I love spiders: eight-legged, non-toxic pest control for your home, inside and out.
Sure, the big orb webs get all the attention and are spectacular, but look at that little gal down in the corner of your closet and all those dead carpet moths. Admit it, you usually don’t realize you have a spider until pest carcasses start to accumulate on the ground beneath it.
Long-legs are the workhorses of indoor pest control and, in fact, their favorite food is other spiders. If you see a spider on its web, it’s even more reason to leave it alone. They set up camp where the bugs are, so they are perfectly positioned to get rid of those pests for you!
Mosquitoes spread West Nile Virus, Zika, and yellow fever, and all have been detected in Orange County. More spiders mean fewer mosquitoes!
I recently learned that you shouldn’t move indoor spiders outside. They will die. But even if you can’t stand spiders in your house, at least try to let outdoor spiders go about their business undisturbed, because their business is being predators that relentlessly deal with insect pests.
Go ahead, make your garden inviting to all sorts of spiders. It’s simple. Don’t be too tidy–-allow webs to remain on sheds and other structures, leave plant stalks standing in winter, and don’t clear away plant debris until spring to avoid disturbing egg sacs. We all win when there are fewer mosquitoes and other pests. Doing less is doing more for the planet.
Nancy Englund
2026-2027 President
