Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects living in warm environments, such as beds and couches. They have the tendency to bite humans and can be very difficult to deal with. Having bed bugs requires a lot of work to get rid of them successfully.
Luckily, bed bugs are getting eliminated naturally – by spiders. Now, we will talk about different types of spiders and which one of them eats bed bugs. Additionally, we are going to discuss what are other ways to get rid of bed bugs besides spiders.
Spider-eating Bed Bugs
Spiders are known to be natural predators, and they eat bed bugs. However, not all types of spiders eat bed bugs. Additionally, not all of them are safe to be kept at home. Some types can bite you and are poisonous. Therefore, below are different types of spider-eating bed bugs and which ones that are dangerous to humans.
Wolf Spiders
Wolf Spiders are the most common type of bed bug predators. They personally hunt their prey and do not wait for their prey to come to them. They take their egg sacs with them even though they hunt for their prey.
Cobweb Spiders
Cobweb spiders build “cobweb-like” nests in dark areas that can trap bed bugs. They have long legs, which makes them move fast. However, some types of cobweb spiders are dangerous to humans because they are poisonous.
Yellow Sac Spider
Yellow sac spiders are large, brown spiders with black markings, usually found outside under leaves or stones. However, you may see them at your home hiding under your furniture. Due to their naturally big size, they can easily eat bed bugs, but they can also bite you or your pets.
Running Crab Spiders
Running crab spiders are small, tan spiders that love low-light conditions. They hide in plants and trees, waiting for an unsuspecting insect to pass by, unlike wolf spiders. They can easily catch their prey because of their fast speed.
There are only a few types of spiders that eat bed bugs, which can help in reducing bed bugs in your home. However, there is no guarantee that they can eliminate bed bugs, and it is unsure if they can give you a permanent solution to this kind of problem. Therefore, you need another plan to get rid of them, like a pest control company. Additionally, below are some other solutions for getting rid of bed bugs besides the ones that were mentioned.
What are Other Bed Bug Predators?
Spiders can be both helpful and dangerous to your family and pets. Therefore, it may not be the best permanent solution to getting rid of those persistent insects. In the long run, you may run into more problems when adding another possible dangerous animal to your home. On that note, you may opt for the other solutions below.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches also eat bed bugs, and the most common type of cockroach that eats bed bugs is the American Cockroach. This type of cockroach lives in places where food is available. Cockroaches are also a common type of creature that you may stumble upon at your home. They often hide in dark places and crawl into places where bed bugs hide.
Ants
Ants are also living in places where there is food and water available. You may find them in your kitchen where there are bits and pieces of food that are left. Pharaoh Ant is the most common type of ant that lives inside houses, and they are most likely the ones that will eat bed bugs.
House Centipede
House Centipede is carnivorous; hence, they eat many other insects, not just bed bugs. They have an eerily and creepy appearance because of their multiple legs. However, they can be considered household friends because of their tendency to eat other insects. They may not be as common as ants and cockroaches. Still, they can eliminate bed bugs.