Why Do Kentucky’s Spiders Become More Active in the Spring? 

Kentucky spiders become more noticeable in Mid-Spring for two primary reasons: biological and environmental. When spiders move in, it is not because they are invading. Instead, it is because their life cycles and activity align perfectly with the changing seasons. Warmer days and nights boost their metabolism, and since they are cold-blooded, their body temperature and activity level are determined by external factors and changing temperatures. During the winter and cooler seasons, many spiders enter a state of dormancy. Their metabolism comes to a near standstill to conserve energy. As spring arrives in Kentucky and temperatures consistently stay above 50°F, their bodies “wake up” or “come alive.” When their metabolism increases, it requires them to become active. As a result, they begin to move in search of shelter, food, and water, and unfortunately, that often leads them into our homes!

Mating

Spring also brings about mating season, and during this time, love is in the air for Spiders. This is the single most significant reason for visible activity, especially for males. Not surprisingly, male spiders will leave their webs or harborage areas and will embark on risky journeys to find a female. This risky and bold behavior brings them directly into our line of sight, attempting to navigate across lawns, porches, basements, and garages. 

Food

Spiders are predators, and they are going to be found where there is food, and not where there isn’t. Springtime brings an abundance of flies, mosquitoes, gnats, and ants. This explosion in prey availability creates a perfect feeding ground. The spiders then become more active, hunting and establishing territories in areas rich in insects (food sources). If you have spiders, it often indicates you have other insects they are feeding on. This means underlying issues must also be dealt with to eliminate the spiders.

Spring Hatch

Many spider species hatch from their egg sacs in the spring. These tiny spiderlings quickly disperse through a process called “ballooning,” where they use silk strands to catch the wind and float off to find their own space. This new generation entering the workforce adds to the overall population and activity levels. This is one reason why pest control during the winter is crucial.

Harborage

Spring spiders are busy seeking a comfortable and safe place to live. Early spring rains and variable temperatures can drive spiders from their outdoor hiding places, such as under leaf litter, logs, wood piles, or in cracks in the soil, to seek drier, more consistent environments. This often leads them toward the shelter of our homes, making them more likely to be seen in garages, outbuildings, on your home’s siding, under porches, on decks, and eventually, indoors if they can find entry points.

How Can Four Seasons Pest Solutions Help?

While spiders are a natural part of spring, you don’t have to share your home, kitchen, porch, or bedroom with them. The key to effective control is a two-part strategy: Eliminate the spiders themselves and, more importantly, reduce the insect prey that attracts them in the first place. 

At Four Seasons, we have strategic plans to give you treatments that help put a barrier of protection around your home. We create a protective shield around your home’s perimeter to stop spiders and the insects they feed on from ever getting inside. We believe the best plan of action is prevention. Let us handle your spring pest problems, so you can enjoy your home in peace.