During the hot Arizona summer months, temperatures rise to well over 115°F, forcing spiders to find cool, dark areas to shelter from the heat within your home. Species such as the black widow, brown recluse, and the desert grass spider do not just stop by, but rather move in, spinning webs where you would never imagine. The ordeal gets even worse during the monsoon season as increased humidity attracts more spiders indoors.
For some, a call to a professional spider control in Phoenix is the only resource when spider problems are consistent, and they can offer advice for controlled applications for Phoenix-specific spider hazards.
Rise of Spiders In Phoenix Homes
Phoenix plays host to nearly 35 spider species, most of which can survive in urban settings. Native spiders in the region are losing natural desert habitats due to rapid urban expansion of the city, and have therefore started to invade homes.
In fact, spider service calls increase by 40% during the summer when spiders are out searching for cool spots. Constant warmth throughout the year, plenty of food from other insects, and spots to hide make homes in Phoenix irresistible to spiders. The problem is escalated by the increase in moisture during the monsoon season, which makes it more favorable for the kind of breeding. The urban heat island effect, which leads to Phoenix temperatures 3-5 degrees higher than the surrounding areas, pushes spiders inside to more stable temperatures and a water source.
Top 5 Places Spiders Nest in Phoenix Homes
1. Air Conditioning Vents and Ductwork
Ample AC means miles of cool, dark places for spiders to hang out. The continuous air flow makes it accessible all around your home, while dust accumulation provides the building materials for the webs.
2. Garage Storage Areas
In Phoenix, garages become spider shoeboxes. If you have boxes, seasonal decorations, and things you seldom touch, that space allows spiders to colonize. The concrete floors remain cooler than the surfaces outside.
3. Bathroom Exhaust Fans and Fixtures
Showers bring high humidity, provide insects that attract the spider, bathroom fixtures create dim hidey holes to nest in, and that, combined with growing numbers during drier months of the year in Phoenix, make indoor moisture valuable.
4. Closets and Storage Rooms
Those spaces tend to stay nicely cool and dark, and so make perfect nurseries for the spider family. Studies have found that more than 60% of indoor spider activities in Phoenix begin at a storage area.
5. Window Wells and Frames
The UV here in Phoenix is so intense that it casts deep shadows around window frames. These cooler, dead insect-collecting areas offer both cover and sustenance for spider populations.
6. Basement and Crawl Spaces
Basements or crawl spaces are less common in Phoenix, but they represent the ultimate spider sanctuary, calm, moist, and entirely undisturbed.
How to Avoid Them Nesting Inside Your House?
- Use weatherstripping and caulk to seal entry points around windows, doors, and utility lines
- Reduce moisture by repairing leaky pipes and using dehumidifiers in critical areas.
- Regularly clean, especially areas where products are stored or behind appliances
- Vacuum regularly to get rid of egg sacs and new webs before they get a chance to set up.
- Limit outdoor lighting since bright lights lure insects that feed spiders
- No cardboard boxes; store in sealed plastic containers
- Never forget to inspect infrequently visited areas like the garage and storage rooms
When spiders become a real problem, hundreds of Phoenix residents turn to Green Mango Pest Control, a local company that understands the unique experiences of Arizona home and business owners. They employ specific treatments uniquely suited to desert-dwelling species and offer continuous treatment strategies that consider Phoenix spider activity seasons.
