Why Am I Seeing So Many Spiders In My Chicago Home?

House spider crawling on the floor.
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There is a rumor floating around that no matter where you are, you are never more than six feet from a spider. At first, this seems like an extremely disturbing idea, almost as disturbing as another rumor that says the average person swallows eight spiders in their sleep. Thankfully, both of these ridiculous claims are not true. What is true, however, is that spiders invade homes here in Chicago. If you are seeing a large number of these pests crawling around your living areas, here is why.

What Spiders Live In Chicago

Chicago is home to more than a few species of spiders, the majority of which invade homes if given a good reason. To help you better understand the different types of invasive spiders in our area, here are some things you should know about each.

The house spider is the most common home-invading spider around the world. This home-dwelling arachnid builds intricate webs made out of thick strands of silk and poses little to no risk to human health.
 
The wolf spider is another common home-invading pests here in Chicago. Despite being able to produce silk, this arachnid primarily hunts for its prey from the ground, usually around cluttered and secluded areas. The wolf spider poses no serious risk to human health but does have a slightly painful bite.
 
The brown recluse is not as commonly found around homes, but will come inside during times of inclement weather and when their prey migrates indoors for warmth and shelter. Identified by its light to dark brown body and the backward dark violin shape located just behind its head, this spider poses a serious risk to human health with its potent long-lasting venom.
 
The black widow spider builds irregular webs and prefers to live around dark, secluded areas. Known for its large black body and the red hourglass mark on the underside of its bulbous abdomen, this ominous-looking pest poses a considerable threat to humans with its painful bite and the many symptoms that follow it.

What Draws Spiders To Invade Homes?

Spiders are food-driven pests that live on a diet of insects, arthropods, and other arachnids. If your home is crawling with ants, centipedes, cockroaches, stink bugs, etc, spiders will be more likely to come inside to hunt. Spider infestations grow more regularly during the colder months of the year as many pests are pushed inside by inclement weather. If you are finding a large number of these pests around your home this time of year, this is the reason.

7 Tips To Prevent Spiders

  1. Use a caulk gun to fill in holes, gaps, and cracks around your home’s exterior.
  2. Address damaged or improperly fitted screens, weatherstripping, and door sweeps.
  3. Keep unscreened windows and doors closed as much as possible.
  4. Turn off your exterior lights at night.
  5. Reduce the clutter around your home.
  6. Remove spider webs around your home’s exterior using a long broom.
  7. Invest in professional pest control

What Professional Pest Control Can Do For Your Home

Aerex Pest Control is a local business with a passion for excellence and high quality. Offering a range of comprehensive pest control solutions, our team is prepared and standing by. All you have to do is pick up your phone, and we will evaluate your situation and help you find a plan that best fits your needs.

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