There is an opinion that spiders are uninvited guests in the house, which cause people ambiguous feelings. Among them and slight squeamishness, and interest, and the desire to get rid of them as soon as possible. These creatures can appear even in a clean home and weave their web in the corners of the room or behind the furniture. Let’s try to answer the most common questions, including: why do spiders choose our apartments and houses, what role do they play in nature and home, are they dangerous to people, do we need to get rid of them?
Reasons for the appearance of spiders in the living space, from natural to domestic
Search for food. Spiders belong to predators that feed on insects – mosquitoes, moths, ants, flies and cockroaches. If there are these insects in the house, then spiders are sure to get to such a room just to catch this prey for themselves. Food from the table of people they do not consume, but very cleverly hunt insects that love this food. Therefore, if your kitchen is often a mess, then wait for uninvited guests – spiders.
Comfortable conditions. Humidity, warmth and secluded corners in the room – a great environment for the existence of spiders. Their favorite places are the bathroom, attic, pantry, kitchen and basement, where they seek coolness in the warm season and shelter from frost and wind in the cold.
Seasonal Movements. Spiders are more active in penetrating homes in the fall, during their breeding season. Then the males are persistently looking for partners, and females – comfortable places for laying eggs. All of them search for vents, open apartments and gaps in doors, through which they can get into the desired room.
Unintentional Entry. Sometimes spiders end up in a home by accident, for example: with a bouquet of flowers, on clothing or in a bag. If the conditions in the room are favorable for them, these arthropod animals may stay to live there.
Beneficial or harmful? Functions of spiders in the house
In fact, spiders can be called “natural sanitarians” who make sure that the house is clean. Identify several reasons why the presence of these creatures can be beneficial to people.
Insect population control. Spiders destroy harmful insects, namely mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, which can carry viruses, bacteria, helminth eggs and fungi. In a day, one spider can eat up to 20 insects, acting as a free eco-friendly means of killing insect pests and working efficiently, cleanly and without harming the health of people living in homes. Unlike environmentally threatening chemical insecticides, spiders do not endanger our environment.
Home Condition Assessment. If the owners noticed that there are more spiders in the house, it is necessary to check the humidity of the room and pay attention to whether the number of insects in it has increased. It is the number of spiders that helps to diagnose problems in the house that the owners need to pay attention to.
So, we can already draw a conclusion: spiders that settle in human homes are natural helpers that maintain the balance of cleanliness, humidity and the number of harmful insects in our apartments and houses.
Whether it is necessary to reduce the number of spiders in the house
In general, house spiders are not harmful, but along with the fact that they rid homeowners of unwanted insects, they can also cause discomfort, carry harmful microorganisms on their limbs and accumulate dust on their webs. Their appearance can indicate not only an increase in humidity in the room, but also a poor quality of cleaning in it. So, if spiders have become abundant in your home, we can suggest a few ways to reduce their numbers. Use proven eco-friendly methods that will not only rid you of excessive spider populations, but will also make your home more comfortable for you to live in.
Regularly clean your home. Pick up cobwebs with a vacuum cleaner and clean the corners where spiders like to settle. This method makes it impossible for these animals to stay in your home any longer.
Control the number of insects in the room. Avoid clutter and leftovers in the kitchen, close gaps in baseboards and install nets on windows throughout your home. This method will help reduce the number of insects, a major food source for spiders.
Reducing humidity. It is worth regularly ventilating rooms and non-residential areas that have high humidity. You can also use special dehumidifiers in places that suffer from excessive humidity – bathrooms, storerooms and basements.
Natural insect repellents. Add essential oils of eucalyptus, peppermint or lavender, whose scent repels spiders, to your household cleaning water. After cleaning, spray a water solution of one of these oils in corners and along baseboards. This method will definitely deter spiders from trying to stay in your home.
How to deal with spiders that exist nearby
Spiders are not enemies of humans, but rather our neighbors who serve their natural function. Instead of neglecting them, fearing them, or destroying them, try to remember their role in nature. If the spider doesn’t cause you psychological discomfort, leave it alone and it will make your life easier by working to eliminate insects in your home. If, however, the spider’s presence makes you uncomfortable, then carefully move it outside using a jar and a piece of paper.
The ability to coexist with spiders shows a balance between human comfort and respect for nature. Even unsympathetic arthropods like spiders remind people that every natural creature has a role to play in the natural ecosystem.
