What Attracts Spiders to Tennessee Homes?

What Attracts Spiders to Tennessee Homes?

Spiders show up in and around Tennessee homes for a variety of reasons. Oftentimes, they’re simply following their insect prey. Other times, they’re looking for moisture. During seasonal changes, spiders often end up inside homes while looking for shelter from the elements.

Knowing what attracts spiders to your Tennessee home can help you make your house less attractive to these eight-legged pests. All-American Pest Control put together this guide to explain what attracts spiders and how to stop them.

Why Do Other Insects Attract Spiders?

Spiders eat insects. Flies, mosquitoes, gnats, moths, and other small insects are their main food source. This can be great for natural pest control around your property. Unfortunately, though, if those insects get into your house or spend a lot of time around the exterior of your house, it’s likely that spiders will start showing up too. A noticeable spider problem often indicates that other insect activity is present. If your house attracts insects, those insects will attract spiders.

Does Moisture Attract Spiders?

Damp areas can lead to spider activity for two reasons. First, spiders may be attracted to the moisture itself, especially if it is particularly dry outside. Second, damp areas often attract insects, and the spiders will follow the insects wherever they go. The areas in and around your Tennessee home that are often moisture-prone include:

• Crawlspaces
• Basements
• Bathrooms
• Laundry rooms
• Under sinks
• Around leaking pipes
• Clogged gutters

Poor drainage and standing water around your foundation can lead to moisture problems both inside and outside your house. Just because you have moisture around your house doesn’t mean you’ll automatically have a spider problem, but excess moisture can lead to pest problems, among other issues, so it’s a good idea to address any moisture issues you discover.

Why Do Spiders Like Dark and Undisturbed Spaces?

If you were tiny and didn’t have many methods of defense, you’d probably try to stay out of the way of people and animals. That’s what spiders do too. They prefer to stay in spaces that are quiet and undisturbed. When they get into your house, they’ll seek out these spaces to build their webs or spend their time. Common hiding spaces for spiders include:

• Attics
• Basements
• Closets
• Garages
• Storage rooms
• Crawlspaces
• Behind furniture
• Corners and ceiling edges

Boxes, stored materials, and clutter can create additional hiding spaces for spiders. Reducing clutter in your home, especially in infrequently used rooms, can make spider activity easier to spot because they’ll have fewer places to hide.

Can Landscaping Attract Spiders to Your Home?

Landscaping can easily attract spiders to your home. It offers them plenty of shelter and feeding areas while allowing them to get close to your house. From there, they can end up exploiting entry points to get inside. By trimming landscaping and making sure vegetation doesn’t touch the sides of your house, you can minimize the number of spiders around your home’s exterior. Check for:

• Overgrown shrubs touching siding
• Ivy or vines on exterior walls
• Leaf litter near the foundation
• Heavy mulch
• Firewood stacked against the house
• Tree branches touching the roof

How Do Spiders Get Inside Tennessee Homes?

Spiders can get into your house by crawling inside themselves or by being carried inside accidentally. Common entry points include:

• Cracks in foundations
• Gaps around doors and windows
• Damaged screens
• Utility penetrations
• Gaps around vents
• Siding or roofline openings

If carried indoors, they may ride in on:

• Firewood
• Outdoor plants
• Storage boxes
• Items brought in from garages, sheds, or patios

Why Do Spiders Seem More Noticeable at Certain Times of Year?

If you’ve ever noticed that spider activity seems to increase at certain times of year, you’re not imagining it. Seasonal changes often lead to an increase in spider activity. 

The warmer summer months support more insect prey, but the majority of insects stay outdoors, which is where most spiders stay as well. You’re likely to notice more activity around your home’s entrances at this time of year, as porch lights often attract bugs that attract spiders.

In the fall, cooler weather pushes insects and spiders towards more protected areas. Indoor sightings often increase in the autumn as spiders escape the cold and find warm shelter inside your home.

