If you’ve ever walked into your room and been startled by an unexpected eight-legged creature, you may have wondered just how long it plans to overstay its welcome. Spiders may seek refuge in our homes, especially during colder months, but their presence can be unnerving.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Most house spiders will leave on their own after a few days to a couple weeks if their needs are not being met.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore various factors that influence how long a spider is likely to stay in your room. We’ll provide tips for encouraging spiders to leave and discuss when it may be best to remove them yourself.
Typical Spider Lifespans
House Spider Lifespans
House spiders, as their name suggests, are the spiders commonly found inside homes and buildings. These spiders have adapted to live alongside humans and find shelter, food and water sources within our homes.
Some of the most common house spider species include the cobweb spider, cellar spider, jumping spider and wolf spider. House spiders generally have short lifespans ranging from several months up to 2 years.
The common house spider or Parasteatoda tepidariorum is one of the most widespread house spiders. It constructs messy cobwebs in corners of rooms and has a lifespan of around 1 year. The cellar spider or Pholcus phalangioides also builds messy webs in dark corners of cellars and basements.
It can live around 2 years. Jumping spiders like the zebra spider (Salticus scenicus) and house jumping spider (Hasarius adansoni) actively hunt rather than building webs. They live about 1 year on average.
Wolf spiders are ground-dwelling hunters that don’t spin webs. The common house wolf spider (Hogna antelucana) lives about a year indoors. Other house spider species have similar short lifespans lasting approximately 1-2 years at most.
Outdoor Spider Lifespans
Outdoor spiders generally have longer lifespans than house spiders. Many large orb-weaver spiders that build impressive circular webs can live 2-3 years. For example, the black and yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) has a lifespan of around 3 years.
The spiny orb weaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis) also lives up to 3 years.
Tarantulas are some of the longest living spiders. The Oklahoma brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) can survive over 6 years in the wild. Other tarantula species like the Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea) can live up to 15-20 years in captivity.
Trapdoor spiders are also exceptionally long-lived at over 20 years.
Wolf spiders have longer lifespans outdoors. The Carolina wolf spider (Hogna carolinensis) lives around 2 years. Fishing spiders such as the dark fishing spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus) live about 2-3 years as well.
Jumping spiders like the bold jumping spider (Phidippus audax) can survive around 1-3 years outdoors.
In general, male spiders often have shorter lifespans than females since they die after reaching maturity and mating. However, females may also die soon after producing egg sacs if they deplete their energy reserves.
Outdoor spiders tend to live longer than house spiders overall, with tarantulas being the longest lived of all.
Why Spiders Enter Homes
Seeking Shelter
Spiders often sneak their way into homes when seeking shelter, especially during cold winter months or hot summer days. As ectothermic creatures, spiders require external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. The stable climate inside human homes provides an ideal refuge.
According to a study by the Entomological Society of America, over 90% of house spider sightings occur during fall and winter, when they flee freezing outdoor temperatures that could prove fatal (Source).
Crawl spaces, attics, garages, and other infrequently disturbed areas allow eight-legged intruders to settle in undetected.
Looking for Food
A hearty supply of insects that congregate around light fixtures and windows lures hungry spiders inside. These nutritious mosquitoes, flies, moths make homes veritable buffets. Once indoors, spiders can feast and build strength for reproduction.
According to pest control company Orkin, common house spiders consume up to 2,000 insects per year (Source). The bounty of bugs in a single residence can support entire spider families across seasons. Additionally, spiders prey on other small household pests like carpet beetles, silverfish, and clothes moths, providing free pest control.
Breeding
Sheltered indoor spaces allow spiders to mate and produce egg sacs safely. According to the Insect Identification lab at Virginia Tech, the average spider produces around 400 offspring in her lifetime (Source).
After mating, male spiders quickly perish while females deposit dozens of fertilized eggs and stand guard over them. Hatched spiderlings remain in the security of the indoor nest during early vulnerable stages, only venturing out once mature.
Homes supply web-building materials like furniture, curtains, and ceiling corners where they construct intricate traps and snares.
Elements That Affect Duration of Stay
Climate and Weather
Spiders tend to stay longer in warm, humid environments where they can easily build webs and find food. Cooler or dry weather often prompts spiders to seek better conditions indoors. For example, the brown recluse spider prefers temperatures between 70-80°F.
During cold winters or hot, arid summers, they may take up residence in homes for longer periods. However, even spiders adapted to temperate climates may head inside when outdoor conditions get too extreme.
Availability of Food Sources
Access to prey is a major factor in how long spiders stick around. If your home has an abundance of insects, spiders, and other small arthropods, it offers an inviting buffet for these predators. Plentiful food eliminates the need to search elsewhere.
