PK-AR05 · Spiders, scorpions, and mites
How to get rid of house spiders
Parasteatoda tepidariorum and similar cobweb spiders
Need a look-alike split? Use Black widow look-alikes, then follow the control sequence on this page.
The common house spider builds messy cobwebs in corners and eats other insects. It is not a widow (no hourglass, different look). Control is vacuuming webs if you want tidy eaves. They are the reason you have fewer flies in a garage. Indiscriminate spraying of every cobweb is how you get more flies and still miss a widow in a glove.
How to identify Common house spider
- Marbled globular abdomen, cobweb in a corner, not an orb.
- No red hourglass. Smaller than typical widows.
Signs of an infestation
- Dusty cobwebs in a window frame.
- Egg sacs in the web.
Biology and why they show up
Synanthropic cobweb weavers. Prey on flies and other small arthropods.
Health and property risk
Negligible. Occasional startle.
Proven control sequence
Work in this order. Skipping inspection or exclusion is why most “treatments” bounce back in a week.
- Vacuum webs you do not want. The control method with the least collateral damage.
- Reduce outdoor lighting that draws prey to the door. If the issue is webs at the entrance.
Matching tools for these steps can be bought on Amazon. Buy the field kit.
Tools for common house spiders
Vacuum, reduce clutter, seal the sill. A monitor shows whether you still have traffic.
As an Amazon Associate, Pest Kill earns from qualifying purchases. The EPA label is the law for any pesticide. These links match the sequence on this page — they are not a shopping list instead of identification. Details: advertising disclosure. Browse the full tools catalog.
Hardware
Sticky cockroach / insect monitors
Monitors tell you if the next cabinet or the next apartment is feeding yours. They are not control by themselves. Place them on the floor at harborages, not in the middle of a clean counter.
Hardware
Door sweep / garage threshold seal
The gap under an alley or garage door feeds more rats than a bait station on the wrong wall. Measure the gap. A sweep is exclusion, not a gadget.
Prevention that actually sticks
- Screens. Tidy corners if aesthetics matter.
When to hire a licensed professional
No.
United States and Tier 1 notes
Global indoor cobweb spiders. Species names vary.
Common questions
Is every cobweb a widow?
No. Learn the hourglass. Most cobwebs are house spiders doing pest control for free.