Why are there suddenly so many spiders in my house?

Pumpkin spice lattes. Halloween decorations. A spider strolling across the living room floor. Some signs of fall are more welcome than others. If spiders suddenly seem to be everywhere in your house, it's natural to wonder where they're coming from.

For some house spiders, mating season explains the extra activity. Mature males become more active as they search for females, making them easier to spot. The timing varies by species and location, but late summer and fall can bring more of these encounters.

Many of those spiders may already have been living out of sight in your home. House-adapted species can remain indoors year-round, with females and younger spiders hidden behind furniture or in quiet storage areas. Outdoor spiders sometimes wander inside, too, but cold weather alone doesn't explain every indoor sighting.

How to Reduce Spider Activity Around Your Home

Knowing that some spiders may already be indoors helps you decide where to focus. Sealing entry points addresses spiders wandering in from outside; cleaning and reducing clutter address places where spiders may already be living. Start with these steps:

1. Check possible entry points. Seal gaps around doors, windows, and the foundation. Repair damaged screens, worn weatherstripping, and gaps beneath doors.
2. Reduce hiding places. Sort through accumulated boxes, papers, and other clutter in storage areas, closets, and basements.
3. Remove webs and egg sacs. Use a vacuum or broom to clean corners, window areas, and other undisturbed spots where you find webbing.
4. Look for other insect activity. Spiders feed on insects, so recurring insect sightings are worth investigating as part of your indoor pest-management routine.

Where to Place Spider Traps Indoors

As you check those areas, pay attention to where you actually see spiders. Those observations can help you choose where to place indoor spider traps.

RESCUE! Spider Traps have a slim, low-profile shape for placement in narrow indoor spaces. Suggested locations include:

• Along walls and baseboards
• Under cabinet toe-kicks
• Behind or beneath furniture
• Around doorways
• In basements or crawl spaces

Follow the package instructions for placement, handling, and replacement. Choose locations that are not easily accessible to children or pets, and combine trap placement with the housekeeping and maintenance steps above.

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Sources and Further Reading

• Burke Museum: Myth — Spiders Come Indoors in the Fall
• University of Minnesota Extension: Spider Identification, Behavior, and Management

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