The question of what food attracts spiders into a home has a straightforward answer: your food is not attracting them. Spiders are predators that do not consume human food items like crumbs, sugar, or grains, which is a common misconception. Spiders are seeking living prey, and the presence of insects is what brings them indoors.
The Spider’s Diet
Spiders are obligate carnivores; their diet consists almost entirely of insects and other small arthropods. They do not have the digestive system necessary to process starches, sugars, or fibers found in human food. Most spiders utilize a process called extra-oral digestion to consume their prey.
This process involves injecting their captured prey with digestive enzymes. These enzymes liquefy the internal tissues of the insect, turning the contents into a digestible liquid. The spider then sucks up this pre-digested liquid, leaving behind the exoskeleton. Since their digestive tracts are extremely narrow and designed only to handle liquids, solid food waste is irrelevant to their survival.
Indirect Attraction
The true invitation for a spider is an abundance of its preferred food sources: smaller pests living off household waste. When a home provides easy access to food and shelter for insects like flies, ants, and cockroaches, it establishes a perfect hunting ground. Spiders are not drawn in by the smell of a forgotten apple core, but by the fruit flies swarming that core.
Food scraps, unsealed pantry goods, and uncovered garbage attract many common insect pests. For example, spilled pet kibble draws in ants and beetles, while ripe fruit attracts gnats or fruit flies. Spiders, sensing a stable food supply, will follow these pests indoors to set up their webs and hunting territories. Moisture-loving insects like silverfish and drain flies also become reliable prey, drawing spiders to humid areas like damp basements or near leaky pipes.
Removing the Indirect Invitation
To make your home an undesirable location for spiders, the focus must shift from the arachnids themselves to their insect prey. The most effective strategy is to eliminate the food and moisture sources that support insect populations. This involves meticulous cleaning, especially in areas where food is stored or prepared.
Pest Control Strategies
- Store all dry pantry goods, such as flour and cereal, in sealed, airtight containers to prevent pantry pests.
- Promptly wipe down kitchen surfaces to remove crumbs and grease, eliminating a food source for ants and roaches.
- Regularly remove indoor garbage and compost to prevent the proliferation of flies and other scavengers.
- Address sources of standing water or leaks, especially in bathrooms and basements, to remove the humid environment that attracts moisture-dependent prey.