Isn't It Too Cold For There To Be Spiders In Springfield?

January 20, 2020

In: Spiders

When temperatures drop, spiders produce an anti-freeze type chemical called polyhydroxy alcohol. It works similarly to the antifreeze we put in our cars, allowing spiders to survive temperatures as low as -5°F. The chemical works alongside existing fluids in their bloodstream to prevent ice crystals from developing inside their bodies. As these antifreeze compounds build up in their tissues, their bodies are able to survive colder and colder conditions, reducing the temperature at which they’d normally freeze. Once the temperatures rise again in the spring, they stop producing this antifreeze and emerge from hibernation to once again become active outdoors.
 
So, if spiders aren’t seeking shelter and warmth, what is it they want? What they’re looking for inside our homes is food, which in their case includes flies and other small insects. Spiders can sense when the cold weather is coming, and they know that outdoor food supplies dwindle as temperatures drop. So, they need to find a food source elsewhere.
 
To prep for the winter, spiders mate and lay eggs in the early fall and store their egg sacks in dark, secluded places to wait out the harsh winter temperatures. This explains why we find cobwebs in remote, hidden corners of the house.
 
When you find spiders in your home, it’s likely that they’ve been there for some time. They follow prey inside and breed in the voids of your home such as crawl spaces and areas between your walls. Only about 5% of the spiders you see indoors have ever been outdoors. The only reason they may be more noticeable now is that they’ve grown their population by breeding comfortably in the nooks and crannies of your house. 
 
Spiders like to avoid humans as much as we like to avoid them, so it’s no wonder that they’re sneaky about how they enter the home and even sneakier about the duration of their stay. Possible points of entry include cracks, screens, and vents. Spiders love to slip in through these openings and burrow in dark areas that retain moisture, such as the attic, crawl spaces, closets, wall voids, and storage boxes.
 
They are often brought inside by humans, hanging onto firewood or groceries to transport them indoors. They hide in our cars, luggage, and other belongings, waiting to be carried inside for a cozy winter stay. Spiders especially like corners of doorways, ceilings, and dark areas between furniture. Wherever they can catch the most flies is typically where they’ll spin their webs.
 
So, how can we prevent spiders from gaining entry in the first place? There are a number of precautionary measures we can take:

• Seal up cracks and gaps around doors, windows, and other entrances.
• Repair any damaged screens or vents.
• Keep vegetation around your house well-trimmed.
• Inspect packages before bringing them into your house.
• Repair leaky pipes and water fixtures as spiders need water to survive.
• Promptly clean up food spills and regularly tidy up as spiders love hiding in clutter such as unused clothing and shoes.
• Take your garbage out regularly and keep it tightly sealed.

A good homeowner can implement all of these prevention methods yet still be vulnerable to a spider infestation. The best way to make sure you’ve detected and eliminated them all is to call the professionals at American Pest Solutions.
 
Our highly trained experts provide the full range of pest control services, customizing the treatment plan to fit the specific needs of your home. We serve residents of Springfield and the surrounding areas of Western Massachusetts with quality extermination and preventative maintenance. It can be impossible to control an infestation all on your own, so call us today to learn more about how we can help eliminate these pests for good.