Every fall, the calls start coming in: spiders in the garage, webs across the porch overnight, and the occasional eight-legged surprise on the bedroom wall. If it feels like spiders take over your home this time of year, you are not imagining it. Here is what is actually driving the seasonal surge in northeast Georgia, and what you can do about it.
Why spider sightings spike in fall
There are a few overlapping reasons fall feels like spider season:
- They grew up. Many spiders hatch in spring and spend the summer maturing. By fall they have reached full adult size, so the spiders that were too small to notice in June are now big enough to catch your eye in October.
- Males are on the move. Fall is mating season for many species, and male spiders wander widely in search of females. That roaming brings them across porches, into garages, and occasionally indoors.
- They are following their food. As temperatures cool, the insects spiders eat move toward the warmth of your home. Spiders are predators, so where the bugs go, the spiders follow.
In other words, a home with a healthy insect population on the exterior is a home that attracts spiders, especially as the weather turns.
Which spiders to watch for
The vast majority of spiders in our area are harmless and actually beneficial, quietly eating mosquitoes, flies, and other pests. Common ones include orb weavers that build large webs outdoors, cellar spiders in basements and crawl spaces, and wolf spiders that hunt on the ground rather than spinning webs.
Two species, though, warrant real caution in northeast Georgia:
- Brown recluse. These prefer undisturbed, cluttered spaces: garages, closets, storage boxes, and attics. A bite can cause a slow-healing wound, so they are worth taking seriously.
- Black widow. Recognizable by the red hourglass on the underside, black widows nest in low, dark places like woodpiles, crawl spaces, and under outdoor furniture. Their bite is medically significant.
Both species like exactly the kind of quiet, cluttered, ground-level spaces that build up unnoticed, which is why fall is a good time to check garages, basements, and storage areas.
How to keep spiders out
Because spiders come for food and shelter, the most effective control works on both.
1. Reduce the insects they eat
This is the single most important step. A perimeter treatment that lowers the overall bug population around your home removes the spiders’ food source and makes the structure far less attractive. Fewer bugs means fewer spiders, naturally.
2. Remove webs and egg sacs
Knock down and clear webs from eaves, porch corners, window frames, and basements. Pay attention to round, papery egg sacs tucked into webbing, since each one represents the next generation. Removing them keeps the population from rebuilding.
3. Seal entry points
Spiders slip in through the same gaps other pests use. Seal cracks around windows and doors, add or repair weatherstripping and door sweeps, and screen vents. This also helps keep out the insects spiders are chasing.
4. Cut the clutter
Brown recluse and black widow spiders thrive in undisturbed storage. De-clutter garages, basements, and closets, store items in sealed plastic bins rather than cardboard, and keep woodpiles and debris away from the foundation. Shake out boxes, gloves, and shoes that have been sitting in the garage.
5. Manage outdoor lighting
Exterior lights draw the insects that draw spiders. Switching to warmer-toned or LED bulbs and reducing unnecessary lighting can cut down on the buffet gathering near your doors and windows.
When to call a professional
If you are seeing spiders regularly, dealing with persistent webs, or you are concerned about brown recluse or black widow spiders in your garage, basement, or crawl space, professional control is the most reliable solution. At Kilz Pest Control, our spider control service reduces the insects spiders feed on, removes webs and egg sacs, and targets the hiding spots venomous species prefer. We serve homeowners throughout northeast Georgia, including the wooded and lake communities where spider pressure runs highest.
Call (706) 754-6248 or request a free inspection online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I see more spiders in fall?
Two things happen in fall. Many spiders that hatched in spring reach full size by autumn, so they are simply bigger and easier to notice, and males roam more in search of mates. The cooler weather also pushes the insects spiders feed on indoors, and the spiders follow their food source. The result is a noticeable spike in sightings.
Are house spiders dangerous?
Most spiders in northeast Georgia are harmless and even helpful, since they eat other pests. The two exceptions worth caution are the brown recluse and the black widow, which can deliver a medically significant bite. Both prefer undisturbed garages, basements, crawl spaces, and woodpiles.
How do I keep spiders out of my house?
Reduce the insects they feed on with a perimeter treatment, remove webs and egg sacs, seal entry points around doors and windows, and cut clutter in garages and basements where spiders hide. Lowering the overall bug population around your home is the single most effective step, since it removes the spiders' food source.
Should I kill spiders I find in the house?
A stray harmless spider is doing you a favor by eating other pests, so many people simply relocate them outside. But if you are seeing spiders regularly, finding webs and egg sacs, or worried about brown recluse or black widow, that points to conditions worth addressing with professional control.
Need help with this in northeast Georgia?
Kilz Pest Control offers free, no-obligation inspections across the region. Call (706) 754-6248 or request an inspection online and we will take a look.