Finding a hairy eight-legged creepy creature in your car can be a chilling experience. Spiders are a nuisance pest, and if you thought they could only cause problems in your house or garage- you're wrong! These deadly pests also love hanging out in your car. No, not for some free rides, and they are definitely not after your blood.
So, why do spiders get into your car? And how can you remove them?
How Did Spiders Get Into MY Car?
Spiders will infest your car for no particular reason if there is an entry point. At first, the scary invader will hang out in places like at the edges of your door or in the rails near windows.
Generally, spiders love warmer and more comfortable places. According to researchers, the vibrations given off once you start driving disturbs the spiders, forcing them to move from their hiding spots in search of more comfortable places like the car's ceiling or steering wheel.
Any opening like gaps in the hood provides a perfect entry point for spiders. Once these arachnids successfully get into the car, they happily look for damp and warm places to make comfort.
How Long Can Spiders Live In A Car?
Although spiders need water and food to live, they can survive for an unimaginably long time without either of the two.
While some species may need to drink a small amount of water at least once every few days, common invaders like house spiders don't need to eat or drink often and can survive for months.
Therefore, if a spider gets into your car, it can live there for several months without any need to go out. Sometimes, small insects like flies, moths, and mosquitoes can get into your car, providing the spider with adequate food. They may also get enough water from condensation. In this case, a spider can live in your car for years!
However, getting water or food in the car isn't always that easy. And if the spider lacks enough water to drink, it can dehydrate and die after several weeks.
What Do Spiders Eat In A Car?
As noted above, how long a spider lives in your car depends on the spider species.
Generally, most spider species don't need to eat or drink for at least two months. Some hardy species won't even need quick access to food or water to live for a year or more.
Spiders will create special spider webs in the car that will efficiently trap any available insects to provide enough food for survival. They will also draw the needed life-sustaining water from the trapped insects.
Although low temperatures can slow down spiders and make them dormant, it's important to note that these pests are cold-blooded and can survive temperatures as low as -5 degrees celsius.
With time, spiders have developed adaptive behaviors to very low temperatures and will naturally change their bodies in response to the cold, helping them survive. But can they survive hot cars?
Will Spiders Die In A Hot Car?
It's highly unlikely that spiders will suffocate and die in a hot car. Firstly, spiders are quite resilient and do not require as much oxygen as humans to survive.
Though their respiratory system is not as complex as humans', their system is amazingly equipped to survive the toughest circumstances- like being in your hot car. In fact, spiders can survive for several hours or even days without breathing at all!
Secondly, your car is not completely airtight, and the minimal flow of air constantly coming from windows and doors is more than adequate to keep the spider alive.
Plus, don't forget that you'll keep opening and closing doors- that's too much air for your little guest. So the chances of a spider suffocating in your hot car are minimal to none.
However, in case the weather in the car becomes excessively hot or extremely cold beyond what the spider can survive, for an extended period, the spider might eventually die. That explains why you might have seen a dead spider in your car.
But it's quite hard for a spider to naturally die in your car unless you, someone, or something else kills it. For instance, if an object hits it as you drive or if you inadvertently step on it.
How To Safely Remove Spiders From Your Car
It may be hard for a spider to get out of your car on its own. Therefore, the best way to remove a spider from your car is to do a thorough cleaning of your car's interior.
Pay keen attention to every corner, especially in crevices and holes, as spiders are small and will mostly hide in those areas. Here is a step by step guide on how to Remove spiders From Your Car:
Clean All Possible Hiding Spots
To get rid of spiders from your car and prevent them from returning, you'll need to clean all possible hideouts like behind side mirrors. The simplest way to clean this often-missed area is by using a hose to force out any hidden dirt, debris, and pests. Another top hiding spot is the bonnet and beneath wheel arches.
Repel Spiders To Keep Them Away
Most insects hate the smell of essential oils like lavender and peppermint- and spiders are not an exemption. Prepare a water solution and add a few drops of eucalyptus or any of the oils mentioned earlier and empty it into a spray bottle.
Spray the insides of your vehicle and consider possible spider entry points like door frames and rails near windows. This will repel spiders naturally and keep them from entering your car. To treat problem areas like side mirrors and boots, you can consider using a stronger essential oil solution.
Use A Spider Spray
Perhaps spiders have become a recurrent problem in your car? Or maybe your car is almost always parked in the garage? Then you can resort to an effective spider spray. Spray specific problem areas like beneath the back and front of your car, areas around your side mirrors, and underneath wheel arches.
Ensure Maximum Cleanliness
If your car always has trash and debris, spiders will transform that into a warm shelter during cold weather. The leaves stuck in wheel arches or twigs hanging from below your bonnet are highly attractive to spiders. Clean regularly and get rid of trash to keep spiders away from your car.
In Conclusion
It's highly unlikely for spiders to suffocate in a hot car or even freeze in a cold car. That's because they have developed an adaptation to cold weather and only need minimal air to survive in a hot car. In fact, spiders have been found to survive for hours and, in some cases, days without breathing.
This guide provides you with the best ways to get rid of spiders from your car. But if a spider disappears and you're concerned that it might harm you, your loved ones, or your pet, the best thing to do is call a pest control expert.
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