Spider Control

• Webs: Size and shape vary by species. Some are orb-shaped, others funnel-shaped. Some species live in burrows rather than webs. Web location and type helps identify the species
• Location: Spiders found in dark, quiet, secluded areas. Some prefer moist environments (basements, walls, sheds). Others prefer attics, wall and ceiling junctions, closets, and storage boxes
• Egg sacs: Spider eggs are laid into silken sacs (average 100 eggs per sac). Sacs may be fixed to surfaces, hidden in webs, or carried by the female. Sacs fixed indoors indicate more spiders will arrive soon
• Seasonal activity: Spiders become more active in autumn looking for a mate and come out of hiding places. This is when most indoor sightings occur
• Prey insects: Spiders feed on ants, flies, woodlice, and other spiders. A plentiful supply of other insects means spiders will be present

None of the indigenous UK spider species are considered dangerous. Most spiders do not bite people. Bites have very little effect on most people, but a small minority of species may cause a reaction due to their venom.

False Widow Spider Bites

• Not naturally aggressive toward people. Only bite as a defensive measure when feeling threatened
• Most defensive bites occur when the spider is unintentionally squeezed or pinched
• Bites may result in localised pain, tingling, and small swelling around the bite
• Occasionally more serious symptoms occur but are usually an exceptional individual reaction to the venom

Yellow Sac Spider Bites

• Bite is sharp and painful, causing erythema and swelling
• Pain or numbness at the site may be followed by sweating and nausea lasting up to 24 hours
• A wheal may develop, producing a necrotic area that can take 8 weeks to heal

• Limit food sources: Clear away dead flies, woodlice, millipedes, centipedes, and other crawling insects that spiders feed on
• Vacuum regularly: High and low, particularly sheltered spots beneath worktops, backs of cupboards, and under and behind large furniture
• Remove webs: On a regular basis to discourage spiders from settling
• Fill gaps: In walls, around pipework, and under doors to deter entry
• Remove sheltering sites: Firewood piles, garden bags, compost piles, and general clutter near the property
• Manage lighting: Use lighting in ways less attractive to the insects that spiders feed on. Amber or warm-white LEDs attract fewer insects

• Insecticide spray and fogging: Children and pets should vacate for 2 to 4 hours until surfaces are dry and the property has been ventilated. Once dry, treated surfaces are safe
• Web clearing only: No chemicals involved. Safe to return immediately
• Invertebrate monitor traps: Glue-board traps in low-profile housings. No chemicals or toxicants. Safe for areas used by children and pets
• Fish tanks: Cover tanks and switch off air pumps during insecticide spray or fogging treatments and for 1 to 2 hours afterwards

Spring (March to May) - Spiderlings disperse: Egg sacs laid the previous autumn hatch in spring, releasing dozens of tiny spiderlings. They spread through the property using silk threads, establishing new webs in window frames, ceiling corners, and behind furniture. Watch for: clusters of tiny spiders near windowsills, fine silk threads appearing in corners and around light fittings, and an increase in small webs in conservatories and porches across Hartlepool, Sunderland, and Durham.

Summer (June to August) - Outdoor activity peaks: Most spider species are actively feeding and building webs outdoors. Garden spiders, orb weavers, and false widows construct webs around exterior lights, under eaves, and across doorways where flying insects gather. Watch for: large webs forming around external light fittings and window frames, false widow spiders (Steatoda nobilis) in sheds, garages, and outbuildings, and daddy long-legs spiders in bathrooms and utility rooms. Barrier spray treatments are most effective when applied during this period before the autumn migration indoors.

Autumn (September to November) - Peak indoor season: This is the busiest period for spider call-outs across the North East. Male house spiders (Eratigena atrica) leave their webs to search for mates, which is why larger spiders are seen running across carpets and emerging from behind furniture, particularly in the evenings. Watch for: large spiders appearing in living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms; webs accumulating rapidly in corners and behind radiators; and false widow spiders moving into heated rooms in properties across Middlesbrough, Stockton, and Darlington.

Winter (December to February) - Indoor residents: Spiders that entered during autumn remain indoors for the winter. Activity is lower but webs continue to accumulate in undisturbed areas. Watch for: egg sacs attached to skirting boards, behind picture frames, and in the corners of airing cupboards. This is a good time for prevention: seal gaps around windows and doors, fit brush strips to external doors, and remove vegetation touching exterior walls to reduce spider access points.