As the days become shorter and the temperatures plummet, we begin to look for ways to stay warm during winter. We might buy a new coat, layer on the old sweatshirts or crank up the furnace, but we’re not the only ones preparing for the coldest season of them all. Any residential pest control expert in Niagara will tell you that spiders too will be preparing to survive winter.
We’re going to look at whether or not spiders hibernate through winter. We’ll look at what they do to stay warm enough to survive winter, and the steps you’ll need to take if you find spiders wrapped up in your home.
Do Spiders Hibernate?
This seems like a good place to start, right? Many animals and insects will survive the colder months simply by snoozing through them. Sounds pretty ideal, doesn’t it? But there are more than 40,000 different spider species. They’re found in just about every corner of the world, both in extremely cold and extremely warm temperatures. Some spider species will hibernate the whole way through winter. They’ll find a safe, sheltered area and remain inactive while the temperatures are too low. This is also true in the Niagara area. But while some types of spider hibernate, others don’t. Some will enter a light form of hibernation known as diapause. Other species will remain active throughout winter and will continue to hunt, feed and forage. If the winter is incredibly mild, don’t be surprised to find many types of spiders skipping hibernation altogether.How Do They Keep Warm?
So now you know that some spider species will remain active even in the coldest winter conditions. How do they do it? For a start, spiders are cold-blooded insects. This means that they won’t really be affected by the cold. Cold-blooded animals adapt to the temperature in their surroundings. They’ll be able to change their body temperature without causing any harm. Some species, while technically not hibernating, will slow down their activities and enter diapause. They’re still somewhat active during winter, but they’re exposed to the elements much less than they would be in other conditions. Spiders will also produce their own form of antifreeze when the temperatures start to drop. They’ll sense the change in weather and produce glycol, or protein compounds in their blood. Those compounds will build up in a spider’s cells and lower their body’s freezing point. Spiders will also carefully select their nest to prepare for winter. It will be protected, damp and dark area which provides them with warmth in some way. Some spiders will even burrow into the ground to build a warm home. Others may even form igloo-like structures in the snow. The spiders already inside your home, on the other hand, will only ever live in your home. House spiders are not designed to survive the extreme conditions outside, and they’ll spend their whole life hiding somewhere in your house. If they get a little too comfy, you could find yourself with a spider infestation.What Should You Do if You Find Spiders in Your Home?
And if you happen to find any spiders nesting in your home over winter, then call the residential pest control experts of Niagara – Truly Nolen. There’s nothing we haven’t seen before and we’ll know exactly where to look for spiders (and their eggs) inside your home during winter. We’ve been removing spiders from Niagara homes since 1938. Our team has developed an advanced Four Season’s approach to combat infestations as fast as possible – no matter the season. Speak to our team today and see how we can help.Related Posts
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