Spiders

[Reg1952]

Any one else have problems with spiders? Have always had Daddy long leg spider making huge webs in my shop. Did a major clean up last week and walk through it again today and walked through three new webs. Was thinking of one of those timed dispensing devices that spray a chemical.

 

[The Cobbler]

spiders are good, they eat other bugs

 

[Junkman]

The only spiders that I don't like are the recluse spiders. A bite from one of those can make your life a living hell and bankrupt your health insurance company for your treatment. Generally, I leave the spiders alone because they catch and eat other bugs.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

The only spiders that I don't like are the recluse spiders. A bite from one of those can make your life a living hell and bankrupt your health insurance company for your treatment. Generally, I leave the spiders alone because they catch and eat other bugs.

Yeah, lets talk, I spent a week in the hospital starting on the 4th of July weekend.

I got bit by a B/R, while digging in a lumber pile 7 days earlier, I knew they where in there running around, I saw them, but some sob ran up my leg, and bit me on the hip.

Near killed me. Was told I was less than 24hrs from a dirt nap, after I arrived at ER. I had been to a clinic of that same hospital days earlier, but the meds they gave only slowed it down.. didnt stop it. I had a bacterial infection in my blood from the bite.

Knew things where bad when I walked into ER on the Saturday of the 4th , place is standing room only, and I was in a room, in less than 5 minutes, I guess I looked that bad. That is when I got scared. Staff told me I was either septic or going septic. Dont really know what that means or if I even got the word right. They did a MRSA ? protocol on me, I think. Lots of labs, lots of blood giving,... and 5 days of IV bags.

In a town of 15k, was told my attending Dr, that they saw on average one person like me a week. They could tell it was a brown recluse after the fact by looking at my makers ? Inflamation, kidney, liver, etc.,.. I guess it painted a picture. Also learned they are more venomous than a pit viper, but the quantity is significantly less.

When I was 40, one of my classmates from high school died, here at home, from a bite on one of his toes.

 

[CombatNinja]

Any one else have problems with spiders? Have always had Daddy long leg spider making huge webs in my shop. Did a major clean up last week and walk through it again today and walked through three new webs. Was thinking of one of those timed dispensing devices that spray a chemical.

True "Daddy Longlegs" are a)not actually spiders and b) don't spin silk. You probably have cellar spiders, often confused. Easiest way to tell them apart is Cellar Spiders have a segmented body with a distinct head and abdomen whereas Harvestmen just have a little round body.

 

[Viper98912]

Eff spiders. Where's my spray and/or broom.

 

[Junkman]

Yeah, lets talk, I spent a week in the hospital starting on the 4th of July weekend.

I got bit by a B/R, while digging in a lumber pile 7 days earlier, I knew they where in there running around, I saw them, but some sob ran up my leg, and bit me on the hip.

Near killed me. Was told I was less than 24hrs from a dirt nap, after I arrived at ER. I had been to a clinic of that same hospital days earlier, but the meds they gave only slowed it down.. didnt stop it. I had a bacterial infection in my blood from the bite.

Knew things where bad when I walked into ER on the Saturday of the 4th , place is standing room only, and I was in a room, in less than 5 minutes, I guess I looked that bad. That is when I got scared. Staff told me I was either septic or going septic. Dont really know what that means or if I even got the word right. They did a MRSA ? protocol on me, I think. Lots of labs, lots of blood giving,... and 5 days of IV bags.

In a town of 15k, was told my attending Dr, that they saw on average one person like me a week. They could tell it was a brown recluse after the fact by looking at my makers ? Inflamation, kidney, liver, etc.,.. I guess it painted a picture. Also learned they are more venomous than a pit viper, but the quantity is significantly less.

When I was 40, one of my classmates from high school died, here at home, from a bite on one of his toes.

There is a lot of good information about the treatment of Brown Recluse spider bites, but the most important of all the information is that they have to be treated immediately. I know someone that is a retired US Park Ranger and knew all of the immediate treatments, and when she was bit she immediately started to take action. She had to educate the ER doctor and tell him exactly what medications were necessary. She told him that if he had any questions to call the ER at the Mayo Clinic, and they would verify the information that she was giving him. She still had some problems, but none were severe as the bite was treated properly right after it happened. Prompt treatment by a knowledgeable Dr. is important for a good outcome.

