Ways To Make Sure There Are No Spiders Inside Your Virginia Beach Home

Some of the most common phobias include acrophobia, or fear of height; glossophobia, or fear of public speaking; and you might have guessed it already, arachnophobia, which is a fear of spiders. When it comes to creepy crawlies, you don’t need to have panic attacks to not want spiders in your home, especially since some of them, like the black widow and the brown recluse, can inflict painful and dangerous bites. In the wild, spiders are a valuable part of the ecosystem, as they prey on insects like mosquitoes, serve as a food source for birds, wasps, centipedes, and more, and can be beneficial to crops and gardens. Most of the spiders in the area are not venomous and do not pose a significant threat to humans. However, spiders are rarely desirable indoors. If you are dealing with spiders in your home, it is time to learn about the types of spiders that invade Virginia Beach homes, find out about all the places spiders like to hide indoors, and try six simple and natural spider prevention tips. If you are struggling with a spider infestation, Hawk Mosquito & Pest provides pest control in Virginia Beach that you can depend on to get rid of these unwanted invaders and their sticky webs safely and for good. 

The Types Of Spiders That Invade Virginia Beach Homes

With its warm summers and cold, windy winters, Virginia Beach is home to a variety of spiders that thrive outdoors until the weather cools down, and they start looking for homes to invade to find food, shelter, and water. Some of the most common types of spiders you might find in the area include:

• Black widow spiders: The black widow spider is the most common type of venomous spider in Virginia. If you see a black, shiny spider with a red hourglass figure under its abdomen, avoid touching it because it could be dangerous.
• Brown recluse spiders: A less common type of venomous spider in the area, the brown recluse spider is recognizable by its violin-shaped pattern on its cephalothorax. Like the black widow, it can inflict dangerous bites, and it is best to leave the care of pest control professionals.
• Orb-weaver spiders: If you find spiders in your yard with long legs and a fat abdomen spinning webs in concentric circles, you probably have orb-weavers on your property. While these spiders are not venomous, they are not desirable inside your home, where they will spin sticky webs and lay eggs that could quickly lead to an infestation.
• Wolf spiders: Wolf spiders are not generally harmful, but they can get quite large and scary, sometimes up to a few inches in size. The larger-sized ones can cause bites that are not venomous but can be painful. You can recognize them by their large, hairy body and eyes reflecting light and shining in the dark.
• American house spiders: American house spiders are some of the most common house spiders you will find in your home. They often have yellow or orange legs with black stripes that are very long relative to the rest of their body.

Virginia Beach is home to at least a dozen different spiders, including the ones described above. If you think some of them might have taken over your home, read on to learn about all the places, they might be hiding.

All The Places Spiders Like To Hide In Your Home

Spiders like to hide in many different places and start an infestation. Generally, it is important to remember that spiders come indoors for shelter, food, and water. As a result, you will often find them in basements where there might be other pests they can prey on, as well as sources of moisture. You can also find them in attics for the same reasons. Other high-humidity areas include bathrooms and kitchens, with the latter having the added benefits of providing food sources like fruit flies and ants if you are dealing with additional pest infestations. Spiders tend to avoid high-traffic areas as much as possible, and when they are not hunting, you will usually find them spinning webs under cupboards, in dark corners, cluttered areas, and in light fixtures. If you suddenly see spiders everywhere in your home, the following six simple and natural spider prevention tips might help keep their numbers down.

Six Simple And Natural Spider Prevention Tips

By preventing a spider infestation, you can also prevent other pests from taking over, as the same tips often apply to many different types of invaders, like ants and rodents. The following six simple and natural spider prevention tips can help make treatments more effective and prevent new infestations from happening:

1. Seal off spider entry points: Making it difficult for spiders to come in can significantly impact future spider problems. Spiders usually come in through open doors and windows, so keeping them closed or fitted with fine-mesh screens can help. They can also enter through cracks in your walls or foundations, which you will need to seal using caulk or other materials. You might also consider door sweeps.
2. Remove clutter from your home: Spiders prefer to make webs in dark and quiet areas, like cluttered corners with low traffic. Removing clutter, especially in basements and attics, can prevent spiders from multiplying in your home, and you might notice spider webs more easily that way as well. Sources of clutter commonly include empty cardboard boxes, storage boxes, unused furniture, and more. 
3. Keep your yard well-maintained: Spiders tend to live outdoors, and a cluttered yard with leaf and wood piles near the home and poorly maintained bushes can encourage them to come indoors. They might also hide in blinds and shutters that you will need to dust and clean regularly. Some outdoor lights can attract spiders, and it is best to turn them off when not in use.
4. Take care of existing pest infestations: If you have an existing pest infestation in your home, it will draw spiders to it as a convenient and abundant food source. A pest control professional can help you identify the types of pests that might have taken over. Common preys for spiders include ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and other small insects.
5. Remove sources of moisture: Spiders need water in addition to food and shelter. They are often attracted to leaks needing repairs, even if they are very small. If your home is high in humidity, a dehumidifier can help as well. You will also want to inspect the outside of your home for leaks in the garden from hoses, plugged drains, or gutters.

Sometimes, you can do your best, and spiders will still plague you. If this is the case, you might be dealing with factors attracting local spiders that are difficult to control on your own. A professional pest control company can help keep spiders away from you safely and effectively.

Professional Pest Control Keeps Spiders Away

At Hawk Mosquito & Pest, we provide top-rated spider control for residential and commercial properties in Virginia Beach. We are a family-owned and BBB A+ accredited organization. We strive to offer the best in safe and effective pest control treatments and control strategies that come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Please reach out to us today to schedule a free, no-obligation inspection so that one of our team members can listen to your concerns before looking at the inside and outside of your property. Our licensed professionals have the experience needed to find the causes of your infestation and deal with them swiftly while keeping your household, including children and pets, safe at all times. We offer both indoor and outdoor treatments that are eco-friendly and will help you determine which products are best for your situation, needs, and budget. Our team members will also show you various prevention practices that keep spiders away naturally and effectively in addition to seasonal treatments. Sometimes, the best way to get rid of spiders is to combine daily prevention methods with occasional treatment to keep them at bay year-round. To that end, we provide monthly, quarterly, biannual, or annual follow-ups to ensure your pest problem is still under control. And finally, we offer a variety of financing options if needed.

While most spiders in Virginia Beach are non-venomous, a few, like the black widow and brown recluse, can cause painful and sometimes dangerous bites. Even harmless spiders might take over your home with sticky webs and nests and are undesirable invaders. While it might be tempting to ignore a spider infestation, you don’t need to choose between living with 8-legged creepy crawlies or using harsh and dangerous products to exterminate them. Our trained experts can help you get rid of your spider problem quickly, safely, and for good. Contact us today for a free quote, and you will be one step closer to having a spider-free home year-round.