Fighting Spiders

Spiders, contrary to popular belief, are not insects. They have eight legs and insects six. Also, spiders don’t have wings. Therefore, logically, they belong to the arachnids. There are more than 45,000 species of spiders, but not all of them are found in the Netherlands. Common spiders in our country are the common house spider, vibrating spider, wolf spider and pocket spider. These are mainly found in the home. Outdoors you will mainly encounter the cross spider. Spiders are very useful creatures because they eat insects that can be a pest. Think, for example, of mosquitoes.

How does a spider infestation develop?

Spiders can be found in every home or business premises, because there is no such thing as a spider-free home. Some spiders are not an immediate problem, but a spider infestation can occur for various reasons:

• In autumn, the males start looking for a mate. To do this, they crawl out of their holes and follow the scent trail left behind by females. This way, they can end up in your home. To catch insects, more and more webs are being woven. The eggs that are laid during the fall hatch in the spring. This can cause nuisance again.
• Damp homes or buildings are susceptible to a spider infestation. After all, the animals love damp places. Especially in detached houses or houses that are located on the water, the chance of a spider infestation is high. More moisture means more spiders in your home.
• Hygiene. A spider infestation can also occur because the spider’s enemy is attracted, namely insects. These are attracted to poor hygiene and that in turn attracts spiders. They see a dirty home as the perfect source of food.

Signs of a spider infestation

Spiders can be found in every house or building. We speak of a spider plague when there are a lot of cobwebs to be seen. This can be both inside and outside the house. You can also see more and more spiders tripping around.

Spider nuisance and its consequences

Although spiders look terrifying to many people, the species that occur in the Netherlands are completely harmless to us. However, they can cause a lot of nuisance for the following reasons:

• Many people are afraid of spiders, which is why they can be particularly bothersome. In many cases, removal is not an option and this in turn attracts new spiders.
• Spiders weave webs to catch insects. This can make for an unattractive appearance both inside and outside. Cobwebs look unhygienic and messy.
• By eating insects, spiders logically produce feces. You can recognize it by the small black dots on, for example, window frames. If this is left in place for a long time, it can be difficult to remove spider poop. Due to its acidity, it can also affect the paint layer.

Fighting spiders yourself

Have you spotted a spider infestation? Then it’s time to eradicate spiders, or fight them. However, controlling spiders with insecticide is prohibited because they are not insects. So what can you do to get rid of these creepy critters? There are several (preventive) ways to get rid of spiders outside or to get rid of spiders in the house:

• Vacuum up with the vacuum cleaner. Then throw away the bag immediately, otherwise the spiders will walk back out via the snake.
• Seal holes and cracks. Spiders hide in the smallest holes. By sealing them as much as possible, you make it more difficult for spiders to enter your home.
• Spiders love moisture. Therefore, make sure you ventilate damp rooms well and avoid standing water in the garden.
• Keep insects away. By not giving the food of spiders, or insects, a chance in your home, the chance of spiders is also smaller. Therefore, clean well and remove rubbish and overripe fruit.

Unfortunately, removing spider silk does not have the desired effect. The webs will be remade, as you will not discourage spiders.