Spiders are part of everyday life in the South because the warm, humid climate gives them plenty of food and shelter. The good news is that most spiders in Georgia are harmless unless provoked, but that doesn’t mean you want them hanging around.
Learning to identify the usual suspects makes it easier to decide when simple cleanup is enough and when you should bring in a pest control pro.
Below are four common house spiders you will likely meet in and around your home and practical steps to keep them outside where they belong.
Why Spiders Love Georgia Homes
Spiders follow their food. Georgia’s long growing season means a steady supply of mosquitoes, ants, and other tasty insects.
Add in shaded porches, basements that stay cool, and yard debris that creates hiding spots, and it is easy to see why spiders move right in.
Homes close to woods, water, or landscaped flower beds attract the most activity.
1. Southern House Spider
Southern house spiders are common across Georgia, especially in older homes or quiet storage areas.
Males have long, skinny bodies with a dusty brown color, while females are darker and more compact. Both have long legs that give them an exaggerated size, often causing unnecessary alarm.
You’ll usually find their messy webs draped across ceiling beams, crawl spaces, or the corners of attics and garages. These spiders are more of a nuisance than a threat. They don’t bite unless provoked and aren’t considered dangerous to people or pets.
Keep them away by vacuuming web-prone areas weekly and storing seasonal items in smooth plastic bins. Spiders don’t like slick surfaces and tend to avoid spots where their webs won’t hold.
2. Yellow Garden Spider
With bold yellow and black stripes across their abdomen and a silver-toned head, yellow garden spiders are hard to miss. Their bodies can reach about an inch in length, and their legs make them appear even bigger when they stretch out in the center of their webs.
These spiders are typically found outside in bushes, along fences, or near porch lights where moths gather. Their large circular webs often have a zigzag line running through the middle, which is a signature trait.
Despite their size, yellow garden spiders aren’t aggressive. Their bite feels similar to a mild bee sting and only occurs if they’re handled roughly.
To keep them from creeping closer to the house, trim back shrubs near your siding and double-check that your screens and weather seals are in good shape.
3. Brown Widow
Brown widows may not be as infamous as their black widow relatives, but they still deserve caution. These spiders range from light tan to dark brown and have a small orange hourglass shape on their underside. Their egg sacs are especially noticeable: round, pale, and covered in soft spikes.
You’re most likely to spot brown widows tucked into tight, dark spaces: under patio furniture, inside grill covers, or between stacked boxes in the garage. They prefer places that stay quiet and undisturbed.
Though their venom is less potent than that of black widows, bites can still be painful, especially for children or those with allergies.
Reduce your risk by shaking out gear before use and wearing gloves when digging through garage storage or lifting yard tools.
4. Wolf Spider
If you’ve ever seen a large, hairy spider dart across the floor, it was probably a wolf spider. These spiders are fast movers with thick legs and camouflage coloring that ranges from gray to dark brown. Unlike many others, they don’t build webs: they hunt their prey on foot.
Wolf spiders prefer ground-level areas like basements, garages, and sheds, especially where there’s clutter or low light. They often sneak inside through gaps under doors or cracks in the foundation.
Their bite isn’t dangerous to most people but can cause mild pain and swelling, much like a bee sting.
Keep them away by clearing floor space and reducing moisture. A bright, dry garage or basement makes it harder for them to hide and hunt.
Simple Ways to Cut Down Spider Visits
Spiders come inside in Georgia for two reasons: food and shelter. If they’re hanging around, there’s a steady insect supply or plenty of quiet corners where they can nest undisturbed.
Start with these…
• Reseal problem spots: Silicone caulk is great, but don’t stop at windows and doors. Check where siding meets the foundation, around hose bibs, and under utility boxes.
Even dryer vents and cable lines can leave just enough space for pests to sneak in.
• Ditch bright porch bulbs: Standard white and blue-tinted bulbs attract flying insects, which in turn attract web-building spiders. Warm-toned LEDs (yellow or amber) cut that traffic down without killing your night visibility.
• Vacuum more than the floor: Corners, ceiling edges, baseboards, and behind furniture are prime spider zones. Weekly vacuuming disrupts web-building and removes eggs before they hatch.
• Make storage spider-proof: Instead of cardboard boxes in the garage or attic, use sealed plastic bins. Spiders love cardboard because it holds moisture and gives them texture to grip and hide in.
• Dry out damp spots: Spiders aren’t attracted to water, but their prey is. Use a dehumidifier in basements or laundry rooms, especially if you’ve had past issues with silverfish, roaches, or ants.
Home Maintenance That Helps
Spiders usually show up after the bugs do. If you’re seeing webs, it likely means something else has already made itself at home. These maintenance tasks help shut down their food supply:
1. Clean out gutters regularly
Clogged gutters trap moisture and give insects a place to breed. Overflowing water also saturates the soil near your foundation, which can attract ants, roaches, and mosquitoes (all favorites on the spider menu).
2. Keep landscape debris away from the house
Mulch, firewood, leaves, and stacked pots create the perfect micro-habitat for bugs and web-builders. Keep at least a one-foot clearance between that debris and your foundation.
3. Fix outdoor water sources
Spiders chase insects that cluster around leaky spigots, AC drain lines, or garden hose connections. A dripping faucet can support an entire pest ecosystem right outside your door.
4. Replace your HVAC filter on time
Dirty filters reduce air circulation and increase indoor humidity: two conditions that help bugs and spiders thrive. A clean filter helps keep crawlspaces and garages dry.
When It’s Time to Call a Pro
It’s normal to spot spiders occasionally in your Georgia home. But if you’re seeing spiders inside often, or you’ve already tried DIY fixes with no lasting results, it’s time to escalate.
- You’re seeing spiders daily in more than one area of the home
- You’ve found egg sacs or webs returning to the same spots
- You suspect brown or black widow activity but aren’t sure
- You’ve used sprays or traps but they only work for a few days
- Someone in the home has health concerns tied to spider bites
Conclusion
Sharing a home with the occasional spider is normal, but large numbers or venom-concern species need quick action. Regular cleaning, sealing entry points, and yard upkeep go a long way toward keeping spiders outdoors.
If you are tired of chasing webs or worrying about which spider just ran under the sofa, All South Pest Control is here for you. Contact us today to book a visit or get your free service quote.
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