topic Re: Spiders and webs in Among Friends

Spiders and webs

Jo1313 — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 23:33:42 GMT

I live in the "sticks"..so nothing here is sealed 100%.I'm on the edge of the woods.

Anyone know how to keep these things at bay without anything that might hurt my "old ladies"(kitties)?

I use dry bay leaves in my cabinets for those pasta and flour bugs..everything is kept plastic containers.

I can pull everything out clean and put things back and those "monsters " are back in a few days.

I feel like I like in the "Munster's" house!

Once in a while one of the "old ladies" will catch a field mouse from near my fireplace.

I hate it here more and more.

Re: Spiders and webs

Kachina624 — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 23:44:42 GMT

I'd spray or have professionally sprayed the foundation of the house where it joins the floor. Life in the woods is about co-existing with the creatures who lived there first. You'll probably always have to put up with some intrusions.

Re: Spiders and webs

Ainhisg — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 00:17:12 GMT

Because of the way a spider moves, sprays aren't effective unless spiders are hit directly with the spray. Spiders' bodies are off the ground...only the ends of their legs touch the ground...which is why residual sprays don't work well. The most effective things to use against spiders are glue traps and Delta dust applied into crevices and cracks with a duster. You can use a bulb duster for that. If you have a crawl space, you can also use the dust in that area using a device called a Dustin-Mizer. Dusts will help with spiders, because they pick the dust up on their legs, and then while grooming themselves, they ingest the dust. Those 2 things are your best bet and can be bought on Amazon or pest control websites.

Re: Spiders and webs

fthunt — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 00:19:34 GMT

Important to also spray outside around the foundation, that's where spiders enter your home. Also vacuum webs when you first see them.

I also live near woods - mice are my primary problem in cold weather. Some webs in the basement and due for a vacuuming now.

Re: Spiders and webs

maximillian — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 00:41:08 GMT

@Jo1313

So sorry you don't enjoy life in "the sticks." That's where I used to live. I still live at the same location. What has happened is the farmers who are unable to make a living off the land have sold their acreage to developers who are building one housing development after another. You know what? I would take the critters and even the insects over the people who are moving in any day. They drive huge, loud vehicles and drive like they own the roads. They have loud music and parties. They use fireworks any time they want. They shoot guns any time they want. They light up their houses with artificial lights like they are protecting Fort Knox. Human beings are worse than any insects or critters, in my humble opinion.

Re: Spiders and webs

phoenixbrd — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 02:06:59 GMT

@maximillian Agree with your assessment...I love nature and welcome coexistence. I am wondering about your comment about developers as I just heard the Chinese have bought up 6.3 billion acres of US farmland in the last 12 months😧. Between the developers and the Chinese, I'm surprised we have any farmland.

@maximillian wrote:
@Jo1313

So sorry you don't enjoy life in "the sticks." That's where I used to live. I still live at the same location. What has happened is the farmers who are unable to make a living off the land have sold their acreage to developers,,,

Re: Spiders and webs

Jo1313 — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 11:03:19 GMT

@maximillian wrote:
@Jo1313

So sorry you don't enjoy life in "the sticks." That's where I used to live. I still live at the same location. What has happened is the farmers who are unable to make a living off the land have sold their acreage to developers who are building one housing development after another. You know what? I would take the critters and even the insects over the people who are moving in any day. They drive huge, loud vehicles and drive like they own the roads. They have loud music and parties. They use fireworks any time they want. They shoot guns any time they want. They light up their houses with artificial lights like they are protecting Fort Knox. Human beings are worse than any insects or critters, in my humble opinion.

I call it living in the "sticks"..I was a life long city girl and business owner..

Retiring to the country was DH's dream..Buying this place was ok when we did it..when you are younger you don't think you will get too old and sick to take care of it..
Don't get me wrong..it is beautiful here..as I get older the little things bother me too much.

My kids say
I could never go back to live in the city after being here.

My niece has called me "Lisa Douglas"(Green Acres) for years.

Re: Spiders and webs

catter70 — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 11:13:05 GMT

Spiders are a form of pest control as they eat flies, gnats, spiders, etc.

Re: Spiders and webs

vermint — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 12:11:58 GMT

@Jo1313 I also live in the sticks. We were plagued by spiders, centipedes and the dreaded Palmetto Bugs, which are the bane of those living in the South...even an exterminator told me there was no way to completely get rid of those things!

A neighbor recommended Ortho Home Defense Spray--we got it at Lowe's. That stuff is a minor miracle worker! We spray it outside around the foundation, and up across the decks where they meet the house. As long as we keep it up we rarely see bugs anymore.

Supposedly, it can be used indoors, too, and won't harm pets once it's dry. I'm just not willing to take that chance with my two kitties & one dog. As long as it works the way we use it, it's all good.

Re: Spiders and webs

Texas Gray Wolf — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 14:56:35 GMT

I recommend "Zevo" insect spray......it's safe to use around people and pets. You can buy it at Walmart, Target, etc....

From a website:

"Works on a broad range of crawling, flying, and stinging insects. Safe for use around people & pets* Our sprays are made with friendly ingredients that you can feel good about. Naturally-inspired The ingredients in Zevo Instant Action Sprays are inspired by plants' natural defenses against bugs."

Re: Spiders and webs

sabatini — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 00:53:26 GMT

@Jo1313 , many years ago, I lived in the sticks too, and was overrun with spiders.

My dad said it was because we had so many trees overhanging the house.

I thought it looked romantic, but my dad was right.

We cut the overhanging branches, and as my dad said "let God's sunshine get at the house & cure it".

Presto.

Re: Spiders and webs

occasionalrain — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 12:21:39 GMT

Glue traps are inhumane and outlawed is some areas.

Re: Spiders and webs

CatsyCline — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 14:25:56 GMT

You can try this mix: 50/50 white vinegar/ water and 15-20 drops of Peppermint oil. Vacuum throughly then spray the window sills and all around the floor.

Plug up every hole and crack. We have baseboard heat on an old house and the registers are old and they drilled holes and left gaps for the duct work. Used caulk and wood putty to seal cracks. You could try placing chunks of Irish Spring soap wrapped in dryer sheets. maybe put this in old pantyhouse for spider sachet.

Avoid AC window units. They were the Holland Tunnel here for the 8-legged freaks. (we put in a mini-split for HVAC. Very quiet and cools great and the heat pump setting saves on oil)

Spiders are in new construction homes and old homes. You can't avoid them. i have a spider phobia...i hate them!!

Spraying with Home Defense around the foundation has been helping a LOT with the critters.

Make sure they aren't brown recluse spiders, those are deadly.

Re: Spiders and webs

Lucky Charm — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 14:32:15 GMT

Terrified of spiders.

Literally sold a home (a rental) because of one instance with just one spider.