Black Widow, Friend or foe?

[TheOLDNewChick]

Sure. They're perfectly fine & dandy to look at...

in a picture...

on T.V....

that was filmed across the world...

and of course, the picture has to be so tiny, that I can't see it.

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
That info was from an article I read several years ago. I just attempted to find it myself, but to no avail. So, take it for what's worth...if anything.

That makes sense about the connection between the widow antivenom and the rattlesnake antivenom...both work on the nervous system (neurotoxins?).

Regardless, I'll still stomp'em if I see'em.

 

[jonesgirl]

We get them around any dark damp corner, nook, and crannie, AND every chance we get we squish them... They are VERY dangerous.. Some people can have NO reaction, or a mild one.. BUT to the wrong person it is deadly...

My husband sprays the house once a mont in the summer time to keep the black widdows and scorpions away, because they get into the house... They multiply like crazy!!! I can't even fathom a swarm of baby black widdows AAARHGHERH AHRI

SMASH... I will keep the nice spiders around to eat the flies

 

[AussieSharon]

As someone who as been bitten by a black widow and got an ambulance ride to the ER and was in more pain than having both of my children..

FOE!

 

[wegotchickens]

In 2 years I've never had a problem with my widows in the raised beds. I may kill some this year, though. I found too many egg cases in the strawberry bed when I was cleaning it out last weekend. So I expect I'll have way too many 'helpers' in the garden this year.

Plus, a neighbor's son has been hanging out with DD2, and I haven't had the "Widow talk" with him yet. Need to, as he's already learned the delights of asparagus fresh from the garden. So I know he'll reach for strawberries later on!

 

[HennysMom]

Quote:
I agree!!! I kill them every chance I get *massive shivers*

I got bit by a spider on the calf years ago, still dont know what type it was but boy was I sick and my leg swelled for DAYS on end. Was hot and red, swollen from knee to ankle. I still have a black mark where the tissue is damaged from it. So now I kill spiders no matter what they are

Yes I know.. they are beneficial, however... I cant tell which ones are good and which ones arent. If they are IN MY HOUSE -they die. Outside.. they can live so long as they arent on something I am going to sit on. Sort of like snakes.. *cringe* Leave me alone and I'll leave you alone..come into my personal space..you're a gonner buddy, sorry.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
I agree!!! I kill them every chance I get *massive shivers*

I got bit by a spider on the calf years ago, still dont know what type it was but boy was I sick and my leg swelled for DAYS on end. Was hot and red, swollen from knee to ankle. I still have a black mark where the tissue is damaged from it. So now I kill spiders no matter what they are

Yes I know.. they are beneficial, however... I cant tell which ones are good and which ones arent. If they are IN MY HOUSE -they die. Outside.. they can live so long as they arent on something I am going to sit on. Sort of like snakes.. *cringe* Leave me alone and I'll leave you alone..come into my personal space..you're a gonner buddy, sorry.

i bet a brown recluse got ya! UGH! i hate spiders!

 

[Sparrow]

Quote:
I'm not attempting to be negative here...but if you have to spray every month, the spray isn't working. In fact, spray generally is quite ineffective against things like spiders, scorpions, etc. What it does kill is other insects like caterpillars, roly polys(which are not insects, but crustaceans), butterflies, flies, beetles, crickets, etc. Spiders and scorpions do not eat anything with poison on it because they eat other bugs. The only way most sprays can be effective against arachnids is if the spider/scorp/whatever happens to eat a spray coated bug BEFORE it dies from the poison. Then, the spider will die, too. Otherwise, bug sprays are essentially ineffective against the "creepy" creatures most people hope to get rid of.

You are going to have more luck getting rid of spiders and scorpions if you create an environment that isn't so friendly to the bugs that they eat. If there are no food bugs, the spiders have no desire to hang around and will start living elsewhere.

I spend waaay too much time keeping/studying/researching Arthropods, so I'm always interested in "bug" related conversations. lol

 

[BellLisamo]

i HATE spiders. I freak out even if there is a little one crawling past me. Black widows... im sorry to say i kill, but i have 2 kids, and one plays with the rocks and things in the yard. Our spides hide under the rocks....

 

[jbowyer01]

Quote:
I'm not attempting to be negative here...but if you have to spray every month, the spray isn't working. In fact, spray generally is quite ineffective against things like spiders, scorpions, etc. What it does kill is other insects like caterpillars, roly polys(which are not insects, but crustaceans), butterflies, flies, beetles, crickets, etc. Spiders and scorpions do not eat anything with poison on it because they eat other bugs. The only way most sprays can be effective against arachnids is if the spider/scorp/whatever happens to eat a spray coated bug BEFORE it dies from the poison. Then, the spider will die, too. Otherwise, bug sprays are essentially ineffective against the "creepy" creatures most people hope to get rid of.

You are going to have more luck getting rid of spiders and scorpions if you create an environment that isn't so friendly to the bugs that they eat. If there are no food bugs, the spiders have no desire to hang around and will start living elsewhere.

I spend waaay too much time keeping/studying/researching Arthropods, so I'm always interested in "bug" related conversations. lol

Ditto on the spray thing. My daughter is in an entomology class (she loves creepy crawlies! YUCK! She is studying to be a scientific illustrator) she states that a spider does not clean and preen itself the way a roach or most other bugs do, so they do not ingest the poison. The only way to get rid of a spider is either get rid of its webs or smoosh it. I vote for the smoosh thing, she votes for putting it in a jar and bringing it in the house (this is why she doesnt live with dear old mom!)