What to do about spiders?

[golden]

Hi, all.

I am having some issues with a type of 'wandering' spider in my house. I'm ridiculously terrified of spiders and these get quite large. They must be finding a way in somewhere - there's no food supply for them inside. I was bitten on my left hand this morning while cleaning out from under my bed. We also have black widows in this area. Until recently, I'd never seen one inside then I found a large female by my alarm clock!

I am fed up - we have two young children and I'd rather not bug-bomb the house if there's something else I can do to drive them away. Any ideas??

~Melissa

[Emmy D]

I am a live and let live kind of gal as far as bugs go, and we have had some HUGE spiders in the house the last few weeks, big dark colored and FAST, as the temps get colder they will move on or die.

I haven't been bitten by any, but have gotten up in the morning and found them in my slippers...also I don't have kids or Black Widows around so your choices may be different than mine...but I see the toxic chemicals in bugs bombs as FAR worse than the bugs themselves!

My Grammy used to put Hedge Apples in all the basement windows when I was a kid, she said they kept bugs, mainly spiders out...old wives tale...who knows!

Emmy

[Haven]

Well, in my house this is what we do.

1. I see spider
2. Yell at hub "omg come quick and kill it!"
3. Hub comes, smashes it, picks it up and chases me with dead spider
4. I run away from him screaming as he laughs

I do not recommend this method, but it does work to get the spider removed...

[Our Little Farm]

I like spiders.

[golden]

I agree about the bug bombs - I don't want to go that route but I'm starting to feel a bit desperate.

I realize that it probably seems silly but I'm getting to point where I'm afraid to get shoes out of the closet or reach under the sink, etc. This morning did nothing to calm my fears though I'm sure the bite won't turn out to be serious - it wasn't painful at the time but is a little swollen and tender now. My over-reacting is having an effect on the kids; they aren't worried about monsters in the closet and under the bed, they're worried about spiders. If there's nothing I can really do, I'll suck it up and deal with it. I'm really hoping there may be something I don't know about that'll run them outta here - though I realize it may have to be just me with my vacuum and boots.

[Our Little Farm]

Can you get away for a few days and get a friend or family member to bomb your place while you are gone? Being away 2 days will mean that you will not breathing in any residue and the danger will be gone.

If it was me, I would do this if the spider problem got too bad and you have black widows in the house with young children.

Their bite could cause a lot worse than the bombs ever would.

[deaconjim]

For several years, I owned a pest control company and had to deal with issues such as this on several occasions. The cheapest and simplest route is to use the flea bombs that have an IGR (insect growth regulator). The chemicals involved are relatively harmless and are gone in a few hours. Follow the instructions on the package and plan for a day out of the house. Send your pets to stay with a friend while you're gone (especially if you have any birds in the house).

If you are adamant about not bombing the house, your next best option is to call in an exterminator. I recommend an established locally owned company over a national chain, and don't let them pressure you into signing a long term contract. Talk to the guy before you agree to anything, and have him explain how he is going to approach the task. My approach would be to use a sprayer with a wettable powder insecticide that will have little or no odor, and a long residual. It's been several years since I sold my company, so there may be something better on the market, but I haven't heard about it.

[Emmy D]

Originally Posted by Our Little Farm

Can you get away for a few days and get a friend or family member to bomb your place while you are gone? Being away 2 days will mean that you will not breathing in any residue and the danger will be gone.

FYI, there will be RESIDUE EVERYWHERE for weeks on END, maybe months, maybe even years in carpets and such!!
I wish I would say otherwise, but that is the way it is!!

Emmy

[Our Little Farm]

No need to shout Emmy!

A black widow spider bite can be serious.

I don't like using chemicals. But would do it in this case.

This is what I would use.
http://www.killsbugsdead.com/fop_fum.asp

[dragonjaze]

Originally Posted by Haven

Well, in my house this is what we do.

1. I see spider
2. Yell at hub "omg come quick and kill it!"
3. Hub comes, smashes it, picks it up and chases me with dead spider
4. I run away from him screaming as he laughs

I do not recommend this method, but it does work to get the spider removed...

HAHAHAHA!! you might need to come up with a better removal method? Perhaps something with a little less chasing involved?

[mothernature]

I was bitten by a black widow a few years back - THOUGHT I WOULD DIE!! It was then I became fearful of spiders!! I broke out in a hivey rash, my face and neck swelled some, and I felt totally drained! AVOID BLACK WIDOWS!! As for giant spiders (garden?) that get in the house, DH smooshed one recently and bunches of babies came darting out of it! I was quick with the wasp spray and killed them all. I just don't care for spiders anymore!! I do spray my yard with a spray that attaches to the hose (Cutter brand), it's safe for people pets, and plants - it helps keep the population down. I do worry about the toads eating the dead bugs, but I think they only eat live ones anyway!!

[Our Little Farm]

I do spray my yard with a spray that attaches to the hose (Cutter brand), it's safe for people pets, and plants

Sounds like a good solution to stop more coming in. Maybe a halloween bug hunt is in order inside to remove any you find.

[golden]

Originally Posted by Our Little Farm

Maybe a halloween bug hunt is in order inside to remove any you find.