For instance, black widows are known to inhabit undisturbed areas like garages and attics for months or years if prey is readily available. Proper pest control and sanitation helps limit food sources so spiders move on more quickly.
Pest Control Measures
Frequent pest control treatment encourages spiders to find a better location. Professional extermination using chemical sprays or traps makes the environment inhospitable. Sealing cracks and crevices spiders use for access also motivates them to search for new entry points.
On the other hand, infrequent or inadequate pest control allows spider populations to thrive and breed. With a steady food supply and habitat, some species may take up long-term residence.
Presence of Other Spiders
Interestingly, spiders avoid living close to competitors of the same species. The presence of rival spiders prompts them to seek out unoccupied areas. For example, having multiple house spiders in one room often causes them to disperse to different parts of the home.
However, large populations of other spider species may indicate ideal conditions, encouraging long stays. If the local environment can support abundant competitors, solitary spiders likely have no reason to leave.
Encouraging Spiders to Leave Your Room
Seal Up Entry Points
Spiders often enter homes through small cracks and crevices. To discourage spiders from coming inside, carefully seal any openings they could use. Pay special attention to windows, doors, utility pipes, vents, and holes in walls or floors. Caulk and weatherstripping can seal most cracks.
For larger gaps, use steel wool, copper mesh, or other insect barrier materials.
Checking screens on windows and doors for any tears or holes, and repairing or replacing them if needed, can also help block spiders. Make sure screens fit tightly into their frames.
Remove Food Sources
Spiders won’t hang around if there’s nothing for them to eat. To make a room less appealing, thoroughly clean to eliminate their food sources:
- Vacuum floors, furniture, shelves, and other surfaces to remove dust, debris, and cobwebs.
- Dispose of trash and clutter where spiders or their prey could hide.
- Store food in sealed containers, and don’t leave pet food or water bowls out overnight.
Controlling other household pests like flies, mosquitoes, and moths can also help by limiting what spiders have to feed on inside.
Use Deterrents
Certain scents and substances act as natural spider repellents. Try using some of these strategies to encourage spiders to leave and discourage their return:
- Place cotton balls soaked with peppermint, eucalyptus, citrus, or vinegar oils in problem areas.
- Scatter dried lavender flowers or leaves around rooms.
- Spray vinegar and water mixtures in corners and along baseboards.
- Applysticky tapes to catch wandering spiders.
Mothballs and insects repellents containing chemicals like DEET can also deter spiders but may not be safe to use indoors in living spaces. Only apply them in unoccupied attics, basements, or closed storage spaces.
| Method | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|
| Essential oils | Moderately effective | Safe when used properly |
| Mothballs | Very effective | Use with caution indoors |
| Insecticides | Extremely effective | Use with caution indoors |
For best results, incorporate several deterrents and control measures together rather than relying on just one. Be patient, as it can take weeks or months to fully evict spiders with passive repelling.
When to Remove Spiders Yourself
Venomous Spider Species
If you spot venomous spiders like black widows, brown recluses, or hobo spiders in your home, it’s best to remove them as soon as possible. Their venom can cause painful bites or skin lesions in humans.
According to the CDC, about 2,000 people report being bitten by brown recluse spiders each year in the US, with most bites occurring in Midwestern and Southern states (1). Black widow spiders are found throughout much of North America.
Their neurotoxic venom can cause muscle pain, abdominal cramps, and other symptoms (2). If you’re not comfortable removing these spiders yourself, contact a professional pest control company.
Spider Bites or Unexplained Rashes
Most spider bites are harmless, but some can lead to infection or allergic reaction. Seek medical attention if the bite area becomes swollen, painful, or red, or if you develop flu-like symptoms. Spider bites sometimes resemble infections or skin conditions, so get any unexplained rashes or skin lesions examined by a doctor to rule out a spider bite.
Prompt treatment can ease symptoms and prevent complications. Removing suspected venomous spiders from your home reduces future bite risks.
Large Infestations
Seeing a few spiders now and then is normal, but large infestations indicate an abundant food source drawing spiders in. If you constantly see spider webs or multiple spiders in a room, it’s time for professional pest control. Significant infestations can be challenging to eliminate yourself.
An exterminator will inspect your home, determine entry points, and use specialized tools and insecticides to remove spiders and discourage re-entry. They can target spots out of reach like attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost for spider removal ranges from $50-$400 depending on the size of your home and severity of the infestation (3). An investment in professional spider control provides peace of mind and a arachnid-free home.
Conclusion
While the presence of spiders can be unsettling, they do play an important role in controlling insect populations and are generally harmless to humans when left alone. With some proactive pest control measures and a little patience, most spiders will move along within about two weeks without intervention.
However, you may need to take a more direct approach if dealing with venomous spiders, bites/rashes, or large infestations. Understanding what attracts spiders and how to make your home less inviting can help prevent repeat visits in the future.
