From cellar spiders to black widows — identification, removal and prevention.
Spider infestations are extremely common in Wisconsin. As temperatures drop each fall, spiders move into warm, dark spaces — basements, closets, wall voids, storage rooms — then become active throughout the house as spring returns. A can of over-the-counter spray handles the occasional spider; it does nothing about an established population and the insect prey feeding it.
Strib Pest Control identifies the species, treats the infestation with pet-friendly products, and helps you seal the entry points spiders (and their prey) are using to get in.
Common spiders we handle in southern Wisconsin homes:
Signs of a real infestation: webs in every corner, egg sacs hanging from webs and crevices, and frequent sightings in damp areas like basements and bathrooms.
The honest news: nearly every spider you'll meet in a Wisconsin home is harmless and even beneficial, quietly eating flies, crickets and other pests. Bites are rare — most "spider bites" are actually other insects — and usually no worse than a bee sting. The exceptions (black widow, and rarely an imported brown recluse) deserve professional handling. The more practical issue is what a large spider population tells you: spiders live where prey is abundant, so heavy spider activity usually means a broader insect problem worth addressing.
Our spider program treats the cause, not just the webs. We remove webs and egg sacs (each sac can hold hundreds of spiderlings), apply targeted treatments to harborage areas and entry points, and establish an exterior barrier that intercepts both spiders and the prey insects drawing them in. Reducing the food supply is the most durable spider control there is. Everything we use is applied precisely and is safe for your family and pets.
Very few. Black widows occur rarely in undisturbed outdoor storage; brown recluses are not established here, though one occasionally arrives in shipped goods. If you find a suspect spider, trap it under a cup and call us — we will identify it and treat if warranted.
Food. Spiders settle where prey insects are plentiful, so a heavy spider population usually signals an underlying insect issue plus easy entry points. Treating both is why professional spider control lasts when DIY spraying does not.
Our applications are targeted to the structure — entry points, eaves, foundation — not your yard or garden. Orb weavers and other beneficial outdoor spiders keep doing their job away from your living space.
Fast, honest, guaranteed pest control across Madison and Dane County.