Funny you should mention it - that's exactly what I've been doing. Slowly though, my heart can't take anymore spider surprises today.

Thank you for the responses, everyone. I would prefer not to use chemicals at all, we'll see what all I find.

[naturelover]

Originally Posted by golden

I am fed up - we have two young children and I'd rather not bug-bomb the house if there's something else I can do to drive them away. Any ideas??

~Melissa

Yes, there is something you can do, but you need to find a horsechestnut tree - I don't know if they grow wild where you are. Spiders don't like the smell of the saponins (soap) and tannins in the horsechestnuts so the nuts are quite effective to drive them away. Up here we have lots of horsechestnut trees growing wild and at this time of year is when the nuts are dropping out of the trees. People here send their children out to collect large garbage bags full of the nuts and then they place the nuts all around the house inside and outside. In corners, in cupboards, along walls, under the bed, in garages, etc. etc.

If you don't want to place the nuts around the house because of small children or pets playing with them, then you can smash the nuts open and place them in water to soak overnight. The resulting water will be foamy when agitated because of the leeched out saponins and tannins in the nuts, the water is very bitter to the taste. You can put the water in a spray bottle and spray that all around the house outside and inside, wherever spiders would normally hang out.

.

[Our Little Farm]

Sounds great Naturelover!

Wish a company would make a natural spray from them. Or is there already one?

[Little Quacker in OR]

Just a quick question Deac...spiders are not insects so do you think this type of control would work on them also? Never worried 'bout spiders as I don't mind them but I sure know that if a person is real scared and worried about their kids too then of course its time to do something!

I sure can't imagine not getting on the phone right now and calling a good exterminator! Problem solved! Our world is full of all kinds of contaminants both natural and man made...SO????? Take the problem in hand and do your best.

Good luck with this! Maybe once winter sets in and you get the 8-legged unwelcome houseguests dead then you can breath easier. In the meantime teach your kids well not to ever put their hands where they cannot see and at least this will help a little bit.

LQ

Originally Posted by deaconjim

For several years, I owned a pest control company and had to deal with issues such as this on several occasions. The cheapest and simplest route is to use the flea bombs that have an IGR (insect growth regulator). The chemicals involved are relatively harmless and are gone in a few hours. Follow the instructions on the package and plan for a day out of the house. Send your pets to stay with a friend while you're gone (especially if you have any birds in the house).

If you are adamant about not bombing the house, your next best option is to call in an exterminator. I recommend an established locally owned company over a national chain, and don't let them pressure you into signing a long term contract. Talk to the guy before you agree to anything, and have him explain how he is going to approach the task. My approach would be to use a sprayer with a wettable powder insecticide that will have little or no odor, and a long residual. It's been several years since I sold my company, so there may be something better on the market, but I haven't heard about it.

[naturelover]

Originally Posted by Our Little Farm

Sounds great Naturelover!

Wish a company would make a natural spray from them. Or is there already one?

Thanks, yes they are great but they can be a pain in the butt around here. You have to be careful not to place them on soil where they can take root, the nuts DO split open in the spring and send out roots. Other plants and grasses will not grow very well under horsechestnut trees and they drink up gallons of ground water and send great long roots into septic systems or break up pavement and foundations, so you have to be careful to not let them get invasive around the outside of the house. But they certainly do have their uses against spiders, and they are great shade trees, albeit somewhat messy trees since they drop their litter year round.

I don't know of any companies making a spray from them but it's certainly easy enough for homeowners to do that at home.

.

[deaconjim]

Originally Posted by Little Quacker in OR

Just a quick question Deac...spiders are not insects so do you think this type of control would work on them also? Never worried 'bout spiders as I don't mind them but I sure know that if a person is real scared and worried about their kids too then of course its time to do something!

I sure can't imagine not getting on the phone right now and calling a good exterminator! Problem solved! Our world is full of all kinds of contaminants both natural and man made...SO????? Take the problem in hand and do your best.

Good luck with this! Maybe once winter sets in and you get the 8-legged unwelcome houseguests dead then you can breath easier. In the meantime teach your kids well not to ever put their hands where they cannot see and at least this will help a little bit.

LQ

You know, I hate to admit this, but that thought has never occured to me. Back when I was in the business, the foggers didn't have an IGR so the only ones I used were the regular foggers. They worked great for spiders, but not so good for what they were intended.

[Little Quacker in OR]

Some good info and spider control tips here:

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7442.html


LQ

[golden]

Hi again, all.

Apparently horse chestnuts don't grow around here, sure wish they did so I could try this out.

As for chemicals, I realize they really are all around us and a black widow bite can be very dangerous which is why I'm considering it. I've only seen the one - she met a quick end. There was no egg sac, thank goodness. That doesn't mean there aren't more hanging out around here.

I have killed several smaller grass spiders today while cleaning out and organizing closets. We're going to see if we can find some DE tomorrow to sprinkle next to walls and outside the doors. I've read that citrus oils will drive them out, something about spiders tasting with their feet?? Any truth to that?

I really appreciate you all taking the time to make suggestions.