 

[wssix99]

I never see them because I use this. Its fabulous.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

There is a lot of good information about the treatment of Brown Recluse spider bites, but the most important of all the information is that they have to be treated immediately. I know someone that is a retired US Park Ranger and knew all of the immediate treatments, and when she was bit she immediately started to take action. She had to educate the ER doctor and tell him exactly what medications were necessary. She told him that if he had any questions to call the ER at the Mayo Clinic, and they would verify the information that she was giving him. She still had some problems, but none were severe as the bite was treated properly right after it happened. Prompt treatment by a knowledgeable Dr. is important for a good outcome.

I did ALLOT of reading right after the bite, but clearly didnt pick up the right info, nor did the clinic I wandered into,... good to know.. thanks for sharing.

What I came away with, if it happens again, I will get in front of an MD and get started on the right protocol stat. Allot of what I read, said most bites " work themselves out, just keep it clean " and only a small percentage where extreme and needed medical treatment.... not so much,...

 

[RoninB4]

Any one else have problems with spiders? Have always had Daddy long leg spider making huge webs in my shop. Did a major clean up last week and walk through it again today and walked through three new webs. Was thinking of one of those timed dispensing devices that spray a chemical.

Most spiders are of no consequence except for those that have an inordinate fear of them (me). Only really two types to be wary of that have been already mentioned, both of them here where I live. After living in Texas I've developed a policy of don't put your hand where you cannot see. I have these in the photo below but they're harmless as long as I don't grab a handful of one, did that once, while reaching for the light switch in the basement. That's a full size light bulb in the photo.

Daddy long legs are harmless, fangs are too short to puncture skin and they know it. Garden spiders are menacing but also harmless. Those dispensing devices were used at Little Debbie, when I contracted there, using a food grade substance (Pyrethrin) that wasn't a standard neuro-toxin but it burned the lungs a bit if inhaled, not pleasant at all for the next 3 days hacking it out.

 

[gmcgeo]

We spray, however get spiders all the time, My cousin was bit by a brown recluse last week. he had to have the flesh removed from the bite. then on heavy antibiotics.

 

[Feralghoul88]

I got bit by a spider and it killed me, now im dead. Beware of scary spiders! They kill hundreds of people a year! Even more deadly than covid!

 

[Copymutt]

Wolf, tarantulas, black widers, daddy long legs here. If any above are found in the garage or home I capture w/ a wide mouth jug and release elsewhere. All except the BWs, kill on the spot.The number of spider offspring are huge, so they can infest to the level of available food.
Wolfs are fast suckers. Tarantulas can make good terrarium pets.
Pin a daddy long legs by one leg w/ your finger, ask him him way the cows went. He will point in the appropriate direction. A sticky high thread count web is a sure sign of a wider.

 

[dougf]

I hate spiders too. Last summer I was mowing and SWORE I got bit on the pecker since I had a sore the next day. Turns out it was herpes. Wolf spiders were everywhere on the lawn so that's what I figured it was. Oh well.

 

[Feralghoul88]

I hate spiders too. Last summer I was mowing and SWORE I got bit on the pecker since I had a sore the next day. Turns out it was herpes. Wolf spiders were everywhere on the lawn so that's what I figured it was. Oh well.

So youre telling me that wasnt a spider that bit me when i was with that nice lady at the truck stop?

 

[67Charger440]

Lots of decent sized wolf spiders and black widows in the garage. Wolf's I don't mind, but they scare the **** out of me when they come shooting out from under something I pick up off the floor. Black widows **** because they multiply so fast and lurk in the areas you don't access often, but when you need to, they're right there waiting. In my SoCal shop, I would kill about 6-10 widows EACH NIGHT in the summer. Brake-Kleen and an AimFlame. Anything with a 2' gap to the ground was guaranteed to have one or two hanging upside down midway to the ground. Every vehicle and trailer, gap between sheds, mower to ground... EVERYWHERE.

