Arachnid · Low risk
House Spider
The house spider, or long-bodied cellar spider, is one of the two most common spiders inside Quebec homes. Practically harmless to people, it feeds on pest insects and helps keep the home in balance. Large numbers, however, can point to an underlying infestation of other insects.
§1Distinctive features
How to identify it
A thin, elongated body 6 to 10 mm long, with long, slender legs about 5 cm long, five to six times the length of the body. Translucent beige to light brown. It builds an irregular, messy sheet web, often in corners. It vibrates in a distinctive way when you get close.
§2Habitat
Where to find it
Ceiling corners, basements, crawl spaces, garages, attics and behind furniture. It prefers dark, damp, quiet places. It is also found near windows and lights, where its prey gathers.
§3Reproduction
Lifecycle
Each female produces several clusters of 20 to 30 eggs a year: left alone, the population grows from year to year.
§4What to look out for
Signs of infestation
- Many irregular webs in corners
- Shed skins under the webs
- Females carrying a cluster of whitish eggs in their chelicerae
- More of their prey insects in the home
§5Why act fast
Risks
- Bites are very rare and generally harmless
- Allergic reaction possible but exceptional
- A sign of an infestation of prey insects
§6Prevention
How to avoid it
- Regularly vacuum corners, ceilings and basements
- Seal cracks and exterior entry points
- Reduce outdoor lighting that attracts insects
- Lower humidity in the basement and garage
§7Pro method
How MW works
Inspection
Species identification and locating where they nest.
Preparation
A plan suited to the layout of the home and the level of infestation.
Treatment
Residual products applied in target areas, and removal of webs and egg clusters.
Follow-up
Control visit · written guarantee offered depending on the treatment chosen.
§8Your questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Are spiders in Quebec dangerous?
Why are there so many spiders in my home?
Do spiders really need to be exterminated?
Lots of spiders almost always point to something else: they follow their prey, so there is an insect problem upstream. Treating the spiders alone solves nothing. That is why we start from a complete picture of the building in our pest control program, in basements and crawl spaces in Sherbrooke, Granby, Magog and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
React quickly, sleep well.
The longer the infestation lasts, the more expensive it becomes.