# Spring Treatment — Spider Squad

## Why Spring Is the Most Important Treatment Window

Spring is the optimal time for perimeter pest treatment in Ontario for several reasons that compound each other.

Spider populations overwinter as egg sacs or as adults in protected exterior zones — in wall voids, under eaves, in wood piles, and along foundation crevices. In early spring, those eggs hatch and overwintered adults become active again. Treating before spider populations fully re-establish gives the barrier maximum effect.

Ants emerge from overwintering in April, and foraging trails to indoor food sources form quickly in May. A spring ant treatment disrupts colony foraging before trails become established.

Tick nymph activity peaks in May and June. Blacklegged tick nymphs are the highest-risk life stage for Lyme disease transmission — they're small (1 to 2 mm), difficult to spot during tick checks, and active during peak outdoor season. Spring treatment before nymph peak is the single highest-value tick intervention of the year.

Mosquito populations build from May through June as temperatures rise and standing water from snowmelt and spring rains provides breeding sites. Early treatment reduces adult populations before the season peaks.

## What Spring Treatment Covers

A spring treatment from Spider Squad is an exterior perimeter application targeting the foundation zone of your home. Depending on what you book:

**Spider control:** Foundation perimeter, window frames, door frames, soffits, eaves — the full exterior barrier. Targets overwintered adults and newly hatched spiderlings establishing web zones.

**Ant control:** Foundation line, entry points, weep holes, and any visible foraging trails. Best booked in April to May before peak colony activity.

**Tick control:** Lawn-to-garden transition zones, shrub borders, wood lines, and fence bases. Best booked late April to early May ahead of nymph peak.

**Mosquito control:** Vegetation resting zones — shrub interiors, lawn edges, deck undersides. Best booked once temperatures are consistently above 15°C and outdoor activity begins.

All four can be combined in a single spring visit, or booked individually.

## Recommended Timing

The ideal spring treatment window for most of Southern Ontario is **late April through mid-May**. This catches:
- Ant colonies before peak foraging
- Tick nymphs before they reach peak numbers
- Spider populations before summer web-building season
- Mosquitoes before pressure becomes severe

In cottage country (Muskoka, Haliburton, Kawarthas, Grey-Bruce), treatment timing often shifts to May due to later ice-out and cooler spring conditions.

## Annual Maintenance Plan

Spring treatment pairs well with a late-summer follow-up (August to September) for year-round coverage. Spider Squad offers an annual maintenance plan that schedules seasonal reapplications automatically, keeping the perimeter barrier active without requiring you to rebook each time.

## To Book

Call 905-935-7498 or request a quote through your regional page at spidersquad.ca. Spring appointments fill quickly, particularly in Niagara, Hamilton, and the GTA corridor — book early in the season for best availability.