Arachnophobia, or fear of spiders, is one of the most common fears. Unfortunately, the vast majority of us will still have to encounter spiders at one point or another. There are some steps you can take to keep spiders away, though.
For example, what color do spiders hate? Read on to learn what color repels spiders and what colors to avoid if they’re your number one enemy.
What Color Keeps Spiders Away?
Research from the University of Cincinnati reveals that some spiders pay attention to color. In the past, most assumed that spiders either didn’t see or didn’t care about color.
While spiders keep away from light, preferring dark places, most insects they feed on are attracted to light. With dark colors, you’ll discourage the bugs that spiders eat. It also helps to keep your outdoor lights off. In doing so, you discourage spiders from approaching your home.
A study by professor George Uetz and his team of biologists showed that wolf spiders react differently to various colors. According to the research, wolf spiders see only ultraviolet and green due to their dichromatic vision. What this means is that they are color blind, “but sensitive to light in the green wavelength,” according to Uetz.
While the color green attracts spiders, it keeps bugs away. Other bugs tend to gravitate toward bright colors, like yellow, white, or orange. So while green attracts spiders, it repels their food sources.
The color that spiders tend to hate is light blue. People don’t just paint their porches light blue for the aesthetic. Painting your porch ceiling in this shade is a pretty effective way of keeping spiders away. The color is also known to repel wasps. Hence, they cannot build their nests, nor can spiders weave their webs.
What Color Attracts Spiders?
According to Professor Uetz’s study, wolf spiders are sensitive to some colors despite being nearly colorblind. They can see green and ultraviolet light. Green is their favorite color because they’re most sensitive to light in the green wavelength.
As a result, wearing green or having lots of green items around your home will attract more spiders.
Are Spiders More Active at Night?
Most spiders you see around your home are more active at night. Some are active during the day but prefer to hide in corners.
Don’t expect spiders to follow your activity and sleep cycle, though. You’ll often see spiders weaving webs in the mornings. Still, since most of their natural predators (like birds) are active during the day, they tend to stay out of sight.
What Attracts Spiders in Your House?
Moisture is one factor that attracts many house spiders to your home. Therefore, they’ll occupy the damp places inside your house, such as basements.
Other spiders like dry conditions and will shelter in attics and air vents. Spiders will always occupy the most hidden and quiet corners, where they’ll try to find food and water. It’s a good idea to minimize the clutter around your home to eliminate nesting spots for black widows and other dangerous pests.
What Smells Do Spiders Hate the Most?
It’s easy to keep spiders away using natural products. These eight-legged creatures hate the smell of citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges. They also don’t like peppermint oils, tea tree oils, eucalyptus, and vinegar.
Using any of these around your home will keep spiders away.
Do Dryer Sheets Keep Spiders Away?
One popular belief when it comes to at-home pest control is that dryer sheets repel spiders. The reality is that this is only half true.
What happens when you wipe your baseboards with dryer sheets is that you pick up crumbs and dust. In doing so, you remove a valuable food source for bugs and spiders. The scent of certain dryer sheets may also help repel spiders.
Are Spiders Attracted to Light or Dark?
Spiders are not naturally attracted to light. What gets their attention is the many bugs that tend to surround lighted places. Remember, spiders will seek out any valuable food source. Therefore, they will be in the light as long as there are also insects there.
If you’re dealing with spiders in your home, call Romney Pest Control! Our experienced professionals will take care of any pest concerns you have right away.
