Hi there! Craig here (Qualified Pest Control Technician with Combined Pest Control). Let’s chat about spiders. You might not see them all the time, but they’re usually around, lurking in corners, behind furniture, or gently dangling from a web when you least expect it.

Why spiders become more of a problem

In Canterbury (and much of New Zealand), spiders tend to follow seasonal rhythms. During spring (roughly September to November), adult spiders emerge from their winter hideouts and begin to mate and build webs. Then later, from late summer into autumn (February to April), you’ll often see a surge of juvenile spiders and egg sacs. As temperatures cool, some species start drifting indoors in search of warmth and shelter.

Also, spiders don’t live in isolation — their food is other insects. So, if your home has an underlying insect problem (flies, small bugs, etc.), it tends to attract spiders too.

Common NZ spiders you’ll bump into

A few you might recognise:

• Web-building spiders (black house, grey house, cupboard spider / false katipō) — these make webs, often in corners or undisturbed spots.
• Running / hunting spiders (white-tailed spiders, huntsman) — these don’t build webs; they roam in search of prey.
• Katipō — this one is native (and protected), usually found in coastal dune habitats, not so much in houses.

While most spiders are harmless, some (white-tailed, redback) can deliver bites that are painful or require medical attention.

Tips to keep spiders under control

Here’s what I do (and what I often recommend to clients):

• Seal up cracks and gaps around windows, doors, pipes, roof lines — spiders exploit tiny openings.
• Reduce clutter inside: piles of boxes, clothing on the floor, unused storage areas are spider magnets.
• Vacuum regularly — webs, egg sacs, and corners get the lot.
• Turn off or limit external lighting near entrances (lights attract insects → spiders follow).
• Trim back vegetation, keep leaf litter away from foundation lines.
• If using sprays, exterior barrier treatments in spring and autumn tend to be most effective (disrupting breeding cycles).
• Don’t knock down webs immediately after spraying — give it a day so the insecticide can do its job.

If you’re seeing spiders inside often or suspect there’s more than meets the eye (egg sacs, repeated appearance), that’s when you call the pros.

All right — that’s enough spider talk to keep you sleeping with the lights off if you want! If spiders are becoming too frequent an annoyance, just give me a shout.

Cheers,
Craig — Combined Pest Control