Let’s be honest, spiders don’t exactly win popularity contests. Most people would much rather see them outside doing their own thing than crawling around inside the house. And while most spiders you’ll find at home are harmless, there are a couple that can pose a real risk if disturbed.
Knowing which spiders are just hanging out and which ones need to be taken seriously can help you stay calm and safe. Here’s a simple guide to the most common spiders you're likely to find indoors.
Harmless Spiders
American House Spider
If you spot messy, tangled webs in corners that remind you of Halloween decorations, chances are you’ve got an American House Spider nearby. They have long, thin legs and small, oval-shaped bodies. These spiders keep to themselves and rarely cause any issues.
Daddy Long Legs
Also known as cellar spiders, these guys are easily recognized by their tiny bodies and extremely long, delicate legs. You’ll often find them in damp, dark places like basements or crawl spaces. Despite the myths, they’re completely harmless and physically unable to bite humans.
Jumping Spider
These small, compact spiders are usually black with pale markings and short legs. True to their name, they’re known for their quick, hopping movements. You might see them around sunny windowsills where they hunt for insects. They can bite if provoked, but their bites aren’t dangerous.
Wolf Spider
Big, hairy, and fast-moving, wolf spiders can be alarming to see, but they’re not looking for trouble. Usually brown with pale stripes, you’ll find them low to the ground, often near baseboards, under furniture, or outside under rocks and firewood. They’ll only bite if they feel threatened.
Spiders to Be Cautious Around
Black Widow
The female black widow is easy to spot - glossy black body with a red or orange hourglass shape on her underside. These spiders tend to stay hidden in quiet, undisturbed areas like sheds, garages, or woodpiles. Their bite is venomous and can cause sharp pain and muscle cramps, so if you spot one, keep your distance and don’t try to handle it.
Brown Recluse
Light to dark brown with a violin-shaped marking on its back, the brown recluse prefers dark, tight spaces, such as closets, attics, and behind furniture. Their bites can lead to serious skin reactions and should be treated by a medical professional right away. If you see one, avoid contact and take care when cleaning out storage spaces.
The Bottom Line
Most spiders you find in your home are harmless and may even help by eating other bugs. But if you come across one of the dangerous types, or start noticing more spiders than usual, it’s worth taking a closer look at your space. Keeping things clean, dry, and clutter-free is the best way to avoid unwanted eight-legged visitors.
Want help identifying a spider you found? Describe it to me and I’ll help you figure out what you’re dealing with.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
