Every October, it’s hard not to notice all the fake cobwebs stretched across porches and plastic spiders hanging from eaves. It’s part of the Halloween fun. But if you’ve ever turned on your bathroom light and spotted real legs scuttling across the wall — you know the kind of chill that runs up your spine.

And honestly? You’d be surprised how many homeowners around the Bay Area deal with real-life spider invasions once the weather cools down.

That’s where good pest control in the Bay Area comes in — not just to chase spiders away, but to keep your home feeling like your space again.

Why Spiders Move In When It Gets Cold

Look, spiders aren’t trying to ruin Halloween. They’re just looking for the same thing we are this time of year — warmth and shelter. When temperatures drop in the fall, spiders start slipping indoors through tiny cracks, under door sweeps, or through vents.

Here in the East Bay and North Bay, the most common home-invading species include:

• House Spiders: Small, brown, and harmless, but known for leaving sticky webs in the corners of your ceilings and garage.

• Cellar Spiders (aka “Daddy Long Legs”): They love damp basements and crawl spaces — and they can multiply fast.

• Black Widows: Recognizable by that red hourglass marking on their bellies. You’ll often find them in outdoor storage sheds, under patio furniture, or tucked into wood piles.

• Yellow Sac Spiders: These little guys can bite, and they tend to show up in bedrooms or behind picture frames.

Not all spiders are dangerous — but let’s be real. No one wants to share their living room with eight-legged guests.

The Scary Truth About Black Widows in the Bay Area

Now, black widows get a bad rap — and for good reason. Their venom can cause painful symptoms, especially in kids or pets. While fatal bites are incredibly rare, they’re nothing to shrug off.

We see black widows most often in Richmond, Union City, Petaluma, and Santa Rosa, where warmer microclimates and backyard clutter create perfect hiding spots.

Here’s a quick way to tell if you might be dealing with a black widow:

• Webs are irregular, messy, and low to the ground.

• The spider itself is shiny black with a red or orange hourglass marking.

• You’ll find them in tucked-away, dark corners — sheds, garages, firewood stacks.

If you see one, it’s smart to step back and let a pest control professional handle it. We’ve got the gear and experience to deal with them safely and without using more chemicals than needed.

Why You’re Seeing More Spiders in the Fall

Every year around October, we get the same calls: “There are spiders everywhere!”

And it’s not your imagination. Late summer and early fall are peak mating seasons for many local spiders. That’s why you start seeing them more often — they’re searching for mates and new nesting sites.

Plus, with cooler nights setting in, they start moving indoors where it’s warm. Add in a little clutter, a few cardboard boxes, and some unnoticed entry points — and boom, you’ve got an uninvited Halloween party guest.

Spider-Proofing Your Bay Area Home

So, what can you do to keep your home spider-free this fall? Here’s what we recommend before calling in a professional:

1. Seal Up Gaps: Check around windows, doors, and the foundation. Even tiny cracks can be open invitations.

2. Reduce Clutter: Spiders love hiding in cardboard boxes, piles of clothes, or forgotten corners of the garage.

3. Vacuum Regularly: Webs, egg sacs, and insects (their food source) should all go.

4. Keep Outdoor Lights Dim: Lights attract other insects, which attract — you guessed it — spiders.

5. Store Firewood Away From the House: It’s one of their favorite nesting spots.

And if you’re already seeing webs pop up faster than you can vacuum them away, that’s when it’s time to call ATCO Pest Control.

Our approach is simple and effective — we use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to target the root cause. That means fewer harsh chemicals and longer-lasting results.

The ATCO Difference: Local Know-How, Lasting Results

We’ve been helping Bay Area homeowners deal with spiders (and every other creepy crawler you can imagine) for years. From Marin to Fremont, our team knows how local weather and seasonal changes affect pest behavior — and how to stop it before it starts.

Whether you’re in an older home near the Richmond waterfront or a new build in Union City, the basics are the same:

• Find how pests are getting in.

• Remove what’s attracting them.

• Treat safely and precisely.

• Keep an eye on things year-round.

That’s what Bay Area pest control done right looks like.

👉 Learn more about our IPM approach here.

Real Talk: Spiders Aren’t All Bad… But They Don’t Belong Inside

Here’s a fun twist — spiders actually help control other pests like flies and mosquitoes. So if you see one in the garden, give it a break. But inside your home? Nope. That’s your space.

We once helped a family in Santa Rosa who kept finding webs on their kids’ bunk beds. Turned out, a whole nest had formed behind a vent grate. One thorough inspection and treatment later, we sealed the access point and they haven’t seen a spider since.

That’s the kind of peace of mind that’s hard to put a price on.

🕸️ Quick FAQ: Spider Edition

Q: Are there poisonous spiders in Northern California?
A: The black widow is the main one to watch out for. Brown recluse spiders are not native to California — though people often mistake other species for them.

Q: What should I do if I find a black widow?
A: Don’t try to squash it. They move fast and can bite if cornered. Snap a photo (from a safe distance) and give us a call — we’ll identify and remove it safely.

Q: Can pest control really keep spiders away long-term?
A: Absolutely. A combination of sealing, cleaning, and regular preventive treatments can keep your home spider-free year-round. Especially when it’s done by pros who understand local pest habits.

Ready to Ditch the Real-Life Creepy Crawlies?

Fake spiders are fun in October. The real thing? Not so much.

If you’ve spotted webs in corners, bites on your ankles, or spiders hiding out where they don’t belong, we can help. ATCO’s pest control experts in the Bay Area, East Bay, North Bay, and beyond are ready to make your home feel comfortable again — without the scare factor.

👉 Schedule your spider control service today.

Because Halloween should be the only time you get spooked!