Spider Control

Spiders We Treat

House Spiders The most commonly seen spider indoors. Generally harmless, but their webs accumulate quickly in corners, garages, and basements if left unaddressed.

Wolf Spiders Large, fast-moving, and often mistaken for something more dangerous. Wolf spiders hunt on the ground rather than building webs and are frequently found in basements, garages, and window wells.

Black Widow Spiders Identifiable by the red hourglass marking, black widows are the primary medically significant spider species found in the Treasure Valley. They favor dark, undisturbed spaces like woodpiles, sheds, garages, and crawl spaces, and their bites can cause a serious reaction, especially in children and pets.

Hobo Spiders Ground-dwelling spiders common throughout Idaho that build funnel-shaped webs near foundation gaps and ground-level entry points. Bites can cause localized irritation.

A note on brown recluse spiders: Brown recluse spiders are not established in Idaho. If you’ve found a spider you suspect is a brown recluse, it’s far more likely to be a hobo spider or a harmless cellar spider, both of which are commonly mistaken for it. If you’re unsure, our technicians can help identify what you’re actually dealing with.

Where Spiders Hide

Indoors: garage corners and stored boxes, basements and crawl spaces, window wells and ceiling corners, utility rooms and closets.

Outdoors: eaves, soffits, and porch ceilings, under decks and patio furniture, woodpiles and sheds, dense shrubs touching the house.

Signs of a Spider Problem

• Webs building up in corners, garages, or basements faster than you can clear them
• Frequent spider sightings, especially in low-traffic areas
• Small silk egg sacs tucked into corners or under furniture
• A noticeable increase in other insects, which spiders are drawn to as a food source

Health and Property Considerations

Most spider bites cause nothing worse than minor irritation, but black widow bites are the exception and can cause a serious reaction, particularly in children, older adults, and pets. Beyond bites, a spider problem left unaddressed tends to mean an underlying insect problem as well, since spiders build up wherever their food source is abundant. Heavy webbing can also make a home or business look neglected to visitors or customers, which matters as much for curb appeal as it does for pest control.

DIY vs. Professional Spider Control

Clearing visible webs helps temporarily, but it doesn’t address the insects spiders are feeding on or the egg sacs tucked into places you’re not checking. Within days, new webs tend to reappear in the same spots. Professional spider control treats the underlying insect activity and harborage areas together, which is the difference between a quick fix and a lasting one.

Spider Prevention Checklist

• Switch exterior bulbs to warmer tones, bright white and blue light attracts more insects, which in turn attracts spiders
• Trim shrubs, trees, and vegetation away from siding and rooflines
• Seal door sweeps, window screens, and gaps around the foundation
• Reduce clutter in garages, sheds, and storage areas where spiders like to hide
• Keep basements and crawl spaces dry, since damp conditions attract both spiders and their insect prey