I have recently purchased a home. I have been informed that, although not a huge problem, black widows are a problem in the area. I would not mind so much but I have children and I want to keep them safe. I also don't want to cause the environment any harm. Can anyone suggest non-toxic or environmentally friendly ways to protect my home from black widows.... or at least any way to repel them?
2006-12-13 08:44:40 · 8 answers · asked by sinister_lover82 1 in Environment
Ah,
I am in the same situation, but with hobo spiders and I have found at least 10. OK first thing to do is eliminate microenvironments for spiders directly around your house. If you have bushes and such surrounding your house, think about taking them out and making a flower bed ect. Also, don't kill other spiders, spiders are very competative for food, and have a tendancy to eat each other. So, if you see a "good" spider, don't kill it, send it outside it will eat other bugs and spiders. The other thing is to make sure that your house is sealed up well. If you have a basement, go around with a calk gun and calk around windows with gaps ect. Make sure that you don't have a space under your exterior doors so that spiders can get into your house. The last thing are spider traps, although they will catch all of the spiders that come in contact with them. These are simply pieces of cardboard that have a really sticky goo on them (they make them pre baited for hobo spiders and non-baited also) I don't know if they have them for widows. Put them in heavy spider areas of your house, on the floor next to a wall ect. But, if you have them for a while and don't catch any black widows, then most likely you are killing the widows competators.
These are all things that I have had to do to help get rid of all of the hobo spiders around my house.
2006-12-13 09:01:41 · answer #1 · answered by bunja2 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The very best way to ensure an almost spider free environment is to clean and brighten up your home..spiders (like most insects prefer dark, dank spaces where they are undisturbed) BUT this wont get rid of all of them.
You can use moth ball bombs in the areas where cleaning each day is impossible...like basement corners, attic eaves and anywhere else you dont venture into all the time. (just be sure that you keep these away from children pets etc.)
Hedge apples arent very effective but you can try em if you want.
If you seem to be seeing more spiders then you can live with call an exterminator and have them do a jopb on yer house..then clean and dust thoroughly as often as possible. About all you can do is eliminatge their living environments and make it uncomfortable for them to stay around.
Peace
2006-12-13 09:17:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are plenty of black widows where I live too. Although they like to build webs up against the outside of the house in the back yard, I've never seen one inside the house.
Whenever the population gets too large outside (they build big communal webs, with 20 or more adults), I go out and smash some. I've used rocks, sticks, garden tools, and fly swatters. All reasonably effective, although a fly swatter may have to be used more than once. Be careful not to let any climb your pants leg while you're messing up the web.
2006-12-13 10:00:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are sticky traps you can purchase that have some sort of pheromone spiders are attracted to. I'm not sure if there are different types of strips, but there's one for Brown Recluses that works quite well.
The traps are non-toxic so your kids won't get hurt. Another thing: vacuum crevices and corners as much as possible. Spiders prefer dingy areas. They get pissed when you clean a lot.
Like the first guy said, you could also buy a lizard, but you might want to try the traps first.
2006-12-13 09:05:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Step on it or smash it with a Shoe or some other flat object. That'll Do The Trick and the Cats will remain Safe!
2016-03-13 06:34:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I use a 2x4. Smash! Works every time and no toxic chemicals!
2006-12-13 09:02:45 · answer #6 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do you know a black widows can hold his breath for 24 hours
2006-12-13 08:52:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
My mom, bought some kind of apple that keeps spiders out of the house. Its green, and it looks moldy, but she has one in every room, and all the spiders have left. It really works, but I cant remember the name of it......Sorry, google it
2006-12-13 08:50:25 · answer #8 · answered by Chet the Body 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get a lizard. they eat'm.
2006-12-13 08:46:32 · answer #9 · answered by James O 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