Black Widow Hunting!

Jim Bremner · 04-29-2011, 08:43 PM

I live in Southern California. I also do not like to spread chemicals around my house.

Black widows like to build tri-angles with a height of about 8-10" They tend to like to do this around outdoor furniture, fence posts gates,mail boxes and pool fixtures

Every Spring time since I've lived in my home I go out once it's dark with a flashlight and a Burns-o-matic propane torch.

I've been lax this year on this duty. I try to do it once or so a month.

Tonight I got 2 under the chair my wife sits on to play ball with the dog. 1 each on the other 2 chairs 2 under the picnic table 1 each under each bench. 4 in the pool equipment area 4 in the rv area the two by the gas meeter got stomped on 1 really big azz mama by the mail box 2 allong the south fence in front and one near a front pillar near our door.

masraum · 04-29-2011, 08:49 PM

screw that, I'd be spraying Demon WP. But then knowing Cali, you probably can't get that there.

masraum · 04-29-2011, 08:50 PM

I suppose it is better than the guy, can't remember who, who goes on brown recluse hunts INSIDE his house. I believe he's posted pictures of multiple specimens in his bathtub.

Jim Bremner · 04-29-2011, 08:53 PM

WillyPeat?

Harsh!

dipso · 04-29-2011, 08:56 PM

We had a big spider web up in our patio cover once. I used to catch flies in the patio area and throw them into the web. The spider would then eat them, of course.
I don't think spiders catch that many flies on their own, because this thing grew to the size of an egg yolk in a couple of weeks. He got huge and scary. I kept feeding him.

Next thing you know it was gone. I think he got so big a bird noticed him and ate him.

daepp · 04-29-2011, 09:03 PM

@Dipdo - so typical - taking care of those who would, for all concerned, be better off taking care of themselves!

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

Recently moved to Albuquerque, I cannot wait for the fall season to go in the mountains see some tarantulas (and a few rattlesnakes would be fun too):

pwd72s · 04-29-2011, 10:34 PM

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

A few years ago a friend bought an old car to either strip for parts or restore. He noticed a few indications of spiders and set off a bug bomb inside the car with the windows closed. The next day he found about 50 dead black widow spiders inside! Ever since, I have been more cautious when poking around in derelict vehicles.

DanielDudley · 04-30-2011, 03:09 AM

Whoa Fred, You win !

I used to have a spot by my front door in AZ where there was always a nest. I finally stuffed all the holes and dropped a bunch of caulking in that area. After that I was able to keep it swept out. We would occasionally find scorpions in some of the hotel rooms on the rim of the Grand Canyon. The small ones are the worst.

KFC911 · 04-30-2011, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

...They tend to like to do this around outdoor furniture, fence posts gates,mail boxes and pool fixtures...

Removing a split-rail gate post a couple of years ago, and tossed it on the ground. Upon cleanup, I found a BW the size of my thumbnail inside the "cutout" just inches away from where I'd had my gloveless hand earlier. Queue up Jim Staffords' "I don't like spiders and snakes...", sent a shiver up & down my spine.

R K T · 04-30-2011, 04:02 AM

If you have crickets around your house, you probably have black widows. BW's love to munch on some crickets!

We lived in the Palm Springs desert area and it was an ongoing battle with them. When we lived in Prescott Az it was the scorpions. Our dog picked up a bark scorpion IN THE HOUSE. Bark scorpions are the worst and how our dog didn't get stung, I'll never know. Vet said if she had been stung.....she would have been dead in 7 minutes. And it would have been a horrible seven minutes.

Drdogface · Drdogface's Garage

Black Widow spiders love to build their nest/web under the front edge of (rarely used) toilet seats so check before you sit to take a crap.

sammyg2 · 04-30-2011, 06:23 AM

When I was a kid we used to catch black widows every spring and sell them to the high school science teacher for 25 cents a piece. Righteous bucks back then.
Their favorite hiding spot was in the widow wells for basement windows. Had to bend over and stick our faces down in their to see them.

Black widows rarely get more than about 3 feet above ground level cause most of their food crawls.

Rick V · 04-30-2011, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurel

Recently moved to Albuquerque, I cannot wait for the fall season to go in the mountains see some tarantulas (and a few rattlesnakes would be fun too):

Screw that!!!!!!!!! The spiders don't phase me but the rattlers.................................That is what they make high capacity 12ga's for! ( I have a raging fear of snakes)

Jim Bremner · 04-30-2011, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick V

Screw that!!!!!!!!! The spiders don't phase me but the rattlers.................................That is what they make high capacity 12ga's for! ( I have a raging fear of snakes)

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I've never seen a BW up close. I am a little worried about scorpions, as we have a lot of crickets around. But we have as many lizards too and they eat them, probably more effectively than scorpions or BW's can. Rattlesnakes don't scare me at all. I keep an eye out for snakes and like them. But BW's are a lot harder to see and don't make noise to tell you to leave them alone.

Jim Bremner · 04-30-2011, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I've never seen a BW up close. I am a little worried about scorpions, as we have a lot of crickets around. But we have as many lizards too and they eat them, probably more effectively than scorpions or BW's can. Rattlesnakes don't scare me at all. I keep an eye out for snakes and like them. But BW's are a lot harder to see and don't make noise to tell you to leave them alone.

I can ship you some! ups or mail?

Do you want them in lose in the box or in a gatorade bottle?

Chuck Moreland · 04-30-2011, 08:01 AM

We found a few when we first moved into our new building, which had been largely uninhabited for about a year. Having now occupied it for a few months, I haven't seen any more.

My understanding is they don't really like people, so perhaps they have moved on?

After a few more months of not seeing them, I'm sure my concerns will abate. But I'd really like to have confidence we are BW free.

What can we do? This is a 10k foot building with 16 foot ceilings, so I don't think fumigation is practical.

A930Rocket · 04-30-2011, 08:09 AM

No joke! I was at a girlfriends house years ago and just before I sit down, I see a huge spider crawl from the inside onto the seat. Scared the bejeez out of me. 30 years later, I'm still weary of spiders in the toilet.

Quote:

Black Widow spiders love to build their nest/web under the front edge of (rarely used) toilet seats so check before you sit to take a crap.