Spiders can be divided into two broad groups based on their behaviour – web-building spiders and ground or hunting spiders. Web-building spiders include redbacks and black house spiders; ground spiders include white-tail and huntsman spiders. Both groups of spiders find weep holes a very attractive hiding place.
Although web-building spiders such as the redback and black house spider can build quite extensive webs, they do require a hiding hole to retreat to when disturbed. A weep hole is an ideal hiding place, safe from a lot of larger predators. With weep holes also a hiding spot for many other insects, their food often walks straight onto their plate!
For ground dwelling spiders such as huntsman, white-tails and wolf spiders, a weep hole is very similar to their natural hiding places – underneath bark, rocks and logs – they love to squeeze into tight places! They are more than happy to explore the dark crevice of a weep hole for potential prey as well. Of course once inside the wall void, it’s all too easy for the spiders to find a way into your home.
The scary part, especially for the arachnophobes, is that if a female spider sets up home in the weep hole, there’s a good chance she will lay eggs at some point. These eggs are protected in a silk egg sac and further protected by the aggressive mother. From a homeowners point of view, the problem comes when the eggs hatch. After a couple of weeks with their mother, there can be hundreds of tiny spiderlings ready to disperse… potentially moving through the wall void into the home.
The weep holes can be protected from spiders with an insecticide spray or powder, but treatments need to be re-applied regularly and who remembers to do that? Far easier to install a Weepa Protector, a permanent solution without the need to spray. The stainless steel protector prevents spiders and other insects accessing your home through the weep hole and yet with its design of holes and slits, still allows the weep hole to meet its function of allowing ventilation and the escape of moisture from the wall void.
If you’re worried about spiders and insects entering your home, the Weepa Protector certainly gives you peace of mind protection.
