Do you know of anyone who has been bitten by a deadly spider? Well, the possibility is very low that
you do.
Most spiders are harmless creatures, unless your are an insect.
However, every one of us, it seems, hates to meet this eight-legged creepy creature; maybe because they
look so deadly.
I am of two minds when it comes to spiders. Why? Spiders are beneficial arthropods, that
survive by feeding on insects. Oftentimes, they are the most important biological control
of insect pests in gardens, fields, forests, and homes.
Still, it is no fun to run into a cobweb or
have a spider crawl on you. There are about 1000 species of spiders in the United States, but only a very
few are deadly to human. So should I love spiders or hate them?
To get rid of spiders, you may first want to keep away the insects that the
spiders feed on. For example, if food droppings remain in your kitchen overnight, then that will
attract insects like ants. And since many spiders place ants
high on their favorite meals list, the spiders will come in with the ants. So a first step in getting rid
of spiders is to
keep your kitchen clean. This, in general, is a good overall pest control task.
You will also want to keep your closet clean and tidy. Make sure that clothes do not lie
on the floor in
heaps - heaped clothes are warm shelter for spiders in the cold wintertime.
Most spider bites are harmless, the may feel unpleasant, if noticed at all. Still there
Are some deadly exceptions, black widows and brown recluse spiders are the most commonly known
poisonous spiders. The hobo spider, wolf spider, and jumping spider can also produce bites that
require medical attention.
If you think you may have those species wondering in your home you will want to
take some precautions until they are removed.
To prevent spider bites...
Shake out clothing and shoes before putting them on.
Inspect bedding and towels before use.
Wear gloves when handling firewood, lumber, and rocks (Don't forget to inspect the gloves for
spiders before putting them on).
Remove bedskirts and storage boxes from underneath beds. Move the bed away from the wall.
Exercise care when handling cardboard boxes (spiders often are found in the space
under folded cardboard flaps).
Keeping spiders out of the home...
Install tight-fitting screens on windows and doors; also install door sweeps.
Seal or caulk cracks and crevices where spiders can enter the house.
Install yellow or sodium vapor light bulbs outdoors. Such lights attract fewer insects for
spiders to munch upon.
Tape the edges of cardboard boxes to prevent spider entry.
Use plastic bags (sealed) to store loose items in the garage, basement, and attic.
Clean up Outside and Inside Your Home
Remove trash, old boxes, old clothing, wood piles, rock piles, and other unwanted items.
Eliminate clutter in closets, basements, attics, garages, and outbuildings.
Do not stack wood against the house.
Clean up dead insects that the brown spiders can feed on.
Non-chemical control
Use sticky traps or glueboards to capture spiders.
Dust and vacuum thoroughly to remove spiders, webs, and egg sacs
(dispose of the vacuum bag in a container outdoors).
Use a rolled up newspaper or fly swatter to kill individual spiders.
Spray, withn a spray bottle, a solution of 40 percent water, 40 percent alcohol and 20 percent dish soap directly
on the spider.
There are, of course, several commercial pesticides you can use to kill spiders. I suggest
reserveing the use of such pesticides for the deadly species of spider, only.
If you do get bitten by a non-poisonous spider, wash the area as you would a minor scratch
to prevent any chance of infection.
If you are bitten by a poisonous spider, remain calm,
but seek medical attention immediately. If possible, bring the spider that bit you (dead remains,
are just fine) with you to the medical facility. Remove nearby rings and constricting items
because the affected area may swell.
There are many things you can do to control spiders. Although most spiders are both harmless and
useful,
if spiders make you panic, there is more you can do to keep them away.
I recommend you get the following, e-book,
Save Me From The Spiders.
Quarantine intercepts black widow spiders (Saipan Tribune)7 Feb 2010 at 8:11am
Two female black widow spiders managed to enter the CNMI via shipping container but both were immediately intercepted by the Quarantine Section of the Department of Lands & Natural Resources' Division of Agricultur, according to a department statement.
Insects devastate Thailand's rice crop, institute says (Thailandnews.net)7 Feb 2010 at 9:47pm
Bangkok - Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides and other poor farming practices have led to an insect plague in Thailand's rice fields that was predicted to reduce yields by 30 per cent in vast...
Insects devastate Thailand's rice crop, institute says (EARTHtimes.org)7 Feb 2010 at 8:54pm
Bangkok - Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides and other poor farming practices have led to an insect plague in Thailand's rice fields that was predicted to reduce yields by 30 per cent in vast areas, the International Rice Research Institute ...
Spitting fish perfect their aim (BBC News)8 Feb 2010 at 12:14pm
A shoal of spitting fish at an aquarium in Bristol is being taught hunting techniques - using artificial flies.
Reader postcard: The Amazon basin (Otago Daily Times)8 Feb 2010 at 10:24am
When we visited South America, we wanted to spend time in the Amazon basin, even though it might be outside our comfort zone. When I picked my way carefully down the muddy bank to the river, and the narrow flat-bottomed boat rocked ominously, I knew this would be exciting travel.
Physicists investigate structural properties of spider webs (PhysOrg)8 Feb 2010 at 11:22am
(PhysOrg.com) -- "Although the orb web of a spider is a lightweight structure, it seems to be a highly optimized structure, presumably as a result of evolution from the Jurassic period or earlier," explain physicists Yuko Aoyananagi and Ko Okumura, who are investigating the structural properties of spider webs. "It seems to resist different loads such as wind and insect impact efficiently and ...
