Are Wolf Spiders Beneficial Inside Your Home?

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When it comes to wolf spiders in New Jersey, we will grudgingly admit they’re not necessarily the villains one might expect them to be. Would we go so far as to say these arachnids are beneficial to have around? Keep reading to find out.

A little bit about wolf spiders

Wolf spiders are larger spiders capable of exceeding one-inch in length. They are fast moving, robust bodied, hairy spiders. Typically, they are dark brown or black in color with markings of yellow, gray, or cream. This particular spider has eight spiny legs and eight eyes which are arranged in three rows – four small eyes on the bottom, two large eyes in the middle and two small to medium eyes on top.

Wolf spiders bite, right?

While it’s true wolf spiders are capable of biting, they only do so if threatened. Compared to black widows and brown recluse spiders, a bite from a wolf spider is rather mild. Sure, a wolf spider bite can hurt and the area can become inflamed and itch but these arachnids don’t have the potent venom that the other two possess.

Pros for wolf spiders

First, they eat bugs. We’re talking about common house-infesting insects including crickets and roaches.

Second, they don’t build webs. Since wolf spiders are hunters that stalk their prey (now their name makes sense, right?) you don’t have to worry about walking face first into a spider web of their making.

Third, they are not a threat to property. With wolf spiders, a threat of that nature is non-existent. These spiders do not eat wood like termites, they do not tunnel through wood like carpenter ants, and they will not chew through electrical wires or anything else that comes in their path like mice and rats. Basically, they’ll reside in your home living off the insect population and taking shelter from elements not of their liking.

Why you don’t want wolf spiders hanging around your home

So, if they aren’t dangerous, don’t cause damage, and actually eat other bugs why wouldn’t you want them lurking around your house? Great question, but what you really should be asking is why are they in your home and how did they get in.

Spiders really only stick around under favorable conditions. They need safe, secure shelter and a food source. If they are in your home that means they’re needs are being met. That is, you have other bugs in your home! Yes readers, if you have wolf spiders or other types of spiders for that matter infesting your home, there’s a great chance you have other insects residing inside your home. And unfortunately, not all insects in New Jersey are harmless.

Insect infestations can only happen if there’s a way inside which means if you have spiders in your home, it is vulnerable to infestation all year-round.

How do wolf spiders and other pests get inside?

Arachnids and insects (there’s a difference) will use any potential entry point they can fit through to make their way indoors. Gaps, cracks, and holes on the exterior of a house are potential entry points as are open windows or windows with missing or torn screens, vents that are not protected, doors without door sweeps, and even weak points on the roof level.

What to do if you find spiders and other bugs in your New Jersey home

To get rid of spiders and the pests they eat, we recommend hiring a pest control company. At Arrow Pest Control, we offer home pest control services in Marlboro, Edison, and Elizabeth as well as throughout our multi-county service area that target existing pest infestations and prevent new activity from occurring. If you’ve found spiders and other insects in your home and would like an exterminator to solve the problem for you, please compare our plans below or reach out via phone to find out how our locally owned and family-operated pest control company can help today!