Spider Control

Spiders In Central Texas

Central Texas has plenty of spiders, and nearly all of them are harmless. Knowing the difference between the common ones and the two that matter is what keeps a spider problem in perspective.

The vast majority of spiders around a home are the harmless kind, so control focuses on reducing all of them while paying special attention to where the recluse and widow hide.

Stride treats the spiders that matter in Central Texas. For the two of real concern, see our dedicated pages: black widow spiders and brown recluse spiders.

Signs You Have Spiders

A few signs point to spiders settling in around a home:

• Webs in corners, eaves, garages, and around outdoor lights.
• Round, papery egg sacs tucked into webs and sheltered corners.
• Spiders indoors, especially in undisturbed storage, closets, and basements.
• Heavy insect activity, which gives spiders the steady food source that draws them.
• Webbing around exterior lights, where spiders set up to catch the insects the lights attract.

Are Spiders Dangerous?

Most spiders are harmless and even beneficial, quietly eating the insects around a home. Only two in Central Texas are a real concern, and both would rather hide than confront a person.

The brown recluse hides in undisturbed places like shoes, boxes, and stored clothing, and its bite can cause a slow-healing, sometimes ulcerating wound. The NIH MedlinePlus guide to the brown recluse describes the bite and when to seek care.

The black widow, shiny black with a red hourglass, delivers a venomous bite that causes muscle pain and cramping. It is rarely life-threatening for a healthy adult but is riskier for young children and older adults. Most bites from either spider happen when it gets trapped against skin in clothing, bedding, or a shoe, which is why reducing hiding spots matters as much as treatment.

How We Get Rid of Spiders

Stride treats spiders through the five-step Stride Forward process, built around the insects they hunt and the places they hide:

1. Inspect. We check corners, eaves, garages, storage, and exterior lights for webs, egg sacs, and any sign of the two spiders of concern.
2. Identify. We separate the harmless spiders from brown recluse and black widow, since that changes where and how we treat.
3. Recommend. We point out the insect prey, clutter, and shelter to reduce, since spiders follow their food.
4. Treat. We knock down webs and egg sacs, apply a residual product along the foundation, eaves, and entry points, treat the storage and voids where recluse and widow hide, and cut the insect prey with a perimeter treatment.
5. Evaluate. We monitor on recurring visits, because spiders return wherever insects gather.

Our GreenPro certification guides this reduced-risk approach, and every product is odorless and colorless once dry.

How to Keep Spiders Away

Keeping spiders down comes back to removing their food and their hiding spots:

• Knock down webs as they appear, indoors and out.
• Reduce clutter in garages, closets, and storage where recluse and widow hide.
• Seal gaps around doors, windows, and the foundation.
• Swap white exterior bulbs for yellow or LED lights that draw fewer insects.
• Move woodpiles and debris away from the house.
• Shake out shoes, gloves, and stored clothing before use.

Spider Control Frequently Asked Questions

Stride Forward is our Integrated Pest Management program where we partner with our clients in the long-term removal and prevention of pests. Keeping your property free of unwanted insects and rodents works best when we work together.

The program combines habitat manipulation, biological control, cultural behavior changes, and the targeted use of products designed to repel or eradicate pests. Our approach follows five steps, with non-chemical methods prioritized before any product application.

Our Certifications & Awards

Stride Pest Control holds QualityPro and GreenPro certifications through the NPMA’s Foundation for Professional Pest Management, and fewer than 3% of pest control companies nationwide hold both. QualityPro requires background checks on every service member, a drug-free workplace, and 16 standards that exceed state and federal requirements.

Our Austin and Round Rock office operates under Texas Department of Agriculture license TPCL #667951, with Burton Johnston as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our San Antonio office operates under TPCL #827449, with Alex Randall as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our office manager, Michael Honeycutt, is an Associate Certified Entomologist through the Entomological Society of America.

Founded in 2013, we have served nearly 12,000 customers across Central Texas and hold a 4.9-star rating across 2,400+ reviews with an A+ from the BBB.