Pest Control Guide to Spiders

Spiders.

Over 45,000 types of spiders exist globally with multiple varieties easily found within every home and garden. They act like natural pest controllers, keeping our home fly and insect free. While most spiders are in fact venomous, the vast majority are not dangerous to us humans, but they can elicit a severe phobic reaction.

Here in Ireland we have a few different spider varieties, but for pest control we mostly deal with the common or giant house spider, wolf spiders and false widow spiders (which have been linked to some nasty biting and infection cases recently).

False Widows.

The false widow spider derives it’s name from its black widow cousin. Aptly so, as it shares a lot of the same neurotoxins and venom characteristics of its dangerous relative! More sinisterly though, It’s fangs carry harmful bacteria which can cause nasty infections and has been antibiotic resistant in some cases. While spiders don’t seek us out as targets, they can bite in instances of mistaken threats, and these guys can leave some nasty results.

Appearance:

False widows range from black to dark brown, they’re slightly shinny, often with light markings presenting on their bulbous abdomen. They can range in size from about 9 up to about 15mm.

Habitat and Lifespan:

False widows can be actively spotted year round in Ireland, regardless of weather conditions. They’re found both indoor and outdoor, often in less busy areas such as old sheds but we’ve seen them very active in large modern houses. They can live for up to 5 years and have a fast reproduction rate. They were first noted in Bray in 1997 and have since enveloped many parts of the eco system, being a dangerous adversary to many of the native insect species.

House Spiders.

‘House spiders’ is a term which can be given to 3 common domestic species; the common house spider, the giant house spider, and the domestic house spider. Confusing? we know! Here’s what you should know. They’re all harmless to humans, they’re web spinning natural pest controllers. They can be quick moving (although the common house spider is quite blind so probably won’t notice you). They’ll tend to be noticed coming into your home in the autumn months. They may scare the pants off you.

Appearance:

The common house spider is variable in tone from tan to dark brown, it has light markings on its bulbous body and ranges from about 4 to 8m in size. Differentiating from widow species can be difficult but common spiders tend to be smaller, less bulbous (particularly males) and lighter in tone.

The Giant house spider are characterised by their hairy limbs, body, and large stature. Their body size can vary from 10 to a whopping 20mm in size, with leg spans as large as 75mm. They’re quick creatures but will usually be found running away rather than towards you.

The domestic house spider is a hairless slimmed down version of the giant house spider. It has a slightly elongated body and ranges from 6 to 11mm in size.

Wolf Spiders.

The wolf spider spins no webs, instead hunting and pouncing on its prey over short distances. They can be found in a variety of habitats both inside and outside homes, often favouring burrows with open doors for rapid hunting.

Appearance:

Wolf spiders are about 8mm in size on average but can grow quite a bit larger. They are generally a brown colour with straw coloured markings.

How to get rid of spiders from your home:

If you’re not afraid of spiders then generally it would be best advice to just leave them alone (unless of course there’s a severe infestation or if you have the false widow variety). If that’s easier said than done then you should consider removing webs as quickly as they appear, seal gaps and entry points around pipes and doors, vacuum frequently in both low areas and high areas (e.g. on top of bookcases), and address any secondary pest issues which may be providing food for the spiders.

If you ned professional help we offer an extremely effective spray treatment which instantly kills all spiders and their eggs, its safe, fast and effective on all spider species.