Spiders

[kenacp]

I am building a weekend getaway on my 60ac. in Mississippi. Any lumber left on the ground (or on the slab) will usually have one or more Black Widows under it.These things give me the creeps! How can I control these spiders and keep them out of my house? Thanks for the advise.

 

[CCWKen]

Are you sure they're Black Widows? There's some black spiders that are a twin to the BW but have a red hourglass on top of their abdomen. On a BW, it's on the underside. BWs normally like dark or covered areas like inside cabinets or well sheltered building eves. I've never seen them on the ground but I suppose they could be hunting insects or small lizards. You might try spraying the area with a general insect killer. Eliminate the food source and they'll move on.

Down in these parts, moving a board usually uncovers a scorpion or rattler.

 

[Tororider]

You could try fossil shell flour. I use it to get rid of flies and ants, but it might work on all insects. I believe it works on the basis of drying the insect out of all moisture. The problem for you would be it would make a pretty big mess. You could try to just put a perimeter around your lumber but I am not sure if it will work. The upside is you can find food grade 50lb bags for $30 or so, so you won't be throwing chemicals around that might harm you, kids, animals, etc.

Just a thought. Good luck.

Edited to say it is also called diatomaceous earth. Make sure you get the food grade stuff if you will have dogs or kids around, its harder to find but obviously worth it.

 

[Birdmayon]

From what I've read, Praying Mantises are major predators of black widows. I've run into a few black widows around my house here in MD, so I started researching solutions. Turns out the population has been relatively low so I stopped persuing it. Anyway, you can buy egg sacks online, even on Ebay, scatter them around and they will help take care of the BW population once they hatch.

 

[heehaw]

you can buy bifen IT off ebay, 3/4 gal for around $50...it may not kill the spiders, but it will get rid of their food source, which will cause them to leave.
heehaw

 

[ray66v]

Pet superstores sell flee sprays for your home, look for one that leaves a residual coating containing pyrethrins, spiders hate this stuff.

I spray my front porch ceiling with this every year, no spiders all summer. If I don't, I will have dozens of them up there.

 

[blueriver]

Are you sure they're Black Widows? There's some black spiders that are a twin to the BW but have a red hourglass on top of their abdomen. On a BW, it's on the underside. BWs normally like dark or covered areas like inside cabinets or well sheltered building eves. I've never seen them on the ground but I suppose they could be hunting insects or small lizards. You might try spraying the area with a general insect killer. Eliminate the food source and they'll move on.

Down in these parts, moving a board usually uncovers a scorpion or rattler.

Don't forget the Copper Head's ...

 

[6string]

Bengal roach spray does a good job of killing spiders,roaches, and other pesky insects indoors.

 

[anojones]

I had a bad black widow infestation a couple of years ago, I'd seen a couple hiding hear and there previously and then they just started showing up everywhere. I could go out at night and find them around the eaves and near the foundation. After some research, I ended up using a product called Suspend from a local chemical supplier (but have seen it at some farm supply stores as well). It worked great and I now spray once or twice a year.

Suspend SC Insecticide

 

[kenacp]

Thanks for the info.