 

[slowtwitch73]

There's plenty of 'good spiders' you can keep around that won't turn your skin to Jello.

**** the badies.... kill em.

I like sticky traps. Our old house had a lot of BR.. after a couple seasons of keeping traps out (down in crawl space too), their numbers declined significantly. I'd put them at both ends of the garage door, both sides of man door etc etc.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

There's plenty of 'good spiders' you can keep around that won't turn your skin to Jello.

**** the badies.... kill em.

I like sticky traps. Our old house had a lot of BR.. after a couple seasons of keeping traps out (down in crawl space too), their numbers declined significantly. I'd put them at both ends of the garage door, both sides of man door etc etc.

After my recent indoctrination to the spider problem, I ordred up a box of 72 glue traps for the shop and my basement... I spent some time in Arizona, maybe 15yrs ago, I remember learning while there, that because arachnids are exoskeleton, spraying for them, or spraying them, is essentially worthless. They need to eat the poision, otherwise, meh...

 

[no704]

WD40 does a nice job on BW.

 

[ATC]

I live on 5 acres in the woods.

I kill every spider I see

Especially when they scare the **** out of me in the early morning hours when I'm **** nekkid and still half asleep...

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

I live on 5 acres in the woods.

I kill every spider I see

Especially when they scare the **** out of me in the early morning hours when I'm **** nekkid and still half asleep...

How is it, that you can maintain the composure to go find a camera, while hoping those SOB's stay put long enough to photograph, and then kill ? Freaks me out...

 

[SkyPuncher]

Also recommend the glue traps. Use them in basement for wolf spiders.

 

[ATC]

How is it, that you can maintain the composure to go find a camera, while hoping those SOB's stay put long enough to photograph, and then kill ? Freaks me out...

I'm not scared of spiders, however when you fling the shower curtain open, and that big ******* comes out of the fold at face level, while I'm standing there **** naked....I was a bit startled. I used a box of tissues to knock him to the ground and smush him.

But I'm like that with all bugs. There's way too many insects as it is, so I smush every one that crosses my path (I give certain bugs a pass....like praying mantis, stick bugs, lady bugs, etc...)

 

[Buckgnarly]

Gotta remember to check back here in Feb when I'm cursing the weeks of sub zero weather and feet of snow.....

 

[Viper98912]

How is it, that you can maintain the composure to go find a camera, while hoping those SOB's stay put long enough to photograph, and then kill ? Freaks me out...

And naked at that!

 

[ATC]

And naked at that!

I think the spider was just as shocked as I was

 

[Buckgnarly]

Somewhere on a spider forum is a pic of a naked guy screaming in the shower.

 

[Jackfre]

I’m always surprised at how quickly the lanky harmless spiders can web up the corners and windows of the shop. The Widows are plentiful here as well. On the sidewalk on the shop the other day I walked around the corner and got a full face and upper body web. You know it is a widow because the web just kinda crackles when you break it. Creepy. My tractor, truck bottom and it seems the eves of the buildings are widow territory.

 

[thebmrust]

Kill. Every. Spider.

I spray for insects too. Hoping to remove the food the spiders are seeking. We use the foggers inside and spray outside. I also do not turn on the light at the back door in the summer.

 

[KEH]

D used to live in St. Louis which I was told was heavily infested with B Rs. I saw a couple, one of which was outside and got stepped on. The other was inside on a wall which was dealt with by a loose shoe. People there are careful about shaking out their shoes in the morning and using other similar precautions. I'm glad to be back in SC and able to deal with Black Widows.

KEH

 

[Beelzeboss]

I live in Australia and the brown recluse sounds way scarier than anything we have here, except maybe funnel webs. The last confirmed death from a spider bite here was in 1979.

Personally I don't really like spiders but only the big ones really freak me out, like Huntsman's *shudder*

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

Here in the ATL (and GA) we have been invaded by Joro spiders.
Last year they were 3-4"across- leg end to leg end. This year they are relatively small (so far)- maybe last winter had something to do with it. They are very fast at web building- and very large! One last year had a web between a couple of trees that was at least 3' in diameter!

