Some spiders die in winter, but many do not. Many garden spiders, including the black and yellow garden spider, live a single season and die in the fall after leaving egg sacs that hatch in spring. Plenty of other spiders survive Oklahoma winters outdoors in leaf litter, bark, rock piles and woodpiles, protected by natural antifreeze. And the spiders in your house never had to deal with winter at all. That is why you can still find spiders in January, and why a cold snap is never a reason to skip spider control.
Are spiders cold-blooded?
Yes. Like insects, spiders cannot make their own body heat, so their body temperature tracks the air around them. As it gets colder they slow down, eat less and move less. On a warm winter afternoon they wake up and hunt again. To us it looks like spiders vanish when the first cold front comes through, but most of them are just still and hidden.
How spiders survive the cold
The danger for a spider in winter is not the cold itself but ice forming inside its body. Spiders that overwinter outdoors handle that in two ways:
- Natural antifreeze. As temperatures drop, many spiders build up compounds in their body fluids that keep ice from forming. Researchers at Queen's University in Canada reported in 2026 that some winter-active spiders make an antifreeze protein that works more efficiently than the antifreeze fish rely on, letting them stay active and hunt in subzero weather.
- Shelter. Spiders tuck into places where they will not be encased in ice: leaf litter, loose bark, rock and brush piles, woodpiles, sheds, garages and wall voids. There they go into a slowed-down, dormant state.
Oklahoma State University Extension notes that black widows can stay active year round in sheltered spots, so do not let your guard down when moving firewood or stored items in winter.
Do spiders come inside for the winter?
Mostly no, and this surprises people. Spider researchers at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington call it a myth. The spiders living in your house are mostly house spider species, a different group from the spiders in your yard, adapted to life indoors. By the museum's estimate, fewer than 5% of the spiders found indoors have ever been outside. The few outdoor spiders that do wander in generally do poorly and do not reproduce.
The flip side: putting a house spider outside in winter usually kills it. If you do not want spiders, you get further by removing their food and webs than by relocating them.
Then why do I see more spiders in the fall?
Because the spiders that were already there start moving. According to the Burke Museum, the spiders crossing your floor in late summer and fall are mostly adult males that have left their webs to find a mate. OSU Extension adds that spiders are at their biggest late in their life cycle, some are guarding egg sacs, and fall is when we pull out holiday decorations and stored boxes where spiders have been living all along. Outdoors, orb weavers build their largest webs of the year to catch the last insects before frost, so porches and eaves are suddenly full of them.
Weather matters too. A wet spring and summer produce lots of insects, and more food means more spiders by fall.
Spider eggs over the winter
Many spiders lay eggs in late summer and fall and wrap them in silk sacs tucked into sheltered spots. The eggs or young spiders wait out the winter inside and emerge when it warms. Each sac can hold dozens to hundreds of spiderlings, which is why spring can bring a sudden wave of tiny spiders. Vacuuming webs and egg sacs from eaves, corners, garages, attics and storage areas during the cold months is one of the best things you can do for the spring.
Winter spider control that pays off in spring
- Remove webs and egg sacs indoors and around the outside of the house, especially under eaves and in the garage.
- Declutter storage and move items into sealed plastic bins before you put the holiday decorations back.
- Seal gaps around doors, windows and utility lines while you are weatherproofing anyway.
- Move firewood away from the house and off the ground, and wear gloves when you bring it in.
- Treat the insects that are overwintering in the house too. Fewer insects in winter means less food for spiders when spring arrives.
More tips are in our guide to getting rid of spiders, and our article on where bugs go in winter covers the insects that spiders feed on.
It is never too cold for spider control
Emtec Pest Control treats for spiders in every season, and winter is a smart time to get ahead of spring. Since 1979 we have been the spider exterminator for homes and businesses in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Jenks, Bixby, Stillwater, Oklahoma City and nearby towns. We inspect, identify the spiders present, treat where they live and remove webs and egg sacs. See our spider control service or contact us to schedule an inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are spiders cold-blooded?
Yes. Spiders cannot make their own body heat, so their temperature follows their surroundings. They slow down in the cold and speed up when it warms, which is why spiders seem to vanish on cold days and reappear on warm ones.
Do spiders hibernate?
Not in the way bears do. Many outdoor spiders go into a dormant, slowed-down state in sheltered spots and wake up to hunt on warm days. Some spiders stay active right through freezing weather.
Do spiders come inside for the winter?
Less than people think. Spider researchers at the Burke Museum report that fewer than 5% of spiders found indoors have ever been outside. Most indoor spiders are house spider species that live inside all year.
Why are there so many spiders in the fall?
In late summer and fall, adult male spiders leave their webs to look for mates, so they are suddenly out in the open. Spiders are also at their largest late in the season, and egg sacs are being guarded, so they are easier to notice.
Should I put a spider outside in winter?
If it is a house spider, putting it outside in winter usually kills it, since indoor species are not adapted to life outdoors. If you do not want spiders, removing webs and egg sacs and cutting down the insects they eat works better.