Fall Spider Control

Photo from bugguide.net

I feel like we are being taken over.  Every time I step into the garage it seems like a herd of wolf spiders are on the move.  I make sure to always wear shoes out there in the fall (especially this fall) so that I can step on and kill every one of those nasty creatures that I can.

Wolf Spiders or ground spiders are very common creatures, especially this time of the year. Most are hairy and dark brown in color.  They look fierce and their rapid movements make them seem aggressive, however they will not “attack” humans.  If they do bite (which is a rare occasion), they are not poisonous and their bite feels similar to a bee sting.

Even though my first instinct is to smash it, in most cases wolf spiders benefit humans by feeding on all sorts of insects, including crop pests.  Wolf spiders are rarely pests, but they sometimes wander into houses, where their large size often frightens homeowners, or in our case a 4-year-old.  Wolf spiders that are found indoors have wandered in by mistake.

Wolf spiders are active hunters that patrol the ground for insects, small spiders, and similar prey.  They do not use webs to capture prey.  They are perhaps the most common Kentucky spiders and can live by the thousands in leaf litter and grassy areas.  Some wolf spiders build small burrows and defend a territory, while others are free-roaming.

The following measures can be used to control not only wolf spiders, but all spiders:
 Routine, thorough house cleaning is the best way to eliminate spiders and discourage their return. A vacuum cleaner or broom effectively removes spiders, webs, and egg sacs.
 Spiders prefer quiet, undisturbed areas such as closets, garages, basements, and attics. Reducing clutter in these areas makes them less attractive to spiders.
 Large numbers of spiders often congregate outdoors around the perimeter of structures. Migration indoors can be reduced by moving firewood, building materials, and debris away from the foundation. Shrubs, vines and tree limbs should be clipped back from the side of the building.
 Install tight-fitting window screens and door sweeps to exclude spiders and other insects. Inspect and clean behind outdoor window shutters.
 Consider installing yellow or sodium vapor light bulbs at outside entrances. These lights are less attractive than incandescent bulbs to night-flying insects which, in turn, attract spiders.
 To further reduce spider entry from outside, insecticides can be applied as a "barrier treatment" around the base of the foundation. Pay particular attention to door thresholds, garage and crawl space entrances, including foundation vents. Carbaryl, bendiocarb, chlorpyrifos, or any of the synthetic pyrethroids are effective, but may need to be reapplied periodically throughout the summer. Wettable powder or microencapsulated ("slow-release") formulations are most effective.

For more information on spider control, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.