Is anyone else noticing all the spiders around Sacramento? The drought is one reason

Spiders, and their webs might be more noticeable in or around your house this summer.

Some Sacramentans are noticing more spiders this year. A Reddit user asked the Sacramento forum this week about how to get “rid of spiders literally everywhere?!”

The Bee recently reported spiders to be one of many pests that can find their way into the house. What kind of spiders are lurking and how can you get rid of them?

What kind of spiders are common in Sacramento?

Golden orb weaver spiders are thriving in cities, and are becoming bigger, having more babies, and being better fed, according to a 2014 study conducted in Australia. The study, Smithsonian Magazine reported, showed a correlation between spiders and urbanization.

The family group of orb weaver spiders are common in Sacramento, according to Jones Bros. Pest Control in Rancho Cordova. They might not all look the same, but you can spot them by their webs, which are the iconic shape we see around Halloween.

Orb spiders are one of many native spiders to look for in the area.

“In the Sacramento Valley, we get a nice Delta breeze, and that brings webs. Attached to those webs are spiders. It’s a great form of transportation for a spider,” Steve Jones, president of Jones Bros. Pest Control said. He mentioned wolf spiders specifically have been a major summer issue for the area as sightings are slowly increasing.

Native spiders include: wolf, yellow sac, orb weaver, cellar, and black widow, according to Jones Bros. Pest Control.

Black widows, one of the most venomous spiders, are of concern. Pegasus Pest Control advises residents to remove these very territorial types as soon as they’re spotted, to protect older adults and curious children. Daddy long legs, or cellar spiders, are not harmful to humans. Other spiders to worry about are the yellow sac spiders, as their bites sting.

Jones also said the drought is one reason spiders are finding their way inside in search of water.

Is this normal or is my house infested?

Jayson Gaultney, vice president of Direct Hit Pest Control in Rio Linda, previously told The Bee, “Everyone’s level of tolerance is different. Some people see one bug and they’re calling pest control, it’s very individual.”

After acknowledging the increase in calls about spiders, Jones, in Rancho Cordova, said “It’s not like they come in a big flood.”

The first questions General Pest Control advise people to ask themselves are:

• Are these cobwebs, the limp dust collectors? Or are they live webs full of entrapped flies and bugs?
• Do you see egg sacks?

Home Shield Pest Control suggests eliminating clutter and hiding spaces for spiders to hide around your home. Keeping flies and other spider prey out of the house will prevent spiders from chasing their food source into your space.

Home Shield Pest Control’s blog post mentions consistent web removal to be the best treatment, and if you’re “seeing an influx” it is time to call an exterminator.

This story was originally published July 7, 2022 at 5:00 AM.