Everything Southern Utah Homeowners Need to Know about Spiders
If you’ve ever reached for a shoe, a rolled-up magazine, or hollered for your spouse to come take care of an eight-legged visitor, you’re not alone. Here in Southern Utah, we know a thing or two about spiders. Some are harmless, some are helpful, and a few? Well, you don’t want to find them under your pillow.
Whether you live in Cedar City, Kanab, St. George, or any of our beautiful rural communities, one thing’s for sure: spiders don’t pay rent, and you don’t have to live with them.
Let’s walk through the most common spiders in our region, how to keep them out, and when it’s time to call in a pro.
The Spiders of Southern Utah: Who’s Crawling Around?
Black Widow
- Threat Level: Highly venomous. A bite from a female black widow can cause intense muscle pain, cramping, nausea, and even difficulty breathing. While fatalities are incredibly rare thanks to modern medicine, their bites are nothing to mess with, especially for kids and older adults.
- Where You’ll Find Them: Black widows favor dark, undisturbed spaces where they can spin their messy, irregular webs. You’ll often find them in garages, under eaves, inside sheds, around firewood piles, and even tucked under patio furniture.
- What They Like: Stillness and shelter. They gravitate toward cluttered corners and hidden gaps that go untouched for weeks at a time. They’re not aggressive by nature, but they will bite if surprised.
- How to Keep Them Out: Keep storage areas clean and organized. Shake out gloves, shoes, and anything that’s been outside for a while. Seal any crevices around your foundation and doors, and don’t let junk pile up around the house or yard.
Pro Tip: The female is the one to watch for—jet black with a shiny finish and a red hourglass mark on her belly. If you see that, it’s time to call us—not your cousin with a broom.
Desert Recluse (often confused with Brown Recluse)
- Threat Level: Mildly venomous. Bites are rare but can result in localized skin irritation, blistering, and in very rare cases, necrosis. Despite its scary reputation, most bites are mild or go unnoticed entirely.
- Where You’ll Find Them: They love the dry and undisturbed, so think woodpiles, cardboard boxes in the garage, and storage closets. Occasionally, they sneak into bedding or laundry left on the floor.
- What They Like: Quiet, dry environments with a stable temperature. They don’t seek out humans, but will defend themselves if pressed against the skin.
- How to Keep Them Out: Always use gloves when handling firewood or old boxes. Seal cracks around the foundation, and keep beds and furniture a few inches away from the wall so they can’t climb directly in.
Fun Fact: While often mistaken for the brown recluse, true brown recluses are rarely found this far west. But the desert recluse is a close cousin and deserves a bit of respect.
Wolf Spider
- Threat Level: Intimidating but harmless. Their bites might cause mild swelling or itching, but nothing serious. What really gets folks is their size and the way they move—fast and with purpose.
- Where You’ll Find Them: These solitary hunters love crawlspaces, garages, basements, and the occasional laundry room. Outdoors, they hide under stones, logs, and piles of leaves.
- What They Like: Unlike web-builders, wolf spiders roam. They don’t wait for dinner to come to them—they chase it down. You might spot one darting across the floor late at night.
- How to Keep Them Out: Tidy up outdoor brush, keep foundational vents screened, and make sure door sweeps are tight. If you spot one indoors, there may be more where it came from.
Neighborly Tip: If you’ve ever thought a tarantula snuck into your garage, odds are it was a wolf spider. Big fellas, but more bark than bite.
Hobo Spider
- Threat Level: Mild. They were once blamed for nasty bites, but science has since cleared their name. They’re more of a nuisance than a danger.
- Where You’ll Find Them: Basements, window wells, and ground-level rooms are their stomping grounds. They build funnel-shaped webs and wait for dinner to stumble in.
- What They Like: Cool, quiet areas—especially in older homes with easy crawlspace access or unfinished basements.
- How to Keep Them Out: Reduce moisture in lower levels, de-web regularly, and use dehumidifiers if needed. Light and activity go a long way in discouraging them.
