5 Ways to Get Rid of Wolf Spiders

Most spiders are famous for making webs and staying away from humans, but the wolf spider doesn’t hunt with webs. These species have a menacing appearance. They are fast-moving hunters and have excellent vision.
Below are some ways to identify wolf spiders and how to get rid of wolf spiders.

Identifying Wolf Spiders

Wolf spiders are hairy and prominent compared to other spider species. Their bodies range from a quarter-inch to two inches long. They have eight eyes that are arranged in three rows. Also, they have eight long hairy legs and two sharp, horizontal fangs. Their body is grayish-brown with light stripes.

There are over 120 species of wolf spiders in the United States. Most wolf spiders are in warm climates like the Carolinas and California. They are easy to spot after you’ve known their body structure and color.

Difference Between Other Spiders

Wolf spiders may be confused with tarantulas and brown recluse spiders. However, brown recluse spiders love to hide in unvisited places and will rarely come to the open, unlike the wolf spider. Also, recluses have six eyes arranged in pairs. Wolf spiders have two eyes.

Where Do Wolf Spiders Live?

These spider species can adapt to different habitats and can be found anywhere insects are present. You can find them in wooded areas, open grasslands, suburban backyards, and anywhere that has vegetation along marshes, lakes, and streams.

Wolf spiders can burrow in the ground during the cold seasons. They can also get inside homes, where they’ll attach to doors, windows, basements, and garages. You can also find them running along the wall, underneath of furniture, and in boxes.

What do Wolf Spiders Eat?

Wolf spiders mainly eat tiny insects, ants, flies, crickets, grasshoppers, and earwigs.

Five Ways to Get Rid of Wolf Spiders

Below are some ways to get rid of wolf spiders.

Use Natural Wolf Spider Control Methods

Get card paper and smear super sticky glue on them. Place these cards along floorboards, and ensure that they are out of reach for your kids and pets. You can also place them outside the house, on your garage, basement, and attic.

Another way on how to get rid of wolf spiders in the house is to get a cat. Cats are excellent hunters, thanks to their curiosity. They can help you get rid of these pests.

Use Pesticides

There are different pesticides in the market. Choose one that has cypermethrin, deltamethrin, pyrethrin, and Lambda-cyhalothrin.

Go through the label instructions to make sure that you use the pesticide correctly. Also, the guidelines will give you an idea of how to spot target different parts of your home. Pesticides that leave a residue are effective as wolf spiders are likely to step on it as they hunt.

Clean the House

Get rid of anything you don’t need in your house. Remove any junk, boxes, newspaper, magazines, and laundry. Clean any little bits of food around to avoid luring insects, which may attract wolf spiders.

Use Boric Acid

Sprinkle boric acid along the edges of your walls to create a barrier against these pests. Eating this chemical will kill the spiders.

Consider Extermination Services

Sometimes using pesticides in the form of sprays, powders, and fogs can be useful and help with prevention. Nonetheless, if you’re dealing with an infestation, the wolf spider killer problem may be challenging to handle by yourself, and you may need the help of a professional exterminator.

You could be having a spider infestation if there’s an insect infestation in your home. An experienced professional will assess the situation, identify the species you’re dealing with, and recommend the best treatment plan. Moreover, you’ll be advised on what steps to take to prevent future re-infestations.

Preventing Future Wolf Spider Infestation

While it’s challenging to keep a wolf spider from getting into your garden, you can take some steps to prevent these spiders from getting inside your house.

Get Rid of Potential Food Sources

Wolf spiders crawl into your home if they find a potential food source. You’ll find them near windows, doors, and other humid areas that host other insects and pests. Ensure that you remove anything that could attract these spiders into your house.

Seal Any Access Points

The most effective way to prevent future re-infestation is to ensure they can’t get inside your house. Check for holes on weather stripping, and inspect your home for any holes, cracks, and crevices. Pay attention to plumbing and electrical wires. Make sure that you cover an external crack on your house; this gives these pests no room to squeeze in. Use the screen on your windows and doors.

Clean and Vacuum Regularly

Clean every inch of your house to make the environment less inviting. Ensure no crumbs are lying around, as they will attract other insects. Do not leave any unwashed dishes in the kitchen sink. Vacuum all rooms, and pay close attention to dark corners.

Do Away with Cardboard Boxes

Invest in airtight containers instead of cardboard boxes. Wolf spiders love dark places, and these boxes are ideal hideouts for them.

Clean Your Yard

Wolf spiders are outdoor spiders, and you’ll find them on overgrown trees, bushes, and firewood piles. Cut any big trees and trim bushes around your yard. Also, ensure that you regulate the plants you have around. Expose your yard to as much sunlight as these pests love dark places.

Do not forget to get rid of any junk, dead plants, unused ports, and fallen leaves. Clear away mulch and compost that may be lying around. If you have firewood, make sure that it’s neatly stacked inside a shed.

Use Yellow Color Light Bulbs Outdoors

If you need to use outdoor lights, get some yellow light bulbs to deter the wolf spider. Sodium vapor or yellow lights do not attract insects, which may help keep the spiders away.

Although wolf spiders are beneficial, they can instill fear in humans due to their bite. The above are some ways on how to kill wolf spider. If you suspect that you have a wolf spider problem, it’s best to call a professional pest control service. They have the equipment and expertise to handle this problem.