So, what attracts brown recluse spiders? To discuss this, it will do well to state the fact that these pests quickly adapt to both outdoor and indoor environments.
In other words, brown recluse spiders can live indoors in basements, attics, etc., while also properly adapted to living outdoors.
In any case, you don’t want these spiders to get too close or invade your space. Keeping them at a safe distance is the way to go.
The of the most dreaded pest problems to encounter is recluse spider presence. These spiders are venomous with bites that may require medical attention. They’re known for their excruciating stings.
If you live in an environment where you’ve seen a surge in brown recluse spider presence, you’ll need to find out the attraction.
For spiders to be present around your home, it is possible that some favorable conditions lured them in.
Understanding what attracts these pests enables you to swing to action in getting rid of such attractions.
By keeping your surroundings free of brown recluse spiders, you’ve protected yourself, your family, and your pets from their stings.
What Lures Recluse Spiders?
One of the most common conditions needed for recluse spiders to thrive is the presence of bugs around your home.
Such bugs range from roaches, crickets, silverfish, beetles, firebrats, etc. These bugs compound your pest problem as they too need to be eliminated.
Sometimes, fighting a spider infestation will achieve little if the cause isn’t eliminated. The cause here refers to the presence of bugs.
You’re actively creating less conducive surroundings for brown recluse spiders to thrive by exterminating the bugs.
Attractants
You should know that certain favorable conditions are in place whenever you spot brown recluse spiders around your home. These venomous spiders are chiefly attracted to two things; food and shelter.
You’ll always find them intruding on your private space when these are in place.
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Food
Brown recluse spiders hunt prey and can be hunted too.
These predators hunt down and feed on small bugs scattered around the home. This presents a challenging situation as both prey and predator (small bugs and brown recluse spiders, respectively) are unwelcome.
In hunting for prey, brown recluse spiders get in the way of humans.
The stings or bites they inflict on humans serve as a defense mechanism. With an abundance of small bugs scattered around your home, there’s little you can do to keep recluse spiders away.
Although your home may look pest-free, a thorough examination will reveal lots of overwintering pests getting into your home through cracks or any available opening. Once in, these pests will seek shelter in good areas such as your attic, basement, wall voids, and crawl spaces.
That’s why you may find brown recluse spiders in such areas. They go in search of prey or food. What are the bugs we’re talking about? There are several!
A few include crickets, roaches, firebrats, beetles, and silverfish.
Here is how long they can live without food.
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Shelter
Shelter for brown recluse spiders is as vital as food. These venomous spiders seek out dark, secluded, and still areas to shelter in.
Other favorable or welcoming conditions for recluse spiders include overgrown weeds, rocks, overgrowth, woodpiles, and construction materials.
Such conditions make your home untidy or cluttered. While these are found outside homes, you’re likely to spot brown recluse spiders in crawl spaces, closets, basements, and attics.
As stated earlier, these spiders prefer these areas due to food availability and also because they’re undisturbed.
Does having a clutter-free and tidy home stop recluse spiders from getting close? Not at all! While removing all clutter makes your home less inviting and dissuades brown recluse spiders, it doesn’t solve the problem.
Brown recluse spiders will still be found in organized surroundings as long as there’s food. They’ll always find a way to gain access.
More importantly, brown recluse spiders get to shelter or safety from the elements. So, you’ll always need to be alert to detect them before they sting.
Other Situations that Attract Black Recluse Spiders
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Hiding Spots
Hideouts or hiding spots are an additional attraction for brown recluse spiders. When these spiders find their way into your home, the first thing they look for is a suitable spot to hide out.
Now, there’s no denying that lots of potential hiding spots abound within homes.
One of the ways to avoid poisonous bites from brown recluse spiders is by being careful, especially with shoes, before putting them on. Tap such shoes before sliding your feet in.
Besides shoes, clothing can also serve as a suitable nesting area for brown recluse spiders. You may want to shake such clothing before putting them on.
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Cracks
Cracks can also serve as hiding spots for brown recluse spiders.
They are also entryways through which these pests gain access to your home. The best way to take back control is by carefully inspecting your walls and sealing up any cracks you find.
That way, you’ll be protecting your private space from invasion.
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Clutter
It is easier to find brown recluse spiders holed up around clutter than in orderly surroundings. Such clutter creates a conducive environment for these pests to nest.
If this is the case, you can quickly fix the problem by clearing up such clutter.
It doesn’t matter if this is found indoors or outdoors. A cleanup or tidying of such areas will go a long way in resolving the problem.
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Dead Insects
Brown recluse spiders are albe attracted to both live and dead insects.
These pests prefer recently killed insects and will feast on such over those killed for quite a while. Live insects also serve as a source of food.
The more your swarm with insects, the more likely it is for brown recluse spiders to find it welcoming.
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Dark Spots
When brown recluse spiders gain entry into your home, they target dark spots or areas. This point can also be categorized under hiding spots because dark areas of your home serve as a perfect cover for these pests.
In most cases, brown recluse spiders will emerge from such areas at night, searching for prey.
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Woodpiles
If there are woodpiles around your home, it won’t be long until brown recluse spiders find it appealing and move in.
From there, they quickly gain entry into your home. The best remedy here will involve moving such woodpiles as far away as possible from your home.
Keeping Out Black Recluse Spiders
Having listed the main attractions for brown recluse spiders, it’s necessary to take urgent measures to keep these pests out. There are two main reasons you want to keep out brown recluse spiders.
First, these will need to be prevented from coming close due to the danger they represent.
Another reason to keep out these nasty pests is to prevent their bites or stings. You can adopt several strategies—these range from sealing up all cracks on your walls (both internal and external). Damages serve as entry points and are used by both recluse spiders and small bugs to come in.
There’s less chance of dealing with its presence with limited entrance into homes. It’s important to inspect and replace all damaged screens, door sweeps, and weather stripping. It would be best if you cleared basements and attics of all clutter.
This ensures enough space and fewer hiding spots for brown recluse spiders to use. We mentioned overgrowth, construction materials, woodpiles, and rocks as possible hiding spots.
It would be best to clear these from your surroundings to make your home unfavorable for brown recluse spider presence.
Seeking Help
Knowing the different attractions that draw recluse spiders into your property, it’s necessary to seek help.
Sometimes, you may be too late responding to a brown recluse problem. This situation requires help from pest management services to take back control of your home.
Conclusion
Any homeowner dealing with brown recluse spider infestation will first want to discover the causes. This is an appropriate and more comprehensive approach to dealing with the problem.
Here, questions like “what attracts brown recluse spiders to my home” have been answered.
The simple answer is sustenance! Yes! As a hunter spider, the brown recluse is likely to be found in homes with an ample supply of soft-bodied insects.
Examples of these insects are moths, crickets, roaches, flies, and small bugs. Asides from these prey, brown recluses are known to be cannibalistic.
In other words, they feed on their kind. So, the more the prey, the more likely your home surroundings will harbor brown recluse spiders. But preying on other pests is a plus, right?
It is for as long as these spiders do not bite you! Their bites are venomous and can cause health issues.
Our discussion has been focused on highlighting the factors that attract brown recluse spiders.
We’ve also gone further to shed light on how to contain or mitigate such attraction; as a result, you succeed in keeping your home safe.
Hello! My name is Oluwasegun, and I am the founder of SafeandSanitaryHomes.org.
As a young boy who grew up in the suburbs, my family had a green lawn. I actively cared for this and maintained hedges and trees.
I’ve also grown into a DIY enthusiast for cleaning tasks and home improvements. As an expert animal healthcare provider, I also discuss tips to help you combat pests.
I’m happy to share my experience and hope you find it helpful.