Types Of Spiders In South Carolina
Spiders are a common sight in South Carolina, so it’s not unusual to spot one in your home. While most local spiders are harmless, no one wants them crawling around inside. The key is knowing which spiders are likely to appear, what attracts them, and how to keep them out. Locally owned and family-operated, Harris Pest Control has served Florence, Myrtle Beach, and the Pee Dee and Grand Strand areas since 1973. We have the expert spider identification, prevention tips, and professional control plan to protect your home all year.
Common House Spiders
The most common spiders to find in South Carolina homes are house spiders. These small tannish spiders have long, thin legs and are most often found in the corners of ceilings, around windows, basements, closets, or other cluttered areas.
House spiders are nuisance spiders. They are not dangerous, but they will build messy webs all over your house.
Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders are small spiders that come in a variety of colors. They have short legs that are powerful enough to jump up to 20 times their length.
Jumping spiders are usually found outdoors, but occasionally get inside while searching for food. They don’t catch their prey in webs, but instead use their jumping abilities to hunt for insects. Jumping spiders are considered nuisance pests.
Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders are large, hairy spiders that are fast runners. Because of their appearance, many people are afraid of wolf spiders, but they are nuisance pests that would rather stay away from you than attack you.
Because wolf spiders hunt for their food like wolves, they often get indoors accidentally while on the hunt. They don’t build webs and tend to stay at ground level.
Black Widow Spiders
It’s rare to see black widow spiders in or around your South Carolina home. These spiders prefer to stay out of the way and are typically found outdoors. We mention them because they are one of two venomous species in our area.
Black widow spiders have shiny, black, bulbous bodies with a red hourglass shape on their undersides. Their bites can cause pain at the site of the bite, as well as muscle cramps, nausea, difficulty breathing, and more. Although their bites are rarely fatal, you should seek medical attention if you get bitten by a black widow.
Brown Recluse Spiders
Brown recluse spiders are the other venomous spider species in South Carolina. Like black widows, they are reclusive and prefer to avoid humans as much as possible.
Brown recluse spiders have brown bodies with a violin-shaped mark behind their heads. If you get bitten by a brown recluse, you may experience necrosis of the tissue surrounding the bite. It is wise to seek medical attention for a brown recluse bite.
When Are Spiders Most Active in South Carolina?
Spiders are around all year in South Carolina, but their activity and visibility change with the seasons. Here’s what to expect throughout the year:
- Spring
Warmer weather brings more insects, which means more food for spiders. Many species start to appear more often indoors and outdoors as they hunt or build webs. This is also a key breeding season, so you may notice an increase in activity. - Summer
Spiders thrive in the humid South Carolina summers. You’ll often see webs on porches, in gardens, and around lights where insects gather at night. Indoors, they may stay in cool, undisturbed areas like basements, garages, or storage rooms. - Fall
This is peak spider season. As temperatures cool, spiders head indoors in larger numbers, seeking warmth and steady food sources. It is also mating season for several spider species. You’re more likely to see wolf spiders, house spiders, and sometimes even venomous species like black widows or brown recluses. - Winter
Spider activity slows down outdoors, but they don’t disappear. Inside heated homes, they can stay active all season. Expect to find them in basements, attics, and other low-traffic spots where they can remain undisturbed.
How to Tell if You Have a Spider Problem
It’s normal to spot a spider in your home occasionally, but how do you know when it’s more than just a few occasional visitors? Signs you may have a spider problem include:
- Seeing large numbers of spiders regularly
- DIY prevention methods haven’t worked
- Other pests are present in your home
- Venomous spiders have been spotted in or around your property
Where You’ll Find Spiders in Your South Carolina Home
Where will you most likely find spiders when they enter your house? There are several areas they frequent:
- Basements and crawl spaces
- Garages
- Attics
- Storage areas and cluttered closets
- Bathrooms and other warm, humid rooms
- The corners of ceilings
- Under furniture
What Attracts Spiders
If they need warm shelter, they may end up in your house. If they need food, they may follow insects inside and decide to stick around. If they need water, a damp crawl space or pipe leak can entice them indoors.
How to Prevent Spiders in Your Home
Preventing spiders starts with understanding how they get inside and what attracts them. Addressing these factors can make your home less inviting to spiders.
- Seal Entry Points
Caulk cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and your foundation. Install door sweeps, screens, and weatherstripping. Fill in openings around pipes and utility access points. - Reduce Food Sources
Control insects indoors and outdoors. Turn off outdoor lights at night or switch to yellow bug-repelling bulbs. - Reduce Clutter
Store items in plastic tubs instead of cardboard boxes and remove unnecessary items that can serve as hiding spots. - Maintain Cleanliness
Vacuum corners, baseboards, storage rooms, attics, and basements to remove webs, egg sacs, and live spiders. - Maintain Your Yard
Trim plants and bushes away from your house. Keep firewood off siding, clear leaves and debris, and maintain clean gutters.
How Harris Pest Control Can Help
If you keep finding spiders in your house, despite your efforts to eliminate them, it might be time to contact the professionals at Harris Pest Control.
Our pest control company offers home pest control that target spiders and other house-infesting pests such as ants, silverfish, roaches, and mice! Not only do our highly trained and fully licensed specialists take care of existing problems, but when you sign up for an ongoing plan, they provide routine pest treatments to ensure your home is pest-free season after season!
Contact us to schedule your home pest inspection today.
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