As spider season rolls around, these eight-legged guests crash parties in basements, garages, and corners around the metro area. Although most spiders in Kansas City are innocuous, the thought of a brown recluse in your Mission Hills bath or wolf spiders darting across your Brookside living room floor is disconcerting. The sticky, humid Missouri climate is ideal for spiders to expand their populations, and as temperatures begin to drop, they are searching for a warm home —your home.
Spider season can be pretty overwhelming, what with funnel weavers setting up shop on your porch and orb weavers taking over your backyard. Although prevention efforts may be lagging behind the invasion, Saela Pest Control offers targeted treatments that can be effective.
When Is Spider Season in Kansas City?
In Kansas City, spider season typically spans from late summer to mid-fall, from August to October. In fact, the weekday timing exactly overlaps with the spider mating season, during which males become more active in search of females. When night temperatures in the Kansas City area drop into the 50s and 40s, spiders instinctively seek a warmer place; their only option is to move inside your home through foundation cracks, windows, and door sweeps. During this time of year, you will notice an increase in web building activity, particularly in areas such as garages, basements, and even outdoor light fixtures.
DIY Spider Prevention Tips for Homeowners
- Seal entry points around your foundation and windows – Research indicates that spiders can fit through openings as small as 1/8 inch wide, so regularly inspect weatherstripping, door sweeps, and cracks in your foundation. Keep in mind that older homes in KC tend to have limestone foundations, particularly in neighborhoods like Waldo and Hyde Park.
- Reduce outdoor lighting near entrances – Porch lights and exterior fixtures attract flying insects, which in turn attract hungry spiders. Try replacing your conventional light with yellow-tinted “bug lights” or motion-sensor lighting that does not continuously attract prey to your entryway.
- Keep firewood and debris away from your home’s perimeter – Place firewood at least 20 feet away from your home and up off the ground. Clear away leaf piles, grass clippings, and stored items around your Foundation.
- Vacuum regularly, especially in corners and along baseboards – that way you will have the chance to use spiders and spider egg sacks, before a large population occupies your house.
Why Spiders Invade Kansas City Homes?
Kansas City is an ideal location for spiders to invade due to its unique climate conditions. High humidity levels are common in the area (averaging 70% during the summer months), creating perfect breeding grounds for insects, which in turn provide plenty of food for spiders. With autumn’s arrival and outdoor temperatures less predictable, spiders follow their prey where the conditions are more stable. Houses in Kansas City also offer ideal hiding places. Jumbled basements, garages stuffed with carelessly piled cartons, and neglected closets mimic the safe harborage readily sought by spiders.
When to Call Professional Spider Control Services?
When dealing with venomous spider species or persistent infestations, DIY methods often fall short of curing the issue. Brown recluses are common in the Kansas City area, so it is best to call for professional help if you frequently encounter them. They can be harmful and need specific treatments. If you are seeing a lot of spiders each day, if you are finding egg sacs around your house, or if you see substantial webbing in more than one place, you should also seek some professional assistance.
Companies such as Saela Pest Control are familiar with the types of spiders in Kansas City and the seasonal patterns. They provide regionally focused treatments, with both immediate eradication and long-term prevention in mind. They are familiar with the most common hiding spots for brown recluse spiders in Kansas City homes. They can target those locations more effectively than any product available at the store.
