Spiders
Eight legs too many.
Explore Our Services
While most spiders found in and around homes in the Northeast are harmless to humans, no one wants to share their living space with them — and high spider populations often signal a larger insect problem underneath. Spiders are predators: they go where the food is. A home with a heavy spider presence is almost always a home with an underlying insect infestation that’s supporting them. Two concerning exceptions — the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse — require immediate professional attention due to the medical severity of their bites.
Select Exterminating addresses spider infestations at the root — eliminating the prey populations that attract them, treating active harborage areas, and establishing exterior barriers that prevent spiders from building populations inside your home. Whether it’s a cosmetic problem or a genuine safety concern, we have the tools and expertise to resolve it.
Understanding spider infestations
Spider activity inside your home is rarely random — they follow their food source. Whether you’re dealing with a cosmetic nuisance or a potential safety concern, these are the signs that indicate a spider population has taken hold:
Webs in corners, doorways, and along exterior walls
Abundant cobwebs throughout a home — particularly in corners, along ceiling edges, in basements, and around exterior lights and doorways — indicate a well-established spider population. Outdoor spider populations are drawn inside by light sources that attract their insect prey, and by seasonal temperature drops in fall.
Sighting of Black Widow or Brown Recluse spiders
Black Widows are shiny black with a distinctive red hourglass marking on the abdomen. Brown Recluses are tan to brown with a violin-shaped marking on the back and six eyes in three pairs. Both are medically significant — their bites can cause serious tissue damage or systemic reactions and require immediate professional treatment and medical evaluation.
Our spider treatment process
Because spiders are drawn in by the insects they feed on, effective spider control means addressing both the spiders themselves and the conditions supporting them. Here’s our comprehensive approach:
Detailed Inspection
Our technicians conduct a full interior and exterior inspection to identify species, locate harborage areas, and assess the insect population that may be supporting spider activity. High-risk areas — basements, crawl spaces, garages, and exterior eaves — receive thorough attention.
Treatment Plan
We apply residual perimeter treatments along the exterior foundation, eaves, and entry points to reduce incoming spider populations. Interior crack-and-crevice and void treatments target active harborage areas, and web removal is performed to eliminate established nesting sites. Addressing underlying insect prey populations is coordinated as part of a comprehensive plan.
Follow-Up
We schedule a follow-up to reassess population levels, confirm the effectiveness of exterior barriers, and address any new activity. Annual exterior treatment is recommended as a preventive measure to maintain a spider-resistant barrier around your home.
4.9/5
Over 4,700 Reviews
Why choose our spider treatment
Our spider treatment utilizes the latest advances in technology and eco-friendly methods. With years of experience and thousands of successful treatments, we deliver complete elimination every time.
Comprehensive inspection covering all high-risk harborage areas, including crawl spaces and attics
Perimeter barrier treatment that targets spiders at the exterior before they enter
Integrated pest management approach that addresses the insect populations feeding spider activity
Frequently asked questions
Are all spiders in my home dangerous?
No. The vast majority of spiders found in Northeastern homes — including cellar spiders, house spiders, and wolf spiders — are harmless to humans and actually help control insect populations. The two medically significant species in the region are the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse. If you’re unsure what you’ve found, a photo identification by one of our technicians is a helpful first step.
Why do I suddenly have more spiders in fall?
Two things happen in fall that drive spider activity indoors. First, many spider species reach maturity in late summer and fall and become more active as males roam seeking mates. Second, as temperatures drop, spiders seek the warmth of structures. Exterior lighting attracts insects, which in turn attracts spiders, creating a concentrated entry point around doors and windows.
Can I prevent spiders by keeping my home cleaner?
General tidiness helps by eliminating clutter that spiders use for harborage, but cleaning alone won’t resolve an established infestation. The most important preventive steps are reducing exterior lighting, sealing entry points, and controlling the insect populations that attract spiders. Professional perimeter treatment dramatically reduces spider entry.
What should I do if I'm bitten by a spider?
If you believe you’ve been bitten by a Black Widow or Brown Recluse, seek medical attention immediately. Black Widow venom causes severe muscle cramping and pain. Brown Recluse bites can cause progressive tissue necrosis (skin death) that may require medical treatment. Bring a photo of the spider if possible to assist with identification.
Will killing spiders make my spider problem worse?
Not in the way that’s often suggested, but killing individual spiders without addressing the underlying population and entry points has minimal impact. A dead spider is simply replaced by the next one following the same insect prey into your home. The most effective approach is exterior barrier treatment combined with reduction of the insect populations drawing spiders inside.