spider help

[mardott]

Hi All,

Does anyone have tips on getting rid of black widows? We're seeing them more and more in our yard, especially in my compost bins. I don't want to spray a poison in my compost, obviously, but neither do I want to be bitten.  I found two of them on the lid this morning!

Comments

[mardott]

Thanks. I'll check out the web page.

[albionwood]

Just ignore them. Black widow bites are quite rare. I lived around them most of my life, including as a child when I stuck my fingers into everything, and never had a problem; and never heard of any other kids being bitten either. Our school was crawling with them!

They do you a lot of good, and any poison or other control measure you try will inevitably affect all other spiders as well - and they are your friends in the garden. Coexist!

[mardott]

I know you're right. I just get get freaked out at the thought of one spider producing several hundred more, and all of them crawling in my compost. Where will they all go? Do black widows have predators?

[albionwood]

They must, else they'd cover the earth already. *shrug* Freak not. Although I confess that I used to freak out at all spiders myself, and BWs in particular, just because they are so creepy-looking. Could anyone devise a more menacing appearance?

Just squish them when you find them in places you don't want them, and let the rest be.

[mactavish]

The only person I've known to get bitten lived in an open beam, very rustic house, had nest she didn't know about in her beams, and the nest opened onto her bed. She came out of the shower and sat naked on the bed without looking. Babies bite, too, and she sat on a LOT of babies. (And she went to the ER, and was fine after.)

Keep them out of the house (which isn't their ideal habitat anyhow) and it'll be fine :)