Why Spiders Are Worth Keeping Around

Spiders are predators, and the insects they catch indoors include flies, mosquitoes, moths, crickets and small roaches. Cellar spiders go a step further and hunt other spiders, sometimes by mimicking trapped prey to lure them close. That makes even the spindly spider in the corner of the garage a small piece of pest control.

You also share your home with more spiders than you see. In an NC State entomologist's survey of 50 homes, every single house had spiders, mostly cobweb and cellar spiders. Killing the one on the wall doesn't make a house spider-free. It only removes one of the predators.

Which Spiders to Leave and Which to Remove

The right move depends on the spider. This table sorts the ones DFW homeowners meet most often.

Spider Where you'll see it What to do
Cellar spider Ceiling corners, closets and garages Leave it, or vacuum the web if it bothers you
Cobweb or American house spider Messy webs in window corners and under shelves Leave it, and clear old webs now and then
Jumping spider Sunny windowsills, walls and patio furniture Leave it, since it hunts flies and never builds a big web
Wolf spider Running across floors, often near doors at night Carry it outside, where it does most of its hunting
Southern house spider Flat webs around window frames, eaves and brick Leave it outdoors, and remove it from living areas
Black widow Garages, woodpiles, meter boxes and outdoor furniture Remove it carefully with gloves on
Brown recluse Closets, stored boxes, attics and garages Remove it, and have the house checked for more

When Killing a Spider Makes Sense

The two venomous species change the answer. Black widows and brown recluses both have venom that can cause a serious reaction. Both also hide in the clutter people reach into, such as boxes, shoes, gloves and garage shelves. A family with small children has good reason to kill or remove either one on sight. Wear gloves, use a long tool and don't press one against your skin.

A recluse in the house rarely lives alone. They breed indoors and can build up quietly in storage areas, so one sighting is worth a closer look at closets and boxes. Shake out shoes and clothing that have sat in a garage or attic before you put them on.

How to Get a Spider Out Alive

Removing a harmless spider takes about a minute. These steps work for wolf spiders, jumping spiders and most others you can reach.

  • Set a clear cup or jar over the spider so it can't run.
  • Slide a stiff piece of paper or an index card under the rim.
  • Carry it outside and let it go in a shrub or flower bed, well away from the door.
  • Vacuum webs and egg sacs from corners you want clear, then empty the vacuum outdoors.

Egg sacs matter more than single spiders. The University of Kentucky's spider guide notes that one sac can hold hundreds of young spiders, so removing sacs keeps numbers down far better than chasing adults.

What a Lot of Spiders Means

Plenty of spiders usually means plenty of insects. Spiders settle wherever food keeps arriving, so heavy webbing on the eaves, porch or garage points to the moths, flies and crickets feeding them. Late summer and fall often bring more spiders indoors, many of them males wandering in search of mates.

Denton homes near open land, creek greenbelts and new construction tend to see more of both. Spiders return because insects return and treatments wear down over time, so regular visits do more than a single spray. Our spider control for DFW homes clears webs and egg sacs and treats the cracks where spiders hide. Denton homeowners get the same service from our Aubrey office through spider control in Aubrey.

House Spider FAQ

Are daddy longlegs dangerous?

No. The story that they carry the strongest venom but can't bite through skin is a myth. Cellar spiders have mild venom and rarely bite, and the harvestmen that also go by daddy longlegs aren't spiders and have no venom at all.

Do spiders keep other pests out of the house?

They eat some insects, but they won't stop an ant trail, a roach problem or a flea outbreak. A home with more spiders than usual often has an insect problem worth fixing first.

Is it okay to leave spiders in a child's room?

Harmless species are fine, though most parents prefer to move them out. Check under beds and in toy bins for the tangled, irregular webs of black widows or the small brown body of a recluse, and remove those right away.

Sweeping webs off the porch every week means the spiders there have a steady food supply. Ask for a spider plan price by phone or online, and we'll schedule regular visits around the house.