Spider Treatments in Florida

Types of Spider Issues We Handle

Nuisance web builders and house spiders

The most common complaint we receive involves the Common House Spider and “Daddy Longlegs” (Cellar Spiders). These spiders are generally harmless but create a mess. They build irregular webs in corners, under furniture, and in window sills to catch small flies and ants. In high-ceilinged homes common in Fort Myers, these webs can be difficult to reach and clean.

What we look for during inspection:

• Dusty webs in upper corners of rooms
• Activity around window frames and indoor plants
• Spiders hiding in closets or under bathroom sinks

How we approach treatment:

We perform thorough de-webbing using specialized extension poles to remove webs and egg sacs from high corners. We treat cracks and crevices where they hide and apply products around windows to deter them from rebuilding.

Hunting spiders (Wolf Spiders and Huntsman)

Unlike web builders, hunting spiders prowl for their food. Wolf Spiders and Huntsman Spiders are large, fast, and often terrifying to encounter. They often enter homes under door sweeps or through open garage doors. While they are beneficial because they eat roaches, few people want a spider the size of a drink coaster running across their living room floor.

What we look for during inspection:

• Gaps under exterior doors and garage doors
• Spiders hiding in shoes, boxes, or laundry piles on the floor
• Burrows in the mulch near the foundation

How we approach treatment:

Because these spiders do not groom themselves like insects, they are harder to kill with standard pesticides. We focus on exclusion techniques for pests, sealing the entry points they use. We also reduce the population of ground-dwelling insects (their food) around the foundation to force them to hunt elsewhere.

[Image of wolf spider vs huntsman spider]

Venomous spiders (Black and Brown Widows)

Florida is home to both the Southern Black Widow and the increasingly common Brown Widow. These spiders prefer dark, undisturbed areas like garages, woodpiles, and the underside of patio furniture. Their bite is neurotoxic and can be dangerous, especially to children and pets. Identifying and removing these spiders requires professional caution.

What we look for during inspection:

• Messy, strong, “tangled” webs near the ground
• Spiders with the characteristic hourglass marking (red on Black Widows, orange on Brown Widows)
• Spiky, cream-colored egg sacs (specific to Brown Widows)
• Nests inside handles of trash cans, mailboxes, or unused toys

How we approach treatment:

We inspect high-risk areas carefully. We use contact treatments to eliminate the spider immediately and destroy the egg sacs to prevent hundreds of babies from hatching. We advise on clearing clutter in garages and sheds to remove their preferred hiding spots.

Lanai and pool cage spiders

The pool cage is a unique Florida feature that acts as a giant spider web. Spiny Orb-weavers (Crab Spiders) and Banana Spiders often build webs in the corners of the screen enclosure. While they catch mosquitoes, their webs can block views and their droppings stain the pool deck. Keeping a lanai spider-free is a constant battle in Estero and Bonita Springs.

What we look for during inspection:

• Webs attached to the aluminum frame of the cage
• Spiders hiding in the spline (grooves) of the screen
• Activity around outdoor lights that attract flying insects

How we approach treatment:

We sweep down the cage to remove webs and spiders. We apply residual products to the frame (not the screen) to discourage anchoring. We also recommend changing outdoor lighting to yellow “bug bulbs” to reduce the flying insects that attract these spiders.