Top Tips To Prevent Wolf Spiders? 

It is estimated that arachnophobia is one of the top ten phobias in the world. It’s estimated that 48% of people have a fear of spiders. Yet, spiders are generally afraid of humans and will only attack if they are cornered and have nowhere else to go. 

That’s not much of a reassurance to anyone with arachnophobia. That’s why, if you see a number of spiders and are concerned about them you need to get your local exterminator to eliminate the problem for you. 

Of course, for most people, the larger the spider the scarier it is. The fact that the wolf spider can grow to 2 inches makes it big enough to feel imposing and offers a compelling reason why people would be scared of it. 

Introducing The Wolf Spider

There are approximately 125 different species of wolf spiders. It is known, to have a painful bite, meaning that, in this case, caution is a good idea. The spider has a hairy body with splodges across the back, making it look like it’s wearing camouflage.

The eight eyes are on the front of its face, four larger above four smaller ones and it has what appears to be two additional legs at the front. They generally eat insects and will live by themselves near where they find insects.

As the weather cools they will come inside houses and live in gaps around doors and windows. 

In general, they don’t like people and will hide when they hear you approaching.

It’s worth noting that the Wolf Spider doesn’t create a net to capture prey. Instead,  they will chase them and leap onto the back of an ant, another spider, a grasshopper, or even small frogs. 

Unfortunately, the fact they hide from humans and live by themselves makes it much harder to find all the Wolf spiders in your home and eliminate them. 

It’s worth noting that a Wolf spider bite is generally not considered dangerous. It does produce two bite marks and it will be itchy and sore. In some cases, it will be a little inflamed. The pain will reduce quickly and the bit usually heals by itself. However, if you suffer from allergies you may have a reaction to the bite. In this case, it’s best to visit the emergency ward, just in case. 

Fortunately, you can take action to prevent wolf spiders from visiting your home. 

Pesticides

Pesticides are effective at killing Wolf spiders. However, the spider needs to come into direct contact with the pesticide in order for it to be effective. This is not as easy as it sounds. Alongside this, pesticides are dangerous to children and pets. If you’re going to use them you need to make sure children and pets can’t inadvertently come into contact with them. 

Peppermint Oil

Wolf spiders aren’t keen on peppermint. Therefore, you can make a spray using one teaspoon of peppermint oil, ¼ teaspoon of dish soap, and a spray bottle filled with water. 

Mix all the ingredients together and then spray the mixture around any known nests and at entry points to your home. You’ll need to respray regularly for the oil to be effective. The spider will take a few days to move home. You just need to be happy that it’s gone for good and not simply moved location in your home.

Tidy Your Yard 

Another useful tip to prevent Wolf spiders from invading your home is to clear all the vegetation around the edge of your home. Make sure you rake up leaves and even clear the gutters. The aim is to eliminate possible habitats for spiders and other pests. This will make the area unattractive to Wolf spiders and they will go elsewhere. 

The same is true if you watch any spider building a web. By continually destroying the web they will eventually get the hint and move on to someone else.  

Fill Gaps

Wolf spiders can fit through moist gaps. That means it’s time to visually inspect all the walls of your home and verify if there are any cracks or gaps. Pay close attention to the areas around doors and windows, this is where most gaps start.

If you find any, no matter how small, fill them to prevent the Wolf spider and other pests from entering your home. This approach can be time-consuming and you’ll need to re-check regularly. But, it is an effective way of keeping Wolf spiders and other pests out of your home. 

The Wolf Spider Trap

It’s generally not easy to capture a spider as they build webs, stay hidden, and just comes out to drag their prey away. However, because the Wolf spider actually chases its prey, it is possible to create a trap. 

The simplest approach is to use a glue board. This is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a board covered in glue. The spider runs onto it and becomes stuck. You can then remove the spider from the trap and relocate them far from your home or you can kill it and put the trap in the bin. 

Keep It Clean

All spiders need a dark spot to hide away. That’s why you often find them in basements and attics. But, they can also hide in plain site if there is a lot of clutter. Clutter in the house doesn’t tend to move or even be inspected often. That means the spider will be undisturbed and can watch for prey. 

Of course, if they are in your clutter and you reach for something they are more likely to feel trapped and bite. 

The easiest way to prevent this is to keep your house tidy and clutter-free. It’s easier than you think. 

Remember: Wolf spiders aren’t really dangerous although they can look frightening due to their size. But, if you take the above steps you will see very few in your home. If you’re struggling to eliminate them from your property, call the experts, they have all the tools and equipment needed to help get rid of Wolf spiders.