Myth Busted: Despite old rumors, hobo spiders are not proven to cause serious skin necrosis. Still, nobody wants a surprise spider in the sock drawer.
Jumping Spider
- Threat Level: Zero danger, lots of charm. These fuzzy little spiders are curious, have great eyesight, and often seem to ‘look’ at you before hopping away.
- Where You’ll Find Them: They enjoy well-lit areas like windowsills, houseplants, and gardens. You might catch one perched on the wall as if it’s people-watching.
- What They Like: Sunlight and snacks. They don’t spin webs to trap prey; instead, they stalk and pounce on their targets like tiny lions.
- How to Keep Them Out: No need to panic, but if you’d rather not share your home, keep windowsills and corners clean. They’re more likely to come indoors chasing bugs than to set up camp.
Kid-Friendly Tip: Jumping spiders are a great first “bug lesson” for grandkids—non-threatening and almost cute, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Orb Weaver (including the Cat-Faced Spider)
- Threat Level: Totally harmless to humans. These big-bellied, web-spinning artists are more interested in catching flies than bothering you.
- Where You’ll Find Them: Outdoor spaces are their gallery—porch lights, under eaves, along fences, and garden paths. Cat-faced orb weavers are often mistaken for something scarier thanks to their chunky bodies.
- What They Like: Insects and architecture. They spin those classic spiral webs in high-traffic bug zones and rebuild every night.
- How to Keep Them Out: While they don’t want to come indoors, you can discourage them by sweeping away webs and switching exterior lights to yellow “bug bulbs.”
Nature Bonus: Orb weavers are fantastic natural pest control. If you can tolerate a web or two, they’ll help keep your porch mosquito-free.
How Spiders Sneak In
Southern Utah’s climate is perfect for spiders: dry summers, cool winters, and plenty of bugs to snack on. Most spiders get inside through:
- Cracks and crevices in the foundation
- Gaps in doors and windows
- Vents and weep holes
- Firewood or boxes brought in from outside
And once they’re in? They make themselves right at home.
5 Ways to Keep Spiders Out (Without Burning the House Down)
- Seal It Up Tight
- Caulk around windows, pipes, and baseboards
- Use weatherstripping on doors
- Clean Regularly
- Dust and vacuum corners, closets, and behind furniture
- Declutter dark spaces where spiders hide
- Turn Off Porch Lights at Night
- Lights attract bugs, which attract spiders
- Keep Landscaping Trimmed
- Don’t let bushes touch the house
- Move firewood at least 20 feet from the home
- Schedule Preventative Pest Control
- Regular treatments keep spiders from ever moving in
FAQs About Spider Control in Southern Utah
Q: Are all spiders dangerous?
A: Nope. Most spiders are harmless and even helpful. But we understand you probably don’t want them living rent-free.
Q: Do I need professional spider extermination?
A: If you’re seeing spiders regularly, or spot a black widow, it’s a smart call. DIY only goes so far.
Q: How often should I treat my home?
A: We recommend quarterly pest control, but every home is different. We’ll tailor it to your space.
Q: Do you treat for spiders AND other pests?
A: Absolutely. Plus, we offer weed control too — the full yard package.
Q: Is it safe for my kids and pets?
A: Yes. We use safe, targeted treatments and always explain what we’re using.
Why Southern Utah Trusts Newby’s
We’re not some out-of-town franchise. We know Southern Utah because we’re from Southern Utah. Cash Newby started this company after years of working with Big Tom’s Pest Control. It’s the same game, just a different name — and the service is just as good, if not better.
We show up on time. We talk to you like neighbors. And we don’t try to sell you what you don’t need.
Want to learn more and get even more info about spider species in Southern Utah—and how we treat ’em? Check out our spider guide here.
Ready to Show Spiders the Door?
Whether you’ve got a full-blown spider problem or just want to make sure they stay out, give us a shout. Call us today at (435) 586-7337 or send us a message here.
We’ll swing by, take a look, and get you taken care of — fast, friendly, and local.
Newby’s Pest Control: Protecting Southern Utah one home at a time.
