Spiders are not attracted to light. But sometimes it appears like they are attracted to light because they catch insects that hang around lights. So, they often find themselves next to light sources as they hunt.
On the contrary, spiders are actually not very fond of light. Most spider species, including house spiders you’ll find in your home, are in fact nocturnal animals, meaning they’ll avoid light.
They prefer to stay hidden in a dark corner or hole as they seek to ambush the animals they’re looking to catch.
Are Spiders Attracted to Light?
No, but they might appear as though they are as they catch insects that are attracted to light.
Insects have a natural attraction to light and see it as their helper as they look to find their way in the darkness.
The phenomenon of attraction to light, also called phototaxis is observed with insects like mosquitoes, flies, moths, and some other insects. In their evolution, insects and bugs have used stars to find their way, so the light can also work as their navigation system.
The pattern here is clear: all (or most) of the insects attracted to light are also on the spider’s menu.
Spiders are highly opportunistic animals; they will do anything they can to catch food, but they’re willing to remain patient for it and wait.
At night, when insects are especially attracted to light, spiders will have to come out of the shadows to catch those insects. That’s why it’s likely that you’ll find a spider near a light source.
A Wolf Spider caught in the Light. Photo: Pixabay
Spiders don’t otherwise have a natural attraction to light, like some of those insects we’ve discussed. They will, though, find themselves near light because they are waiting for their prey, so their exposure to light is seen as a survival instinct.
The opportunistic nature of spiders sees the spiders move around holes and burrows often and wait in these holes; in your home, you might find spiders behind furniture and in dark corners, especially during the day.
This is a good indicator that spiders aren’t actually very fond of light at all.
They prefer to wait in shadows and attack their prey when it passes by. This ambushing technique can be highly effective, especially against insects that are attracted to light.
Why Are Spiders Seen Near Light?
Spiders will come near light sources as they aim to catch insects and other bugs that are attracted to light.
In a study from 1999, zoologist Astrid M. Heiling studied the spiders’ behavior when it comes to creating webs – especially in correlation with light and light sources.
In the study, Heiling examined the way that orb web spiders created their webs. She found that they created their webs under bridges and between hand railings, but the vast majority of their webs were created near light sources such as lamps and street lights.
This study just confirms the fact that spiders come near light due to their opportunistic nature.
Some spiders even use light to their advantage, with special reflective pigments on their bodies.
With the introduction of artificial lighting several hundred years back, insects have adapted to the lights and have become attracted to artificial lights as they have a natural attraction to the light.
For spiders, this meant they would have to adapt as well; while they prefer to stay hidden in shadows for the vast majority of the day, they learned to start coming near light sources because that was where the insect population was by far the densest.
In turn, spiders, especially orb web spiders, have adapted to lights and have become more and more accustomed to it. So much so that some people started believing that spiders are naturally attracted to light, but this isn’t the case.
They don’t have the same attraction to light as insects, but they are highly opportunistic, so they have to come near it to catch their prey.
Related Article: Are Spiders Attracted to Food?
Does Turning Off the Light Repel Spiders?
Turning off the light will not repel spiders on their own, but it will turn away insects, which will mean that spiders won’t come close to the light.
If you’re worried about spiders in your home, then you can try turning off the light, but that is unlikely to steer the spiders away. They like hiding away in corners and behind furniture, and will come out if they sense the opportunity to catch insects that come near lights.
But spiders in your home won’t harm you, even if they are hidden in the dark. It’s actually better to have spiders in your home, because they will take care of the insects in your home.
Insects can be an annoyance, especially mosquitoes, so many people leave spiders untouched so they catch all the insects.
If you turn off the light, then you’ll probably see a reduced influx of new insects into your home. However, turning off the light is an ineffective strategy for removing spiders from your home.
If spiders really represent a big issue for you, then you can try other methods for removing them.
Do Spiders Come Close to Light Alone?
If there are no insects that can be caught near the light source, then it’s highly unlikely that spiders will come close to light.
Spiders prefer to live in hidden areas of your home, and they like peace and darkness. They are actually scared of humans as well, so they will try to stay hidden as often as possible.
This is why it’s unlikely that spiders will come close to light if they see no benefits for doing that.
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Conclusion
The bottom line is that most spiders aren’t naturally attracted to light. But you might still often find them near lights because of their opportunistic nature.
Insects have a natural interest in lights, which is why they’ll often come to light sources. This is “programmed” into their systems, and spiders follow them when they are looking for food. That’s why you’ll often find spiders and their webs near light sources, which has also been confirmed by researchers.
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