There are over 35,000 species of spiders globally, and because this is Australia, it feels like we’ve got all the really dangerous ones hanging out right here on the South Coast.
Most of these eight-legged weirdos actually prefer to stay outside, stringing up webs around your garden lights or creeping in the eaves. They love warm, dark, tight spots like air vents and wall cracks. Now, we have to admit, spiders are actually pretty great for the ecosystem because they eat the flies and mozzies that drive us mad. But that doesn’t mean you want a Huntsman watching you from the corner of the shower.
We chatted with Steve from Eurobodalla Pest Control, who covers everywhere from Batemans Bay down to Narooma, to get the straight facts on keeping the spider population from taking over your place.
Hunters vs. Webbers
Broadly speaking, you’re dealing with two main gangs of spiders:
The Webbers: These are the ones leaving sticky booby traps right at face-height across your front door. They rely completely on spinning silk to catch their dinner. The Hunters: These blighters don’t bother with webs. They hide under leaf litter, bark, or in little burrows and physically ambush their prey. Fun, right?
The Brutal Truth About Spider Spraying
Here’s a bit of honest truth from Steve: spider control is tricky. You are never going to get 100% eradication. Why? Because spiders stand up tall on their tiptoes. They don’t drag their bodies across treated surfaces like a cockroach does, and they don’t groom themselves.
A good professional treatment will absolutely break the current breeding cycle and wipe out the ones currently freeloading at your place. But because there’s no magic “residual” barrier that lasts forever with spiders, they will eventually build their numbers back up. If your property in Moruya backs onto heavy bushland or scrub, you’re going to see them return a lot faster than someone living in an apartment building. For heavy yard infestations, quarterly treatments are usually the way to go.
DIY Spider Repellent (Sort Of)
You don’t just have to sit around waiting for the pest control guy to show up. A few simple habits will make your house way less appealing to them:
- Suck ’em up: Vacuum regularly. Hit the high cornices, under the kitchen benches, and behind that heavy TV unit you never move.
- Kill the lights: Spiders eat flying insects. Insects love lights. Stop leaving your porch light blazing all night, or you’re basically opening a 24/7 spider diner.
- Move the wood: Piles of firewood, compost bins, and general backyard junk are 5-star hotels for hunting spiders. Get that stuff away from the exterior brickwork of your house.
- Plug the holes: Fill in gaps around pipework and under doors. Make them work to get inside.
Pre-Game Prep (Before We Rock Up)
If you’ve booked Steve and the Eurobodalla Pest Control crew to come out, you need to do a little prep work so they can actually do their job without spraying your personal gear.
- Clear the decks: Pick up all the kids’ toys, clothes, and shoes off the floor. The guys need a clear run at the skirting boards. Same goes for the bottom of your wardrobes if you want those treated.
- Cover the goldfish: Fish and pest spray do not mix. Cover the tanks tightly.
- Hide the toothbrushes: If we’re spraying the cornices in the bathroom or kitchen, put your toothbrushes and open food away.
- Evacuate the pets: Move the dog bowls and toys outside. It’s also best if you, the kids, and the pets clear out of the immediate area while the spray is being applied and drying.
Got a spider problem that’s getting a bit too close for comfort? Give Steve a yell and let the professionals handle it before they start charging you rent.