In Pennsylvania, basement spiders are common in homes. Since these bugs don’t like being around people, the basement is a great place for them to make their web…until there are too many of them! When there are too many spiders for the nest to feed, some will move to the floors above and go into living rooms and bedrooms.
Thus, if you see them moving around, it is best to use the following ways or items to get rid of these basement spiders and keep them away.
What Attracts Basement Spiders in My House?
Making your home spider-unfriendly is the best way to keep spiders out.
They often get into warm homes through cracks in the ground when it gets cold outside. It’s possible for spiders to live in colder places, but they need warm places to stay active. There are lots of bugs to eat in the dark, quiet, and protected basements. Spiders also need water to live, and basements are often damp places to be.
You should use glue or expanding foam to fill in all the cracks and holes in your basement walls to keep spiders out. A mouse can get into your house through any hole bigger than a dime. In this case, line the crack with steel wool or copper wire before you fill it in. This will keep the mice out.
Finally, some basement spiders are drawn to the light inside a house, which is why you might find them near windows or doors.
How To Get Rid Of Basement Spiders
These are some of the best ways to make sure spiders never come back to your basement.
1. Peppermint Oil Spray
Pests like spiders and others really dislike the strong smell of peppermint and will run away when it’s arounds. Put peppermint oil and water in a spray bottle. Spray the bottle near windows, doors, and other places in the basement where you’ve seen spiders.
2. Grab The Vinegar
Vinegar is very bad for spiders, but it’s not dangerous for people. Putting vinegar in strategic places around your house is a quick and easy way to keep spiders out.
3. Get Strategic With Citrus
Using citrus fruits, like lemon and orange, around the house is another easy way to keep bugs out. People enjoy the smells and tastes of these citrus goods, but spiders will run away from them because they are too strong for them.
4. Use Eucalyptus to Get Rid of Basement Spiders
The smell of eucalyptus is very strong and keeps basement spiders and other pests away, like the smells of lemon, peppermint, and vinegar. You can use eucalyptus oil instead of planting a tree; it will keep the problem away just as well.
5. Don’t Stack Any Wood
Basement spiders are drawn to these piles of wood to make their new homes, but not many people know this. That being said, one of the best ways to keep spiders out of the basement is to stack wood outside, like in the yard or a shed.
6. Keep The Basement Clean
Putting cardboard boxes away in the basement is a good way for spiders to hide, just like stacking wood. By regularly cleaning, dusting, and clearing out the basement, homeowners can not only keep it clean, but also check for spiders that might be hiding in small spaces.
7. Place Spider Traps
These bugs and more can be caught and killed by non-toxic spider traps, but as with any insect trap, make sure you buy one from a reputable brand. Another tool you can use right away to catch spiders is a vacuum that is made for that purpose.
8. Venus Flytrap
In spite of its name, the Venus Flytrap’s main food source is ants. In fact, they’ll eat almost any bug that gets caught in their trap!
The leaves of Venus Flytraps are different because they have lobes that are flexible and close when touched. A bug or spider that crawls along the leaves will rub against one or more of these hairs, which will bend a “trigger” hair. Two bent trigger hairs in 20 seconds or less will cause the lobes to snap shut around the prey inside…after which the digestion starts!
Types of Spiders in Southeastern Pennsylvania
Here is a list of the spiders that our pest control experts see most often:
Wolf Spiders
This big spider doesn’t make webs to catch food. Instead, they actively chase and pounce on insects, which are their main food source. They are known for having great hearing and being able to carry their egg sacs on their spinnerets.
Grass Spiders
They like to live in grassy places and are known for making webs that look like funnels close to the ground. At the narrow end of the funnel, they’ll wait for food to get caught.
Woodlouse Hunters
They mostly eat woodlice, which are also called pill bugs or sow bugs, as the name suggests.
They don’t make webs; instead, they hunt their food in damp, dark places like under rocks or logs.
Jumping Spiders
They are famous for having great eyesight, speed, and jumping skills. They actively follow their food and pounce on it, using their strong legs to jump long distances.
Cellar Spiders
Their small bodies and long, thin legs make them easy to spot. Most of the time, cellar spiders live in damp, dark places like basements, cellars, and crawl spaces. They hang webs in corners that aren’t straight and wait for small bugs to get caught in them.
Daddy Long Legs
It is possible to mistake Daddy Long Legs, also known as a harvestman, for a cellar spider, even though they are not really spiders. Their bodies are small and oval, and their legs are long and thin. They like to live in damp places, like under rocks, logs, or plants, and their main food source is dead organic matter.
Sac Spiders
Their name comes from the fact that they build silken sacs or hiding places where they can rest during the day. Most sac spiders are not mean, but they can bite if they feel threatened or angry.
When it comes to biting, sac spiders are the worst. About 90% of the calls we get about spider bites are for sac spiders. We don’t see Black Widows and Recluse spiders very often.
Final Words
A lot of diseases can spread in the basement if there are spiders. That’s why the steps above are suggested for you to stay safe from future problems and infestations. Get help from a professional pest control company if there are a lot of them so that no damage is done to your property.