Creepy Crawlers of Halloween: Real Spiders in Your Home
Common Spiders in Louisiana Homes
Louisiana’s warm, humid climate creates the perfect environment for many spider species to thrive year-round. While some spiders are harmless and even beneficial in controlling insect populations, others can pose health risks or signal a more significant pest issue. Recognizing the types of spiders that commonly invade homes can help you take proactive steps to protect your family and your space.
Here are four of the most common spiders Louisiana homeowners may encounter—and why you should pay attention:
1. Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)
Key Characteristics:
Light to medium brown color
Distinctive dark, violin-shaped marking on its back
Typically 1/4 to 3/4 inch in size
Where They Hide:
Dark, quiet places like attics, storage boxes, closets, and behind furniture
Inside shoes, clothing, and folded linens left undisturbed
Why You Should Be Concerned:
Brown recluse bites can cause skin necrosis, ulcers, or serious infections
Not aggressive, but will bite when disturbed
2. Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)
Key Characteristics:
Glossy black body with a red hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen
Females are larger (up to 1.5 inches with legs)
Where They Hide:
Dark, protected spaces such as garages, crawlspaces, sheds, under decks, and in woodpiles
Why You Should Be Concerned:
Black widow venom is neurotoxic, causing symptoms like muscle cramps, nausea, and severe pain
Though rarely fatal, their bites can require urgent medical attention—especially for children and the elderly
3. Common House Spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum)
Key Characteristics:
Brownish body with varied patterns
Small size, usually less than 1/4 inch
Builds messy, tangled webs
Where They Hide:
Corners of ceilings and rooms, behind furniture, in basements, closets, and windows
Why You Should Be Concerned:
Not dangerous, but an excessive number of webs can indicate an underlying insect infestation
Their presence often means your home offers a consistent food supply (like flies or gnats)
4. Wolf Spider (Family: Lycosidae)
Key Characteristics:
Large and hairy, often mistaken for tarantulas
Brown, gray, or black with a distinct stripe pattern
Strong runners, they actively hunt rather than use webs
Where They Hide:
Baseboards, garages, basements, and crawl spaces
Outdoors under leaves, rocks, or mulch—sometimes wandering indoors accidentally
Why You Should Be Concerned:
While not venomous to humans, wolf spider bites can be painful and cause swelling
Sudden appearances of wolf spiders often indicate an abundance of small insects in or around your home
Why Spiders Are More Than Just a Nuisance
At first glance, seeing a spider or two around your home might not seem like a big deal—after all, spiders are common and can even help reduce other insect populations. But when spider sightings become frequent or widespread, it’s time to take a closer look.
Spiders are natural predators, and their presence often signals a secondary issue: an abundance of other insects they feed on. In other words, where there are spiders, there are likely plenty of pests keeping them well-fed.
Here’s why spiders may indicate a deeper pest control concern—and the key warning signs to watch for:
1. A Surge in Spider Sightings
Occasional spiders are normal, but if you're suddenly spotting them every day, especially in multiple areas of the home, it's a sign of a thriving food source.
Spiders don’t stay where they can’t eat—so recurring appearances suggest there’s an underlying insect infestation that’s attracting them.
2. Multiple Webs Throughout the Home
You may notice:
Cobwebs in corners, ceilings, and behind doors
Tangle-style webs in closets, basements, or attics
New webs forming shortly after being cleaned
3. Hiding Spots in Undisturbed Areas
Spiders tend to settle in places that are quiet, dark, and rarely disrupted.
Common spider hiding places include:Behind furniture or bookshelves
Under appliances
In basement corners or crawl spaces
Around plumbing or in damp utility rooms
4. Other Pest Sightings—The Spider’s Menu
The presence of ants, flies, roaches, or other insects is like an open buffet for spiders.
If you’re dealing with fruit flies in the kitchen, roaches in the bathroom, or ants in the pantry, spiders will naturally follow to feed.
Seasonal Entry Points: Why Fall Brings More Spiders Indoors
As October rolls in and the weather turns cooler across Louisiana, you might start noticing more spiders creeping around your home. This isn’t your imagination—or a Halloween prank—it’s a natural behavior triggered by seasonal changes. Spiders, like many pests, begin searching for warm, safe, and food-rich environments once temperatures drop, and unfortunately, your home fits the bill.
Let’s break down why spider activity increases during fall—and exactly how they’re getting in:
1. Temperature Drops Push Spiders Indoors
As outdoor temperatures dip in late September and October, spiders instinctively begin moving indoors to escape the cold.
Your home offers the perfect combination of warmth, moisture, and food, making it an ideal overwintering site.
Unlike summer, when spiders thrive outside, fall forces them to seek refuge in attics, basements, crawlspaces, and closets.
2. Common Entry Points They Exploit
Spiders may be small, but they’re skilled at squeezing through tiny openings. Watch out for these vulnerable access points around your home:
Gaps under exterior doors (especially without weatherstripping)
Cracks or holes in siding or brickwork
Poorly sealed window frames or damaged screens
Open vents, weep holes, or dryer exhausts
Gaps around utility lines or plumbing entering the structure
Loose roof shingles or attic vents
3. Attracted by Warmth and Moisture
Spiders are drawn to humid indoor environments, like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and under sinks.
Homes with moisture problems or water leaks are especially attractive during the dry and cooler months.
The warmth emitted from appliances, heaters, and even lighting fixtures further entices spiders to settle in.
4. Indoor Insect Activity = Spider Buffet
Spiders follow their food. If your home already has other insects (like ants, silverfish, or gnats), it becomes a perfect hunting ground.
Kitchen crumbs, pet food, and garbage can all support insect activity—and spiders quickly follow.
Spiders might be the unofficial mascot of Halloween, but they shouldn’t be guests in your home. Whether you’re seeing signs of spider activity or just want peace of mind heading into the cooler months, Extermatrim is here to help.Schedule your spider inspection today and enjoy a safer, pest-free home—so the only spooky things this Halloween are your decorations.
