Anyone Else Having A Problem With Black Widow Spiders, Bugs? (Phoenix: Home Depot, buy)

[observer53]

Originally Posted by britishbees

Ah, now that had not occurred to me. We have lots of lizzie the lizards as I call them and maybe that is what is helping. There is one particular roach every night I get whilst sitting on the patio - I chase him away every time. Don't think he has got the message yet that this is my turf. May have to end up squishing him!!!!

I know some of you have said you don't bother spraying. Do you think it is worth doing it on a bi-monthly basis? I have seen one bug in the house and I do get a few ants(yeuch) but touch wood that is about it.

If it isn't broken, I'd say don't fix it.

[PheenixJobless]

Try using a broadbased prevention plan for preventing black widows and scorpions into the house. The last thing you want is a child not being able to sleep because there was a scorpion in their room.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by PheenixJobless

Try using a broadbased prevention plan for preventing black widows and scorpions into the house. The last thing you want is a child not being able to sleep because there was a scorpion in their room.

Would you care to elaborate on what you consider a "broadbased prevention plan"? Some details would be helpful to the OP and others reading this thread.

[DewDropInn]

No black widows.

Just a big ol' snake about an hour ago.

[LBTRS]

I'll tell you from experience...We were shocked with how many Black Widows we had in our yard when we arrived in Phoenix. I didn't think I was going to be able to handle it with the twenty or so cobwebs and black widows I found in my yard and they kept coming back.

I then hired an exterminator and since then I have never seen a black widow in my yard again. Gone are the crickets and all the other bugs that attracted them to my yard. Our yard is an oasis now that the black widows are gone when before it was a nightmare and I didn't enjoy it as I kept finding black widows all over everything.

Get an exterminator and your problems will be solved.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

I'll tell you from experience...We were shocked with how many Black Widows we had in our yard when we arrived in Phoenix. I didn't think I was going to be able to handle it with the twenty or so cobwebs and black widows I found in my yard and they kept coming back.

I then hired an exterminator and since then I have never seen a black widow in my yard again. Gone are the crickets and all the other bugs that attracted them to my yard. Our yard is an oasis now that the black widows are gone when before it was a nightmare and I didn't enjoy it as I kept finding black widows all over everything.

Get an exterminator and your problems will be solved.

Exactly, as stated earlier, exterminating (or lizards ) get rid of the food source-- they won't stay if the food source is gone.

[LBTRS]

Originally Posted by observer53

Exactly, as stated earlier, exterminating (or lizards ) get rid of the food source-- they won't stay if the food source is gone.

Something that has worked wonders if you are not into chemicals is food grade diatomaceous earth (NOT THE SAME AS DE FOR YOUR POOL). It is non toxic (you can eat the stuff) and it kills crickets quickly. I used it under my plants and the crickets run from it they hate it so bad.

I ordered a bag off the internet and it worked wonders on the crickets.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

Something that has worked wonders if you are not into chemicals is food grade diatomaceous earth. It is non toxic (you can eat the stuff) and it kills crickets quickly. I used it under my plants and the crickets run from it they hate it so bad.

I ordered a bag off the internet and it worked wonders on the crickets.

Good idea... I'll pass on eating it, though, food grade or not!

Reminds me of mixing boric acid granules and flour and putting it along baseboards in kitchens and bathrooms to get rid of roaches inside (we had no pets or small children to get into it) . Now, someone makes the same thing as a commercial product (or at least that's what Walgreens told me years ago the last time I tried to buy boric acid).

[Kimballette]

Years ago when living in Los Angeles, we used a company called FleaBusters. The material they used was a combination of boric acid and diatomaceous earth. Non-toxic and highly effective. I'm surprised more people don't use things like that...

[PheenixJobless]

Originally Posted by observer53

Spraying for black widows doesn't work unless you hit them. It does cut down their food supply. Make sure you clear all corners, inside and out, look for the messy webs, which only they make.

In Tempe, they will come and put chemicals in the sewers in your neighborhood if you report a roach issue. I don't know if they will do that anywhere else. I haven't seen an earwig in years, we saw them all the time around the house I grew up in in Phoenix.

You are correct, they need to be hit directly. If it is susupected there is a colony, I would recommend hiring a professional for a full service treatment. The reason not to spare expense is to prevent the medical bills down the road.

On a similar note, the individual may want to consults with a local store to get a better understand for their issues.