Think Twice About Killing That Spider That Came Into Your New England Home for the Winter

Fall is here in full force, and the nights are starting to get colder. That means that spiders and other insects may be coming into your home to stay warm. But if you spot a spider, you're actually better off leaving it alone.

Spiders in New England are harmless, but some people would think the devil himself sent a demon from hell. According to Maine's Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, there are no venomous spiders of medical concern that are native to Maine and the rest of New England.

This one that I found in my house may look scary, but it's harmless. It's a female jumping spider, by the way. You can tell by the white, beard-like hairs under its eyes. Yes, I Googled it.

Many people would want to kill this spider, but maybe you shouldn't.

While it might look ugly and scary as hell, most spiders in Maine have their benefits.

According to Family Handyman, spiders prey on disease-carrying insects and eat indoor pests like cockroaches, mosquitos, earwigs, and even clothing moths.

I know what you're saying. "I don't care I don't want them in my house!" Well, it's not easy to keep spiders out of your house, but there are some things you can do to try to minimize them if you must.

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension, says to get rid of the clutter in your basement and move wood piles away from the house. Reducing the humidity in your basement helps keep spiders away, too.

Make sure your window screens are tight-fitting and don't have holes for them to crawl through. Seal the cracks in your foundation so they can't get in. Use a yellow porch light or dim light so fewer moths and other insects attracted to light don't provide a spider smorgasbord at your house.

Clean up by dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming in corners, under furniture, and other places spiders might like to hide. If you haven't touched a place with a broom in months, that's home sweet home for a spider to spin a web. If you have any other insect problems, make sure to eradicate them as well, because that's also an invitation for spiders to show up for dinner.

If you'd rather leave it to the professionals, a pest control company can come by and take a look at your home and point out what can be done to keep your worst nightmares from coming true.