Do spiders hibernate in winter?

As the seasons change and the weather gets colder, you may notice spiders less, but that doesn’t mean they’re gone. While it might seem like spiders disappear during the colder months, most are still around but less active. Some slow down their bodies to conserve energy; others lay eggs and die off before winter arrives. 

Unlike animals that go into deep sleep, spiders don’t hibernate in the traditional sense. They enter a state where their development and activity pause until the conditions improve. Some spiders do, however, stay active all winter, especially if they’re living indoors.

Knowing how spiders handle the cold can help you understand where they might be hiding and how to stop them from turning your home into their winter shelter.

How do spiders survive cold weather?

Spiders have a few smart ways of getting through the winter. One of the most common methods is entering diapause, which is a period of rest where their growth and movement slow down. It’s not sleep, but it helps them survive when food is harder to find and temperatures drop.

Some species also produce special compounds in their bodies that act like antifreeze. This keeps their tissues from freezing, even when the air around them gets very cold. Others rely more on their surroundings, finding shelter under rocks, inside logs, or buried beneath fallen leaves. 

Indoor spiders, from the common house spiders to the more dangerous brown recluse, don’t need these tricks. If they’re inside your home, where it’s warm and dry, they often stay active throughout winter.

Which spiders hibernate in the United States?

Many species of spiders across the U.S. go into diapause or use other ways to survive the cold. Some of the most common include garden spiders, wolf spiders, fishing spiders, and orb weavers. These spiders are often active through the summer and early fall but begin to slow down as temperatures drop.

For example, garden spiders usually lay eggs before winter and die shortly afterward. Their young survive inside silk egg sacs, waiting for spring to hatch. Wolf spiders and fishing spiders take a different route by finding sheltered spots to rest and remain alive but inactive until the weather warms up. 

Different species use different methods, but the goal is the same: stay safe until conditions improve.

 Where do spiders go in the winter?

When it gets cold, spiders search for quiet, protected places to shelter. Outdoors, this might mean hiding under tree bark, in woodpiles, leaf litter, garden sheds, or in the soil because these areas offer some insulation from the cold and help them avoid freezing temperatures. Outdoor spiders adapt by slowing down or finding shelter, while indoor spiders adapt by staying put where the environment stays steady.

Some spiders may move into the house in search of warmth and food. Once inside, they settle into undisturbed places like basements, attics, or behind furniture. These indoor spots stay warmer and give spiders the chance to stay active even through winter.

Do house spiders hibernate indoors?

Most house spiders don’t hibernate at all. They stay active, especially in warm homes where food sources like flies or other insects are still available. Unlike their outdoor relatives, indoor spiders don’t need to slow down because the conditions around them don’t change much.

Common indoor spiders, such as cellar spiders, American house spiders, and false widows, often remain in the same corners or webs for weeks or months. You may see less of them in winter, but that doesn’t mean they’ve gone into hiding; they’re just living quietly in low-traffic areas.

Since indoor spiders stay active, it’s not unusual to see webs pop up in basements, garages, or around windows, even in the middle of winter.

What happens to spider eggs in the winter?

Many spiders lay their eggs in late summer or fall, just before cold weather sets in. These eggs are wrapped in silk sacs that help protect them from the elements. A single sac can hold dozens, sometimes hundreds, of spiderlings. These egg sacs are often tucked into sheltered places, such as under rocks, in tree bark, inside corners of buildings, or attached to leaves. 

During winter, the eggs remain dormant. Then, when spring arrives and temperatures rise, the spiderlings hatch and begin their life cycle. This ensures the next generation survives even if the adult spider doesn’t make it through the season.

Do spiders die in the winter?

Some spiders do die off as winter approaches, especially species that have short life cycles. These include garden spiders and many orb weavers. These arachnids spend their final weeks laying eggs before cold weather arrives, ensuring their offspring will hatch when conditions are better.

Other species, such as wolf spiders, jumping spiders, and funnel weavers, can survive the winter by hiding and slowing down their metabolism. These spiders stay tucked away in natural shelters or man-made structures until spring.

Because spiders are cold-blooded, they rely heavily on the temperature of their surroundings. If they can’t find protection from freezing conditions, their survival chances drop.

How climate change affects spider hibernation

Warmer winters caused by climate change are starting to affect spider behavior. In areas where cold temperatures used to force spiders into diapause, milder conditions may allow them to stay active longer or reproduce more often, which can lead to larger populations and earlier activity in the spring.

Shifts in seasonal patterns may also change when spiders lay eggs or how often they reproduce. In some regions, certain species may begin to show up at different times of year — or even expand into new areas that were once too cold for the spiders to survive.

These changes could lead to more frequent indoor sightings, especially during what used to be low-activity months.

How to prevent spiders from overwintering in your home

There are a few things you can do to make your home less inviting to spiders during winter. Start by sealing any gaps or cracks around doors, windows, vents, and where pipes come through walls. Spiders don’t need much space to get in. Reducing clutter in storage areas and keeping corners clean can also limit the quiet spaces where spiders like to hide.

While these steps may help lower your chances of an infestation, they’re not a guaranteed solution to getting rid of spiders, especially if they have already moved in or laid eggs. 

The most effective way to prevent overwintering spiders is with professional pest control. At Western Exterminator, we do more than just remove the spiders you see. Our spider control technicians can help determine how spiders are getting indoors, remove egg sacs, and apply targeted treatments to keep spiders from returning.

 If you want lasting protection throughout every season, we’re here to help. Contact us today.

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