How To Stop Spider Webs On CCTV Cameras

Do you have spider webs on security cameras? Spiders produce silk at the tip of their abdomen from their spinneret glands. They use it to make webs to trap prey or shoot out safety lines when traveling between two distanced points. And sometimes, they also like to cover CCTV cameras with their webs.

Do you want to know how to stop spider webs on CCTV cameras? We’ll detail the reasons why spiders love to hitchhike and live on top of your camera. We’ll also tackle how to stop them from making a home on the lenses and mounts.

Are Spiders Attracted To CCTV Cameras?

If you have a CCTV system outside your home or building, chances are you are quite familiar with spiders making a home in the front of the cameras. This can be quite difficult for surveillance monitoring as it will blur and obscure videos being recorded or areas being monitored.

To know how to stop spider webs on CCTV cameras, we must understand why they’re attracted to them in the first place. Are spiders attracted to the CCTV cameras?

Not directly. It’s the spider’s prey that is attracted to the cameras. Contrary to popular belief, most web-spinning spiders are actually blind. They are not able to sense infrared LEDs emitted by the cameras, but other flying insects can. Spiders love to catch and trap flying insects! They are attracted to the camera’s infrared lamps, which makes it a haven for unlimited food. That’s why no matter how many times you air blast your cameras, you’ll always get bugs and spiders coming back.

Tips To Keep Your Security Camera Spider Free

Having spiders around your cameras can be a nuisance, especially if these are motion-detecting cameras, and pretty soon, you’ll need to keep the lens clean from webs. There are a variety of ways on how to stop spider webs on CCTV cameras. It can range from homemade solutions to technical modifications. Try these tips and keep the spiders (and other flying bugs) away!

• Cover the camera with lubricant. Use lubricants such as Teflon spray, Vaseline, or silicon. This will make it difficult for spiders to spin their webs as these are now slippery surfaces. You may need to re-apply the solution every few weeks. Before applying a new coat, you may need to wipe off the previous spray as it may have collected dirt.
• Use a flea collar. They’re not only known to keep fleas away from dogs, but they can also keep spiders and other bugs off. Loop the collar around the camera.
• Disable the IR or LED lights. Flying insects are attracted to the IR and LED lights in or around your camera lens. Check the CCTV camera’s manual if these can be disabled. By removing the source, you can keep the flying insects away. However, most cameras need an IR light source in order to function properly.
• Installing an outdoor illuminator can help with the previous tip and also act as a decoy for flying bugs. Install the illuminator several feet away from the camera. This is considered a long-term solution on how to stop spider webs on CCTV cameras.
• Deter insects with smells they don’t like, such as citrus oil, peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, mothballs, and other strong scents.
• If you’d like another non-toxic option, you can also apply vinegar and other organic bug deterrents. The smell of vinegar will seem like rotting fruit to insects. However, depending on where you are located, as well as the current season, vinegar may also attract other bugs. This will require a little bit of trial and error on your part.
• Regularly clean and maintain your camera mounts with bug sprays and insect repellants. There are relatively high grade and effective insect repellents available on the market. Make sure not to spray directly into the camera itself. If it leaks into the camera, it may rust or degrade the system.
• Regularly airblast or sweep your cameras clean. Regularly cleaning your camera is not a fail-safe solution, but doing it every so often can “tell” spiders that it isn’t a safe place to build a web. They are less likely to return if the area is continuously being disturbed.
• You can install a low-cost computer fan beside your camera to keep bugs off. A little airblast can annoy spiders and other bugs. It will require additional wiring but will only need a minimal power supply.
• If you love spiders and don’t want to harm them, you can give it another home nearby by making a small round structure for the spider to call home.
• Keep it static-free. Attach dryer sheets with a rubber band to the outside of your CCTV camera.
• If you have IR LEDs in your cameras, you may want to invest in low-lux cameras instead, but only if you’re keen on replacing your cameras.

By doing any of these tips, you’ll be keeping flying insects away, which in turn will keep the spiders away. Know more about CCTV Cameras.