Spiders can help by eating other bugs, but many people don’t like the looks of them. They are in our garages, our homes, and anywhere we go. However, there may be times we see more of them out. They are good for eating other insects and sometimes we may see them near lights. Are spiders attracted to light? It depends on the species of spider. Some like the light and some like the dark. However, many of the bugs they eat like the light and come out more.
Types of Spiders
There are a number of spiders so you need to know what types there are and what you might have in the home.
Nocturnal Spiders
This type of spider likes the evening hours and sleeps during the day. They take their web down during the bright sun hours and build new ones at night so they are able to catch their next meal. Nocturnal spiders come out usually between the hours of 6pm-9pm to do their work and look for food sources. This is because the prey is usually tired by this point after running around all day so they are easier to find. Spiders are also safer at navigating at night because they are not seen as well as during the day.
Nocturnal spiders also like computer screens and phones as they are attracted to light that is bright. They also go towards light bulbs as they can see bugs in the lighting fixtures.
Female nocturnal spiders love 8pm and this is when they build their nests and make their webs.
Common Spiders In Your House
There are a few common house spiders, let’s learn more about them.
Diurnal Spiders
Unlike the nocturnal spiders, diurnal ones are active during the day and attracted to the light as they want to be able to find their prey and food. However, this is only true of the ones with good vision. The spiders with poor vision don’t like too much light and hunt in the evening. These spiders like the UV rays as it makes the silk that’s produced better quality.
Wolf Spiders
When dealing with spiders, you may find that many spiders like dark places. However, as mentioned above, a lot of the insects they feed on are attracted to light. If you are trying to keep spiders away, keep the lights off and you may keep spiders away.
George Uetz, professor who along with a team of biologists, studied wolf spiders and how to react ro colors. In his research, they found that wolf spiders only see green and ultraviolet because of dichromatic vision. This means that they are color blind but are sensitive to light that is a shade of green. This color may attract some types of spiders, but it also keeps the bugs away. As bugs like bright colors: yellow, orange, and white, the green color is not a color the bugs like, therefore they stay away.
Light blue is another color that spiders don’t like. Many people will paint the porches of their home blue in order to keep spiders away. Wasps also don’t like this color and are likely to stay away as well.
How Spiders Are Attracted to Lighting Sources
Depending on the species of spider determines how they react to different light sources. As mentioned above, some types of spiders like a light while others become confused by it.
Artificial light – this type of outdoor light causes spiders to be disoriented and often not sure where to go.
Ultraviolet light – helps the spider make its web stronger as the web is strengthened.
Spiders are also attracted to other things. Check out the video below to find out!
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you know about spiders, let’s look at some other areas of maintenance.
While you are searching your home for spiders, you may come across pest droppings in the home. This could indicate that there is a pest infestation. Outside the home, you may see plant damage or signs of nesting. It is a good idea to call your local pest control company to start a treatment plan to determine what works best to eliminate them.
Another area is bees. Depending on where you live, the bees will start disappearing when it is getting closer to winter. This is because they flee to their hive when the temperatures drop below 50 degrees F. In the hive, they cluster together to stay warm and try to survive the winter until the temperatures are warm again.
Lastly, you may be looking around the outside of the home and notice that there are birds in the gutter. You can keep them out with gutter guards, steel wool to cover holes, or bird decoys.
When to Call a Professional
If you find you have an infestation of spiders or other insects, contact your local home inspection and pest control company to find out more about pest control and treatment. Remember, depending on where you live, you may see other types of spiders and it is a good idea to keep a safe distance if you don’t know what it is. As always, contact a medical professional if you are bitten.
Conclusion
Spiders eat other insects that can be a nuisance around our homes like mosquitos, flies, and other spiders. Getting rid of them entirely may not be a good idea, but if you don’t like to see them or their webs, now you know when they are out and can avoid them. If you feel you have an issue with spiders in the home, call on Honor Services to assist you with some pest control recommendations for while conducting a thorough pest inspection in Melbourne, FL, and surrounding areas.
