Different Types of Spiders in the Home

There are lots of different kinds of spiders in the world, and while it may be scary to spot them in your home, most of them are harmless and even helpful at managing pests. Still, we completely understand when homeowners tell us they want spiders to do their bug-eating jobs outside rather than indoors. After all, cobwebs are messy and unsightly, and seeing any kind of pest, big or small, in your home can be an unwelcome sight. We’ve discussed common types of spiders that you may see in or around your home in the past, but here are some others that you may see.

• Yellowish-brown color
• Move to look for prey
• Typically harmless

House spiders are a yellowish-brown color with several dark stripes meeting at an angle on their off-white abdomens. They are small arachnids, usually between one-eighth of an inch and five-sixteenths of an inch long. These spiders make tangled webs near light fixtures, upper corners and windows, though they are also commonly found in garages and sheds where they won’t be as frequently disturbed. House spiders also tend to move from place to place in the home if their webs don’t capture any prey. House spiders are typically harmless to humans. They may bite in self-defense if threatened (like if they’re being crushed), but their bites are not usually medically threatening.

• Bright yellow stripe
• Often retreats into its web
• Bite is not dangerous to humans

The orb-weaver spider has quite a distinctive look. Its most unique trait is the bright yellow stripe marking on its back (for the arrowhead orb-weaver, it’s a yellow triangle), but it’s also known for weaving very round webs. This spider is a peaceful creature that will often retreat into its web if encountered. It will not bite unless it’s being undeniably threatened, and even then, its bite is not dangerous to humans (it’s comparable to a bee sting). These spiders typically make their nests outside near trees, tall grass, light poles, or in other places where there are plenty of structures to support a web and plenty of insect prey to trap.

• Usually build onto their webs over time
• Do not bite humans

Daddy long-legs, less-commonly known as long-bodied cellar spiders, are also a distinctive type of spider known for their tiny, brown, oval-shaped abdomens and long, thin legs. These spiders make their webs in dark, damp/humid places like cellars, basements, sheds, barns and warehouses. Unlike many spiders that clean, reuse or abandon their webs when they no longer serve their purpose, daddy long-legs spiders usually build onto their webs over time, which can lead to big messes of cobwebs if the spider does eventually abandon the web. Also, a common myth claims that daddy long-legs have a poisonous bite, but their fangs can’t actually break human skin. These spiders are not known to not bite humans, and the theory that they can transmit poison through a bite has not been scientifically proven to be true.

Getting Rid of Spiders

Usually the best way to get rid of spiders (besides crushing them) is to vacuum them up or put them in a cup and put them back outside. However, preventative measures are also effective in making sure they don’t enter the home in the first place. These measures include:

• Sealing cracks around the home with caulk
• Trimming back vegetation from the house
• Repairing torn screening and fixing holes in doors or windows
• Inspect firewood before bringing it into the home
• Use a dehumidifier in the home, as many spiders are attracted to moisture in the air