Killing Spiders?

**Aggie_Ama** · 07-25-2008, 07:27 AM

We have a black widow who has taken up residence with her egg sack on my front porch. Normally we let spiders, lizards, birds, frogs, etc... live in peace on our property but this little gal could cause problems. What is an effective means of getting rid of them? My husband has a weak immune system and can't risk a bite.

**Chicken Little** · 07-25-2008, 08:03 AM

Catch her and the egg sack in a jar and move her somewhere else. You want to keep your Karma in good shape!

**Irulan** · 07-25-2008, 08:46 AM

When it comes to Black Widows, Brown recluses and Hobos, we are pretty ruthless as they are very very dangerous. Female Black Widows are the venomous ones: more potent than a rattlesnake. So we kill them, I'd rather not take any chances myself. Espeically since we have family members that are highly sensitive to bites.

**Aggie_Ama** · 07-25-2008, 08:56 AM

Irulan- How do you kill them? In addition to the weak immune system my husband is very bite sensitive. I want that little spider gone!

**Blueberry** · 07-25-2008, 08:57 AM

Not to be indelicate, but I usually squash them. With something long. Then drown the egg case (completely submerge for a while). You can also get a spray if you prefer (not sure which one works, as I haven't bought one for a while). And yes - I leave "nice" spiders along. But if it will bite me, it goes.

**Irulan** · 07-25-2008, 08:58 AM

my hubby, who is the one that will end up with a bad reaction, just smooshes them, or sprays them. I with you in letting most things be, but all one has to do is google spider bites/images and you'll see why this is one area we don't have much compassion in.

**Pax** · 07-25-2008, 09:18 AM

A vacuum cleaner works pretty well too, this negates the "jumping" hazard.

**Mr. Bloom** · 07-25-2008, 01:56 PM

As the one who deals with spiders and snakes at our house, I'd say spray it, then clean up the remains.

**Boise Birder** · 07-25-2008, 08:08 PM

I love spiders. But, when they are in a place that threatens humans. something must be done. It is ok, but I appreciate how you feel.

I volunteer at a facility that is open to the public, and I was the black widow specialist. I dispatched them by squishing, when necessary. I wasn't frightened by them. I did wish them well and hoped what is beyond this existence is good for them. We all spend a limited time on this earth.

With egg sacks (found in my garage), I put them in a container and poured boiling water on them. Little environmental impact, and it takes care of the problem.

It is great you care so much. Some of you may think I'm nutty. That is ok. It won't be the first time.

**Blueberry** · 07-25-2008, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by Boise Birder

Some of you may think I'm nutty. That is ok. It won't be the first time.

I think we're all a little nutty in our own ways

That must have been a cool job!

CA

**Mr. Bloom** · 07-26-2008, 04:25 AM

Originally Posted by Boise Birder

Some of you may think I'm nutty. That is ok. It won't be the first time.

I wouldn't have considered the boiling water...I like that!

**TrekJeni** · 07-26-2008, 07:32 AM

Where is it? I'll come and get it!

We went camping a few years ago and while unloading the truck of firewood when we got home (before the Emerald Ash Borer thing), we realized we had a stowaway. I gently coaxed her into a jar with a lid and promptly headed off to Petsmart to get her more suitable living quarters. I bought her some crickets and a little waterer. She lived with me for quite awhile and then I let her go far enough away from the house after the novelty wore off. She was pretty neat to watch.

But then again, I have these fantastic insect, butterfly, and bird books where I look up everything I see. Hmmm... me thinks I'm in the wrong field and I need to go back to school for entomology or something!

**Jones** · 07-26-2008, 03:31 PM

We smoosh them with a rubber mallet.

**BikeMomma** · 07-26-2008, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by Jones

We smoosh them with a rubber mallet.

I'm a bit more sinister -- I poke at her for a while with something long enough to feel safe with and get her mad -- THEN I squash her, spray her, etc. Sounds mean, but it's mainly that I'm curious about how they act when they're pissed off. Ah, the wonders of nature.

Yea, I'm with others -- anything that threatens my family by being poisonous, it's a gonner before it even gets close. Survival of the biggest.

~BikeMomma

**crazycanuck** · 07-26-2008, 08:24 PM

shoestomp STOMP

Ian is an arachnophobe & I get to thwack the Redbacks & Whitetails..

Now, if there was a Huntsman spider

it would be batshoe spraySTOMP Either that or i'd find a vacuum..then again Huntsmans are pretty big & might not fit up the hose..

Spiders are fine, just not in my house. I am happy to watch them outside on our fence

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