Why Spiders Love Basements: A Closer Look

If you hate going into your basement because you walk through a spider web every time you go down there, it might be time to consider why that’s the case. Basements, particularly those with undisturbed areas, are a favorite spot of spiders, and knowing why can help ensure your Midwest basement stays spider-free. In today’s blog post, we’ll look briefly at arachnids that infest homes in our region, reasons why spiders love basements, and how to keep them out!

Common home invading spiders in the Midwest

There are many different types of spiders in the Midwest. Many, such as garden spiders, are content to remain outdoors. If they get inside, it’s usually by accident, so they won’t stick around very long before they return to their preferred habitat. Other spiders are happy to be indoors.

House spiders are the most common spiders that get into homes in the Midwest. When you see a spider in your house, there’s a good chance it’s a house spider. These spiders are less than half an inch long, not including their legs. They tend to have tan or light brown bodies with darker brown markings.

The Midwest is also home to a couple of venomous spider species. Brown recluse and black widow spiders also lurk in and around homes in our region. Brown recluse spiders grow to about half an inch in length, not including their legs. They have light brown bodies with a darker brown violin-shaped marking just behind their head.

Black widow spiders are about half an inch long, not including their legs. They have bulbous bodies that are shiny and black. Black widow spiders are best known for the red hourglass shape that is on the underside of their abdomens.

Why spiders get into Midwest homes

Spiders enter homes for various reasons. Many times, they simply get inside by mistake. They find a gap under a door or a crack in the foundation and decide to see where it leads.

Other times, spiders get inside for a specific reason. They may be looking for food. Spiders primarily eat insects. If they find them in your house, they’ll stick around.

They may also enter your home in search of water. A leaking pipe or an area with a high moisture content may attract them inside.
Spiders sometimes get inside to avoid unpleasant elements outside. They'll seek an escape if the weather becomes too hot or cold. They'll look inside for relief if food or water supplies dry up. If it rains too much, they’ll get inside to avoid being drowned or having their web washed away.

Reasons spiders love basements

Once you understand why spiders enter homes, it makes sense why they end up inside, particularly in basements. Let’s explore these reasons.

Food
Spiders leave your house if they can’t find food inside. You often find insect infestations in the basement, which explains why spiders gather there. When many insects invade your basement, spiders follow.

Water
Spiders like areas with plenty of moisture. Basements tend to be darker with damp areas, the perfect environment for spiders to thrive.

Shelter
Almost all spiders are reclusive pests that prefer secluded areas where they can live without interference. The basement is the perfect place to make this a reality. Most basements are used as storage areas, providing many cluttered areas where spiders can hide in out-of-the-way locations. Furthermore, if your basement is unfinished, your family probably doesn’t spend much time there, precisely the type of environment that spiders like.

How to prevent spiders

To keep spiders out of your basement, you need to eliminate, or at least reduce, the things that attract them. Try these prevention tips to stop spiders from getting into your house:

• Seal entry points into your house.
• Reduce clutter in your house, especially in the basement.
• Fix leaking pipes, dripping faucets, and other water problems inside and outside.
• Reduce humidity in your house.
• Address other pest problems in and around your house.
• Cut back branches, shrubs, and other foliage so they don’t touch your house.
• Sweep down spider webs when you see them.

While the tips mentioned above will certainly help, routine pest treatments from Miller Pest & Termite are the most effective way to avoid a spider problem.

Contact Miller Pest & Termite about spiders in your basement

Serving Des Moines, Kansas City, Omaha, and communities throughout our multi-state service area, Miller Pest & Termite eliminates and prevents spider and pest problems with one convenient plan, Miller Guard. Not only does our home pest control service include spiders, but also many of the pests that attract them, including ants, silverfish, flies, and other insects. What’s more, our ongoing treatments provide year-round protection from the Midwest’s most common pests. To keep your home spider-free, contact us today.

Don’t forget to nominate a family for a pest-free holiday! 

This holiday season, Miller the Killer is on a mission to bring more than just jolly vibes—we want to help families in need "Put Those PESTS to REST" and make their homes a true sanctuary by offering free pest control services! 

Do you know a family that could use a little extra holiday cheer? Click here to nominate them today!