the corners with some insecticide.
- Get rid of a fruit fly or gnat infestations. Spiders come after these insects.
The U.S.A has 3500 different types of spiders; while most are completely harmless, a few like ‘black widow’ and ‘brown recluse’ can be life-threatening. Even if they might not bite you, the risk of allergen is there. So if you don’t know how to handle spiders, we urge you to call a professional spider exterminator and let them take care of the problem for you. A bit of investment in preventive measures will help you save big bucks later.