Where Do Spiders Hide in Winter?

In winter, spiders shelter in dry, still places such as under bark, rocks and pots, in sheds, garages, wall gaps and the corners of rooms, and some move indoors for warmth. They stay active in sheltered spots, and their numbers rise again in spring. Marks Pest Control can find where they are getting in and treat the eaves, garages, sheds and gardens. Call 0482074889 or send a photo for a clear price.

Last updated 30 October 2026.

Where do spiders hide in winter?

Spiders look for shelter that stays dry and out of the wind, and in winter that usually means places close to your home. Outdoors, they hide under bark, rocks, logs and pot plants, in woodpiles, compost bins, sheds, garden rubbish and the folds of old covers. Indoors, they settle in the corners of rooms, behind furniture, in cupboards, in wardrobes, under beds and in roof voids and subfloors. White-tailed spiders hide in dark places indoors during the day, and under bark or rocks outside. Redback spiders are rarely seen over winter, but they shelter in long-unused shoes, tin cans, under furniture and in garden rubbish, ready to build webs again when the weather warms. Huntsman spiders slip in under doors and through window frames and hunt at night.

Do spiders come inside in winter?

Some do, and cold, wet weather can push more of them toward buildings. A spider does not need food and warmth in the way a person does, but a warm house gives it shelter, and the insects that come in for warmth give it something to eat. Gaps under doors, around windows, in weatherboards and eaves, and around pipes and vents are the usual routes. Huntsman and white-tailed spiders are the ones most often found indoors, and black house spiders build their webs in window-frame corners, between bricks and on fences, often near outside lights. A spider seen indoors in winter is usually a single spider that wandered in, not a sign of a large infestation, although many webs in a short time points to a nest or a large population outdoors.

Which spiders are common in Victorian homes?

Spider	Where it hides	Dangerous to people?
Huntsman	Under doors, behind frames, on walls at night	Usually timid. Bites are rare
Black house spider	Window-frame corners, between bricks, fences, near outside lights	Very timid. Bites are rare
Brown house spider	Cupboards, sheds, compost bins, under plant pots	Often mistaken for a redback
Daddy long-legs spider	Room corners, under porches, in sheds	Venom is not considered dangerous to people
Redback	Unused shoes, tin cans, under furniture, garden rubbish	Only the female bite is dangerous and may need antivenom
White-tailed spider	Dark indoor places by day, under bark or rocks outside	Bites may cause burning pain, swelling and itching

Sources: Museums Victoria, Your eight-legged housemates, and the Better Health Channel, Spiders.

What should I do if I am bitten by a spider?

Most spider bites in Victoria cause pain, redness and itching, but a redback or white-tailed bite should be checked by a doctor. For a redback or most other spiders, wash the bite with soap and water and apply a cold pack for 15 minutes, longer if pain continues. Do not cut the bite, do not use a tourniquet and do not give the person anything to eat or drink. Try to take a photo of the spider, or catch it for identification if you can do it without being bitten. Call 000 if the person has spreading pain, sweating, headache, muscle weakness, trouble breathing, a fast pulse or confusion, or if you are unsure how serious it is. Funnel-web and mouse spider bites need a pressure bandage and the limb kept still, and the Sydney funnel-web, the species linked to deaths, is not found in Victoria.

How do I keep spiders out in winter?

Keeping spiders out means closing the gaps they use and removing the places they hide near the house. Fit flyscreens and draught strips on doors and windows, and seal gaps around pipes, vents and eaves. Clear leaf litter, wood, bark and garden rubbish away from the walls, and keep garden beds a short distance from the house. Store shoes, boots, gloves and gardening gear in sealed boxes, and shake out shoes and clothes before you put them on. Do not leave piles of clothes on the floor. Wear gloves, long trousers and shoes when you work in the garden or shed, and use a stick, not your hands, to inspect webs and hiding spots. Change outside lights to ones that draw fewer insects, because fewer insects means fewer spiders hunting near the house. Call us if you keep finding spiders after doing these steps.

Should I kill spiders in the house?

Not always. Spiders eat insects and other spiders, so they help control pests such as clothes moths and cockroaches. Most house spiders are timid and leave people alone if they are left alone. A single spider indoors can be moved outside. A redback or white-tailed spider in a place where people or animals live is worth removing, and a large number of spiders, many egg sacs or a spider you cannot identify is a good reason to call us. Spraying a web or a spider yourself kills only what it touches, and the insects that spiders feed on remain.

How does Marks Pest Control treat spiders?

• You call or send a photo of the spider and where you see it.
• The technician identifies the spider.
• An inspection checks eaves, window frames, garages, sheds, decks, fences and the garden.
• You get a clear price before any treatment begins.
• The treatment is aimed at where the spiders hide and the webs, not just the spiders you can see.
• You are shown how they got in and how to close the gaps.
• If spiders are still active after a week or two, we check again.

FAQs

Do spiders hibernate in winter?

Not in the way many people think. Most are less active in the cold and shelter in dry, still places. Redbacks are rarely seen over winter.

Why am I seeing more spiders inside when it is cold?

Cold and wet weather can push spiders toward buildings, and gaps around doors, windows and eaves let them in.

Where do redbacks hide in winter?

In long-unused shoes, tin cans, under furniture and in garden rubbish.

Are huntsman spiders dangerous?

They are usually timid and run from danger, except when guarding an egg sac. Bites are rare.

How do I tell a redback from a brown house spider?

They have a similar body shape and egg sac, so they are often confused. If you are unsure, send us a photo.

How much does spider control cost?

It depends on the size of the property and how many areas need treating. See our Pest Control Cost Melbourne guide. We give a clear price after an inspection or a look at your photos.

Related: Pest Control Melbourne | Spider Control Melbourne | Pest Control Cost Melbourne