How to Identify & Get Rid of Spider Egg Sacs

What do spider egg sacs look like?

Spider egg sacs vary greatly in size, shape, and color. They guard the eggs from predators and are loosely woven from silk, usually white to cream in color and will be either round or oblong in shape. Some egg sacs are smooth, while others may contain spikes or bumps. Black widow eggs are small, about the size of a pencil eraser. One commonality is that egg sacs are generally about as big as the spider that produced it.

Where do spiders lay egg sacs?

Spiders lay egg sacs in diverse locations. Egg sacs can be found in the spider’s web itself, on the underside of leaves, attached to tree branches or in a burrow. They can also be placed in undisturbed areas of a home or other structures. Some spiders carry their egg sacs attached to their body, providing even more protection for the egg case.

How to Tell If a Spider Egg Sac Is Empty

A spider egg sac can only be empty when all the spiderlings have hatched and gone out of the egg sac. To assess if a spider egg sac is empty or not, you will have to see how easily it moves. The fact that egg sacs are made entirely of silk makes them easily moved when air is pushed over them - so the wind can easily move empty spider egg sacs. Also, an empty egg sac will not be in a perfect cocoon or sphere shape, as spiderlings have emerged through open places in empty egg sacs.

How to Get Rid of Spider Egg Sacs

Disposing of spider egg sacs is much like cleaning away spider webs. The easiest method is with a vacuum cleaner hose. Simply suck up the egg sac, and then throw away the vacuum bag into an outside trash container. If you do not have a vacuum and hose, or the hose or it is not long enough, you can use a broom.

If you’re experiencing a spider infestation, contact an Orkin Pro for help with spider control.