to kill all the spiders?

[bessarabiantiger]

We live in the country, we're very lucky with our house and we've been here two years. There's a lake on the property and with lakes come mosquito hoardes (fine, live and let live, we knew about this when ee took the place, and with mosquito hoardes come spiders.

I am alright with most types of spider, I allow Huntsman (? Spindly legged) in every room as they're no bother and keep the mossies down when we have the windows open. Brown recluse get ejected with a glass & cardboard or eaten by the cat.

This year we have a problem with false widows and a kind we've never seen before. They are awful. Striped and with extra long front legs, they shamble across the ceiling as if they're drunk & often fall in your drink/dinner/hair.

We now have around 80 of the fuckers in the kitchen. They are making nests. For many people this wouldn't even be an issue. But me being me I've said to myself, well the windows are open, they aren't scaring me on purpose (even after the night I walked into the kitchen without turning the lights on and had one who was making a web land on my face. ARGH!) Etc. Etc.

We've used every natural repellant going. From plug-in spider scarers (knew they were bullshit but was at wits end last sept) to conkers, peppermint oil, spider hoover, removing them all outside (shudder. That was a horrible day) only to find a new gang there in the morning.

After me and DH being bitten this week (him on the neck, me on the hand WHILST ASLEEP IN BED! Hand swelled up for the next 24 hours, yes, it was a spider, found it crawling down my leg) I have finally and very reluctantly bought spider poison.

I am hoping someone can offer a better solution before I have to use it. DS has mild asthma and am worried about the effect on him (we will evacuate for the day after use) and it's an aersol as well as a poison. It sounds silly, but I've only ever used aerosol twice- the ozone layer was so drummed into me at school it feels akin to pooping straight down a whales blow hole!

AIBU to kill the spiders so they stop biting us? Has anyone got any other solution?

We break webs and remove visible offenders bi-daily BTW.

Eugh I couldn't sleep at night! Kill them all.

Airside, promise me you'll call them all Charlotte. Especially if my eviction plan fails and they all gang up on me and eat me to death.

We are all agreed on gallopy fuckers. They are just WRONG.

After last year I have armed myself with sprays and powders...just laid down food grade diatomaceous earth along the edge of my house, steps and doors and spread some with a brush across my patio slabs near to the patio door...when spiders go across it it kills them. My phobia is completely off scale since I have been living on my own as there is no-one to deal with them except me and I just can't cope with anything like the size of those in the pics that have been posted.

Wankarella, I don't sleep. Mainly because my bed is apparently some kind of spiders playground/toilet.

DAMN YOU POOP SPIDERS. DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL.

Lilmiss, magic earth you say?

bess I don't actually use hairspray on my hair. It is strictly a cheap brand that I bought to use on the fast spiders. the big fast spiders remind me of the Buffy episode with the eggs.

remains to be seen as I just put it down today but where I have used insectoral spray on my upstairs windows and door frames I have seen some 'hidden' spiders run for their lives in the other directions and in one case it killed one so I know the spray definitely works!

forget to add that when it rains I have to respray but so far I haven't had any inside yet

Have ordered magic earth, is there a required spell to make it work? Stripus evictus?

Do I want to know about the Buffy episode with the eggs?

I have a friend who found an egg sac of redbacks - she did set fire to it, through the medium of her cigarette lighter and hairspray. It was quite spectacular, apparently! but it wasn't in her bed, it was somewhere far less flammable.

You must name one Aragog, like the spider from Harry Potter. Although to be honest, if you get one this big, I think moving might be the best approach.

Anyone else thinking of these two funny memes?

[http://www.rottenecards.com/ecards/Rottenecards_19825153_dtxcn22qx3.png cinnamon]]

lynx

Ah fail!

cinnamon

That looks like a cardinal spider to me, stripy legs. I've got them. They're the largest spider in the UK. Called Cardinal Spiders cos Cardinal Wolsey was terrified by them.

I might have to burn the egg sacs off the kitchen ceiling. They seem to be resistant to both hoover and brush. Little Thumbwitch is now napping after giving a small stripus bastardicus a good telling off for walking over her web. She's feisty.

Alice I have dubbed the one in the porch (pic up thread, the one with hairy legs and what look like...antlers?) Aragog. We will never find out if he can talk, because I am never opening the porch again.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tegenaria_parietina

If it is, you should call him Thomas.

Loved the Axe one!

Enb, Cardinal Wolsey was right to be terrified. It's got ANTLERS!

If anyone does use the earth make sure when you spread it that it is on a dry day and no rain coming for at least 24hrs so it can works it magic and also wear goggles, mask over your nose and gloves when spreading it. This is because whilst it is not poisonous ,when spreading it diatomaceous earth can irritate the nose and nasal passages. If an extremely large amount is inhaled, people may cough and have shortness of breath. On skin, it can cause irritation and dryness. Diatomaceous earth may also irritate the eyes, due to its abrasive nature. Any dust, including silica, can be irritating to the eyes.

Once you have spread it and it has settled it is completely fine and safe. I don't mess about with my health so always follow instructions to the letter so thought I would let you know as well :)

Diatomaceous earth causes insects to dry out and die by absorbing the oils and fats from the cuticle of the insect's exoskeleton. Its sharp edges are abrasive, speeding up the process. It remains effective as long as it is kept dry and undisturbed.

Thomas Aragog von Antlers.

BTW you can eat the stuff too as apparently its one of those health food things but I can't myself doing that :S

Thankyou LilMiss. That was very useful. I may build a new house in the garden out of that stuff.

haha no problem just wanted you to know how to use it properly :)

OMG!!!! I have giggled so much reading through this thread.

Bess contact an exterminator...seriously. The photos of spiders are like the ones that were infesting my cellar. A Hoover worked for me but you've got the nests!!!! And whenthey hatch....eughhhhhhhh Get an exterminator....get a few quotes

I couldnt wheely, what would become of Little Thumbwitch & the Charlottes (the new and exciting all-girl spider pop group)?

I'm going to take more pics when they all wake up and get interesting. We still aren't sure what Stripus Bastardicus even are. I will then evict them by capture & take them to Solos house. She LOVES spiders.

Bess your a stronger woman than me.

Here's some spider species:

www.rentokil.co.uk/spiders/species/