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Getting rid of black widow spiders?
OK, we were bad last fall--we left all the leaves down in our yard until spring. Our lawnmower was broken so my husband couldn't mow them over like he did last year, and I had a hard time getting out to rake with a crawling 8-month-old (never did figure out a good way to take her out with me). Now black widow spiders have taken over the back of my garden. I guess I've made a perfect habitat for them with a fence for structure and leaves for cover. Obviously I have to get rid of them so my now-15-month-old daughter and I can safely garden. We live in Virginia, and almost everyone I ask around here says they've never seen one, let alone the 20+ that are infesting my garden. Does anyone have any ideas for safely getting rid of these spiders? I'm hoping maybe folks who live in areas where they're more common might have some advice for me.
So far I'm clearing the leaves to get rid of their cover and working on killing the spiders. I take my rake and pull the leaves out of the webs one by one until I find a spider, then spray it with a permethrin-based spray and smash it with a hoe. The main problem with this approach is time--it's very tedious, if effective, and I can only do it when my daughter is napping and not outside with me.
Comments
Get a professional opinion
Contact either an exterminator or your county extension office.
Sorry, not much help. My expertise is how to rid myself of rattlesnakes (use a shotgun). LOL! Black Widows are scary to me, but I've always just squished the few that I have found (since they don't go leaping at you). Don't go watching Arachniphobia or 8-legged freaks any time soon. LOL!
bringing kids outside
Spiders aside, my mom and my mom-in-law would put us kids out in the yard on a blanket so that we could play somewhere but also explore if we wanted to. I did the same with my daughter. Kids are fun in the garden. They can learn about (and learn to respect!) quite young the wonders of the growing world.
spider glue traps
For big infestations, the advice online that I've seen recommend the kind of spray you're already using for black widows. If you're infested with any other kind of spider, though, ALWAYS check before you spray, because some, like the hobo spider here in the NW, are immune to poison and makes it worse (kills other spiders, no competition, hobo population booms).
I've also seen glue traps recommended--cardboard with industrial strength sticky stuff on it. The spiders walk in, get stuck, you throw it away. Non toxic and virtually no labor.
It only works when the spider's wander, though, and black widow females don't move from their web, so this is good with the males and with females before they nest. A good preventative during and after you clear up the infestation.
You can also vacuum the spiders, their nests, and their egg sacks. Then safely dispose of the bag--can you burn where you are? If not, seal in another bag and throw away. I'd use a shop vac and an extension cord in the garden if you have one--they've got powerful suction and long wand attachment to keep your distance.
Whatever you do, wear gloves when you do it! Sorry you're infested, how nervewracking, I'd be having nervous fits. I've only seen a black widow once, we were living in SW Missouri. The threat there was more the brown recluses which were everyfrickinwhere.
One of my doctors said her husband wore their baby tucked into a backpack when he had to mow the lawn. Seriously. Do you have a wrap or sling or baby backpack to put the kiddo in to keep her up and away from the spiders? A play yard set up outside with you while you work? She's probably too big for those jumparoos or exersaucers by now, isn't she? I never had one of those, they annoyed me, but I also never had to keep a baby safe out of doors, either. You can generally get the slings, baby backpacks, excersaucers, etc. on the cheap at resale hand baby stores, like Other Mothers.
Good luck!
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Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.
-- Albert Schweitzer
Cedarcide
There is a company named Cedarcide in Texas that produces a product made from cedar oil that gets rid of insects and snakes. The cedar oil breaks down the exoskelton and kills eggs. Snakes hate the smell of cedar and will stay away. Moles kill snakes and where there are no snakes the moles will be reduced also. I've used this stuff in my garden and on myself and my cats. Kills fleas on contact. Best part - completely natural and NON-TOXIC. I don't work for the company I don't get a kickback. I don't like using pesticides and I know Cedarcide works. Two red ant nests in my backyard - 4 months ago I poured a couple of cups of Cedarcide into the nests and the ants are gone. I want everyone to use this stuff as if it gets into the water table it's no problem - I want everyone to stop using pesticides and go with cedar oil. It is completely safe and works. You can put it on full strength to keep mosquitoes away. They have mosquito foggers too. Expensive, goes a long way, non-toxic - and WORKS!
Thanks for the advice
I've put my daughter in my mei tai for yard work before, but it gets in the way of some chores and she'll only tolerate it for so long. I don't think I want her out with me at all while I'm getting rid of the spiders. I tried a play yard, too, but she hated it and sat and cried. She's 15 months old now and she wants to be exploring everywhere. I'm hoping that once I clear the leaves and kill the spiders I can find, I can bring her in my garden with me. It's fenced and she couldn't wander off (though she may not be very good for my plants!)
Thanks for the advice--I appreciate it! We do have a shop vac, but I don't think it takes bags. I'd be scared of getting bitten when I tried to empty the thing. I guess it could be worse--it could be rattlesnakes (eek!) I hate these spiders, though. They seriously give me nightmares. If I didn't have to clean them up for my daughter I don't think I could make myself deal with them at all.
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