House spiders build lots of webs around a home, wherever they can find space. This is why many people notice them as a pest. These spiders build webs quickly and, if the web doesn’t catch insects, they move on to a new location to build another.

House spider webs are disorganized, unlike the highly complex webs of some other species. They build them in low-traffic areas, such as attics, and other places where insects enter the house. More often, they infest sheds, warehouses and garages, where insects are more likely to run into their webs.

These spiders usually hide in the corners between ceilings and walls, in little-used closets and under furniture. House spiders also live outside, building webs around windows and near bright lights. As the lights attract bugs, the spider traps them in its web.

A house spider almost exclusively eats other insects. By trapping the bugs in their funnel-shaped webs, they can wrap them in a silky cocoon and feed on them. These spiders are not dangerous to humans or pets and they are rarely aggressive toward larger animals.

House spiders also occasionally eat other spiders, small scorpions and reptiles that wander into low-slung webs. Prey that lands on a web sends vibrations through the strands that the spider’s sensitive legs can detect. The spider waits in the narrow end for this signal and attacks the prey once it has become stuck.

A female house spider can lay up to 250 eggs at a time inside an egg sac. One spider can reproduce over fifteen times, making it possible for infestations to grow rapidly. Eggs can hatch into young spiders in as little time as one week. The spiderlings molt several times as they grow into adults. An adult house spider can live for a year or more.

If you’ve seen house spiders around your home, they were probably attracted by the insects they feed on. House spiders can actually be beneficial pests, eating insects and controlling other pests that you don’t want damaging your home. Unfortunately, the webs of these spiders can build up into ugly cobwebs. And you probably don’t enjoy running into them around your home.

House spiders can get into houses through the same holes and cracks used by the other bugs they eat. Loose-fitting screens, gaps under doors and voids within walls let spiders in and give them places to build webs.

House spiders are harmless to humans and pets but they’re often unwelcome guests in homes. Their webs can collect dust and these spiders can be frightening to see in a closet or attic. If you see house spiders in or around your home, call Aptive Environmental right away to begin a spider control treatment.

You can also follow these tips to avoid attracting house spiders inside:

1. Knock down spider webs as you find them around the outside of your home.

2. Sweep and vacuum attics, garages and other cluttered storage areas frequently.

3. Seal all cracks in walls, window frames and your house’s foundation to keep them outside.

4. Be cautious when placing outdoor lights so that you don’t attract bugs for the spiders to eat.

5. Call your local Aptive branch for a spider control solution.