As temperatures drop, spiders start looking for a warm, dry place to spend the fall and winter — and Montreal homes, with their basements, window wells, and older foundations, are an easy target. Most of what you’ll see is harmless. But a sudden spike in spider activity is sometimes a sign of something else going on.
Why more spiders show up this time of year
Spiders don’t come inside looking for food from you — they come inside looking for insects to eat and a break from the cold. Common house spiders, cellar spiders, and the occasional wolf spider are the usual suspects in Quebec homes, and none of them are dangerous to people.
When it’s just normal fall behavior
- The occasional spider in a basement corner, window sill, or garage
- Webs in low-traffic areas like storage rooms or crawl spaces
- No egg sacs, and no more than one or two spiders spotted in a week
When it’s worth a closer look
- A noticeable increase in spiders concentrated in one room or area — often a sign they’re feeding on another insect problem (flies, silverfish, or ants) that hasn’t been addressed
- Webs and egg sacs reappearing in the same spot even after cleaning, which points to an established breeding population
- Spiders showing up in previously spider-free areas, like bedrooms or closets
What effective spider control looks like
Because spiders usually follow a food source, Optima Extermination‘s approach treats the insects they’re feeding on, not just the spiders themselves — closing off the reason they moved in in the first place. Every inspection is free when treatment is required, and every job includes unlimited follow-up service calls at no extra charge if activity continues.
If spider activity in your home has picked up and isn’t settling down, it’s worth having someone take a real look rather than just sweeping webs. Optima Extermination offers same-day inspections across Greater Montreal. Book a free inspection or call (514) 458-0805.