Should spiders concern you? Most of them have venom, but not all of them can seriously harm you if they bite you. They leave spider webs all over your property, and this can annoy some people… And arachnophobia is a real phobia and not something you should really joke about. And your house’s exterior can be an attractive home for spiders. So, what do you do if you have a lot of spiders outside your house?
Why you have so many spiders outside your house
- Insects thrive well on your property. There is one primary reason why you have spiders on your property — they can find food in it. Spiders are insect predators. And unfortunately, the outside of your house can be a home for various insects. These insects will then attract spiders that will hunt them down. Flies and mosquitoes are some of the most common outside pests that spiders hunt.
- You let your outside garbage cans overflow. Your garbage cans are also rich sources of food and water. They have leftovers and residue from food packaging, bottles, and cans. Spiders are not necessarily attracted to the food and water in garbage cans. They are more attracted to the insects that are attracted to these resources. Flies, for instance, are known to breed and nest in garbage cans.
- You have a lot of exterior lights. Many insects are attracted to the artificial lights you have outside your house. This is because these insects use the natural lights from the moon and stars to help them navigate. They confuse the artificial lights on your property and they end up getting attracted to them. Mosquitoes are a fine example of this phenomenon. The insects around your artificial lights may be attracting spiders, and that’s why you have so many spiders outside.
How to get rid of the spiders outside your house
1. Trim your greeneries
The best way to get rid of spiders outside is to get rid of insects. You should make the outside of your house undesirable to insects that end up attracting the spiders. And one of the many ways to do this is to trim your greeneries.
Bushes, the grass in your yard, the plants and trees in your garden — you name it. You have to trim them all, so they don’t become ideal nesting spots for insects. Maintaining your greeneries can also prevent garden pests like vine weevils from thriving.
2. Clear stagnant water
Stagnant water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. And then these mosquitoes may end up attracting spiders. The outside of your house has so many spots where stagnant water can accumulate. The obvious spots are of course the birdbaths, fountains, garden ponds, swimming pools, and vases. But there are less obvious ones, like the old tires in your yard that you refuse to throw away and the random craters in the soil of your garden.
Clearing out stagnant water will not just help avoid spiders. It will also minimize the risks of mosquitoes. Remember that they are some of the deadliest animals in the world, killing millions of people throughout history.
3. Pick ripe fruits and vegetables in your garden
You may have so many spiders outside your house if you happen to have a garden with fruits and vegetables. And again, it’s not because of spiders liking these resources. It’s because of spiders liking the insects that like these food items. Fruit flies are the first ones that come to mind.
Fruit flies really like the fermenting and rotting juices of fruits and vegetables. This is why those who don’t maintain their gardens properly always fall victim to these pests. Fruit flies don’t just destroy gardens. They also spread disease-causing bacteria.
To avoid attracting these pests, immediately pick up ripe fruits and vegetables in your garden. And you can also throw away those that are already overripe and rotting.
4. Break spider webs
Having spiders outside your house is not necessarily bad. In fact, it can even be beneficial because spiders hunt down other pests. But if the spiders seem to be hunting too near your house’s interior, like on your porch or in your window, you can always just break their spider webs with a broom.
Many times, spiders will move locations when you destroy their spider webs. They may move into the farther side of your garden, lawn, or yard. And this can be good because they can continue to be beneficial while not being too close to you and your family.
5. Get rid of potential hiding spots
If you already do the other tips above, like trimming greeneries, you are already reducing the potential hiding spots of spiders. But not all of their hiding spots are natural. They can also be man-made objects, like the clutter in your garage, piles of trash, and awkward sides of unmaintained potted plants.
Unfortunately, these shaded spots can be home to the more dangerous kinds of spiders, such as black widows and brown recluses. If you have been bitten by these spiders, seek medical attention as soon as you can, especially if you experience severe symptoms.
6. Be careful with insecticides
Insecticides are great. They can kill a variety of common house pests, like cockroaches and mosquitoes. But here’s the thing — they are not very effective against spiders. Spiders are not even insects, to begin with.
You can still somewhat use insecticides to help get rid of spiders. This is because they can still kill the insects that spiders feed on. But the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Insecticides can damage and kill your greeneries. They can also kill beneficial insects and destroy biodiversity in your garden.
If you are planning to use insecticides outside your house, think again. You may want to let pest control professionals do the job for you.
Spiders can thrive outside your house
You have so many spiders outside your house because your house’s exterior is teeming with life. Spiders are insect predators, so if you have a lot of insects outside your house, don’t be surprised if spiders end up thriving there as well.
With a little maintenance, the outside of your house can be free of spiders. But if you think your spider problem is already beyond your control, you can always get help from pest control professionals.