 

[slowtwitch73]

I live in Australia and the brown recluse sounds way scarier than anything we have here, except maybe funnel webs. The last confirmed death from a spider bite here was in 1979.

Personally I don't really like spiders but only the big ones really freak me out, like Huntsman's *shudder*

You guys have the market cornered on creepy poisonous stuff.

 

[LOW1]

I live in Australia and the brown recluse sounds way scarier than anything we have here, except maybe funnel webs. The last confirmed death from a spider bite here was in 1979.

Personally I don't really like spiders but only the big ones really freak me out, like Huntsman's *shudder*

I have filleted smaller fish than that.

 

[jayemm]

I’m always surprised at how quickly the lanky harmless spiders can web up the corners and windows of the shop. The Widows are plentiful here as well. On the sidewalk on the shop the other day I walked around the corner and got a full face and upper body web. You know it is a widow because the web just kinda crackles when you break it. Creepy. My tractor, truck bottom and it seems the eves of the buildings are widow territory.

I guess you know to take a good look before putting your hand in wheel wells. I learned that lesson years ago while visiting a heavy equipment dealer in Stockton ,CA. No sooner put my hand in a piece of equipment to check something and a Black Widow came racing out of a corner towards it. Luckily I was faster and it met it's demise from a big combination wrench. I had never seen a spider web so strong that it's almost like ripping cloth. The equipment normally hits the wash rack and gets steam cleaned before coming in the shop. Guess that one got missed.

 

[PoorUB]

I think the spider was just as shocked as I was

Naw, the spider was impressed!

 

[DAustin]

 

[Swanny1953]

I spray around the perimeter of the garage, especially the doors, with Ortho Home Defense monthly/every other month. Seems to help. I don't hate spiders, just their damn webs.
It's a big problem at our lake place in E. TX, where I have had a misting system for almost 20 years. However, it seems DEQ has mandated changes in chemical formulations to reduce effectiveness - I didn't have a web or mud dauber nest for many years, now they are commonplace, even with the misting system operational! Damn bureaucrats!!

 

[slimpickins]

I don't like spiders much but they don't freak me out. It's the webs and the shite that drops under their webs from all the other bugs they kill. Freaking gross to see insect bodies and body parts, as well as the drippings and actual spider shite.
I'm glad we don't get may poisonous ones up here in Canada.
I generally kill any bugs that get indoors or start hanging around my doors, building webs, etc., OR when something just gets out of control.
My GO TO insecticide is Dawn soap in a dial a sprayer. Set to about 10 or 15 on the dial and it will kill almost anything. It does this by overcoming the water repellent oils on bugs exoskeleton and they can't breathe. Ants, spiders, wasps, etc. Most die within seconds. I had a massive, MASSIVE maple bug infestation the last several years. They were in clumps with 10-20 times what this picture shows.
The soap seems to have a bit of a residual effect as well but it easily washes away in the rain.

Tens of thousands of them last summer and the summer before. Last summer I sprayed the entire yard with the soap sprayer. Done! They were gone and there are next to none this year.

Regarding daddy long legs, they are poisonous, not venomous. They can bite through un-calloused skin and will cause pain, swelling and itching. The poison can also be absorbed through the skin though not as readily.
Someone mentioned lady bugs, and it does not seem to be well know that there is an invasive species called the Asian Lady Beetle which is easily mistaken for the domestic variety. They DO bite. And they are starting to eliminate other native species of bugs and they are harmful to pets.
See this article:
Watch Out: These “Fake” Ladybugs Will Bite You, Poop on You, and Stain Your Clothes


Take care out there!
SP

 

[HenryAZ]

I guess you know to take a good look before putting your hand in wheel wells.

Here in AZ, also those outdoor plumbing and irrigation boxes that sit in the ground, with the top flush. I always run a stick around the inside when first opening one, to gather any BW webs and expose the spider. The BWs also like to web on the underside of my front porch Andirondack chair.