Does Seeing Spiders Mean You Have an Infestation?

It’s normal to see a spider or two in passing. When you do see a spider, you don’t have to assume that you have an infestation. However, we recommend paying closer attention when:

• Spiders appear repeatedly
• Webs return quickly after removal
• Multiple areas of the home show activity
• Other insects are also abundant
• Egg sacs or large numbers of spiderlings are present

Frequent spider activity may be a sign that your home provides enough prey, shelter, or access to support a large spider population. If this is the case, it’s wise to get a professional opinion.

How Can You Make Your Home Less Attractive to Spiders?

Now we come to the main event: Spider prevention. If you know that spiders are attracted by food, water, and shelter, you know that you need to reduce these attractants to keep spiders out of your house. 

Reduce insect prey by:

• Keeping food and trash areas clean
• Addressing other insect problems
• Managing unnecessary exterior lighting where appropriate

Reduce moisture by:

• Repairing leaks
• Improving drainage
• Cleaning gutters
• Drying damp indoor areas

Reduce shelter by:

• Decluttering storage spaces
• Vacuuming webs
• Removing cardboard and unused materials where practical

Improve exclusion by:

• Repairing screens
• Sealing cracks
• Replacing worn weatherstripping
• Checking gaps around utilities and vents

Maintain the exterior by:

• Trimming vegetation away from the structure
• Moving firewood and debris away from the house

No single preventative measure will keep every spider out, but when you combine prevention methods, you have the best chance of minimizing spider activity in your home.

Do Spider Repellents and Strong Smells Work?

If you look for DIY spider control methods, you may come across some spider repellents that rely on a scent to keep spiders away. Do these actually work? Although they may make spiders avoid a small area, scents and other home remedies are unlikely to address the underlying issues that attract spiders. 

Scents don’t remove insects, close entry points, reduce moisture, or eliminate hiding spaces. Instead, focus on prioritizing physical exclusion and reducing the conditions that attract spiders for the best results.

When Should You Call Pest Control for Spiders?

Knowing when the spiders you see have become an issue beyond your control can be tricky. All-American Pest Control recommends getting in touch with a professional pest control company if:

• Spider activity is frequent or increasing
• Webs repeatedly return after removal
• Spiders are appearing throughout multiple rooms
• Other insect activity is also high
• You cannot identify likely entry points
• A potentially medically significant spider is suspected

A pest professional can help you identify the spider species, area of activity, if other pests are present, attractants, entry points, and if you need a treatment plan.

Make Your Tennessee Home Less Attractive to Spiders

Spider prevention starts with reducing the conditions that attract both spiders and their prey. Making your Tennessee home less attractive to spiders requires you to address other pest problems, reduce moisture, remove clutter, cut back vegetation, and seal entry points. 

If you continue to have regular spider sightings in your home, even after addressing the things that attract them, get in touch with All-American Pest Control to request your free home evaluation. We’ll help you identify spider and other pest activity and determine the best treatment option for your home.

Your Trusted Nashville, TN Pest Control Experts

Since 1961, All-American Pest Control has been your go-to team of trusted pest experts for homes, businesses, and home builders throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Our expert team offers termite treatments, mosquito reduction, rodent removal, ant and spider control, and wasp nest removal—keeping your property protected year-round. As a local, family-owned company, we take pride in offering reliable, professional pest solutions with outstanding customer service.

We proudly serve: Lewisburg, Chapel Hill, Cornersville, Petersburg, Archer, Beasley, Belfast, Berlin, Caney Spring, Cochran, Delina, Farmington, Graball, Holts Corner, Lunns Store, Milltown, Mooresville, Rich Creek, Robertson Fork, Silver Creek, South Berlin, Verona, Yell, and the surrounding areas.

For trusted pest control in Nashville, TN, and these surrounding communities, contact All-American Pest Control today! Call (615) 824-8814 or Schedule a Free Consultation online.