Apartment Infested With Spiders

Question: My apartment seems to be infested with different kinds of spiders. Can you treat all of them, and is it safe for my children after treatment?

ANSWER: Spiders, like most arachnids, are predatory. The majority spin webs to capture prey, but some are hunters. Their diet consists primarily of insects. Controlling a population of spiders is best done through reduction of food supply. Either by reducing the use of exterior lighting or changing bulbs to yellow “bug lights,” homeowners can help decrease the number of insects in their surrounding areas.

You can help eradicate outdoor spider problems by removing habitats friendly to insects—piles of wood and mulch, leaves and tall grass in unkempt areas. Have the maintenance staff at your apartment complex make sure your doors are closing tightly and make sure the weather stripping is working properly. Also, an insecticide barrier around the building can help reduce the number of insects and, therefore, spiders you encounter.

Indoor spiders can be controlled by routine vacuuming. You must get the webs, egg sacs and spiders (when you see them). Small sticky traps designed for mice can work well, too.

The local Orkin branch office can arrange to have the Orkin Man make an inspection. This will be necessary to determine the most effective treatment. Please contact them directly for more information or to schedule service.

Related Questions:

The Orkin Man used the information above to also answer the following questions submitted by Orkin.com users:

Question: What can I do to keep spiders out of my house and  kill them and the insects they’re eating?

Question: Why do I have so many spiders around my house and backyard? My walls and windows are always covered with spider webs.

Question: Does treatment for spiders kill the egg sacs? I do not know if that is what they really are or if they are old, but there appears to be egg sac-looking brown balls behind the fridge in my new apartment. An Orkin Man sprayed while I was away, and I didn’t think to ask about it in time.


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