​​Do Spiders Eat Bed Bugs?

  • Written By Dan Edwards on December 18, 2017
    Last Updated: December 30, 2020

Having bed bugs in your house can be a very difficult problem to deal with. Bed bugs will no doubt need a lot of intervention, in order to successfully rid your home of them. However, you may be able to get some help from mother nature too.

There are a number of creatures who naturally feed on bed bugs. With that said though, these predators are probably as welcome in your home as bed bugs are. Let’s take a closer look at spiders, as well as some other creatures, that eat these pests.


Spiders and Bed Bugs

Finding a spider in your house can be unnerving. While many people cannot stomach these creatures, they could be helping you out. These eight-legged villains will feed on just about anything they can trap in their webs.

There are a variety of different spiders that are likely to trap bed bugs and then dine on them later. Among those are the Cobweb spider and the Philodromid crab spider. Both of these species are common across America. Spiders are one of the most likely creatures to feast on bed bugs because spiders are often found living in our bedrooms.

Even though spiders do eat bed bugs, they are unlikely to eat enough of them. If you have an infestation in your home, a spider will not be able to significantly reduce their numbers. Every little bit helps, of course, but do not depend on spiders as a sole method of pest control.

Spider eats bed bugs

Other Bed Bug Predators

Along with spiders, there are a number of other insects that will eat bed bugs. However, do not get too excited by this prospect. Many of the bed bugs predators also fall under the category of house pest, so will only add to your problems.

Pharaoh Ants

There are a variety of different ants out there and generally speaking, ants will also eat pretty much anything. The Pharaoh ant has been documented as being particularly fond of bed bugs, more than any other ant species.

Pharaoh ants are a light brown-yellow color and are a well-known household pest. Just like the bed bugs, these insects reproduce and spread at great speed. Proceed with caution if you find pharaoh ants in your home.

It is not worth sustaining one colony of pests to try and control another. If anything, these ants may be worse than bed bugs. Especially if they get into your food, as they are known for spreading bacteria, like salmonella.

Cockroaches

There are a number of different cockroach species that are known to feast on bed bugs. These include Oriental cockroaches, American cockroaches, and German cockroaches. This is mainly because, like many other pests, they will eat whatever they can find.

Having cockroaches in your house, along with bed bugs, could escalate into a real disaster. Just like bed bugs and ants, these creatures can reproduce quickly. If you spot a roach, act fast and do not depend on it to keep your bed bugs at bay. Cockroaches are known for being survivalists and can be just as difficult to get rid of as bed bugs.

Lizards

Lizards are relatively harmless and, again, will eat whatever they can get. We cannot deny their cuteness, however, think again before adopting a hoard of domestic lizards as pets. They will not be able to drown out a bed bug infestation by any means.

On the upside, lizards cannot spread harmful bacteria as ants and cockroaches do. You would not need to worry as much finding a lizard around your house. They are much less likely to develop into a real problem, compared to ants and roaches.

Final Thoughts

While spiders will eat bed bugs, they are not their main food source. Just like other bed bug predators, none will be able to rid your house of an infestation. They may hardly even make a dent.

Remember, bed bugs are expert hiders and cram themselves into the smallest crevices and cracks they can find. Therefore, they are not likely to be in the direct path of other predators for a great deal of time either. If you have a bed bug problem, your best option is to call in professional pest control experts.