8 control strategies for spiders

J.B. Howell, Technical Services, MGK

Successful spider control requires a multi-pronged approach, including inspection, identification, non-chemical controls, sanitation, exclusion, insecticide applications and addressing exterior lighting issues that attract spider food. If you’ve identified a need for spider control, some key non-chemical control strategies to start with include:

• Keep garages, attics and basements clean and clutter-free.
• Repair screens and seal cracks and crevices to reduce pest entry points.
• Inspect items such as boxes, decorations and grocery bags before bringing them indoors.
• Change mercury vapor bulbs to sodium vapor to reduce attractancy.
• When possible, mount lights away from buildings.
• Position air curtains on entry points and screens on open loading dock doors, and keep loading dock doors closed when not in use.
• Maintain grounds, keeping shrubs, grass, plants and trees from touching the building.
• Place dumpsters at least 25 feet away from buildings to reduce the fly population that enters.