Spiders!

[Jayems]

I've come to the great CP braintrust for ideas.

I live in Copperfield. There are literally hundreds (probably thousands) of spiders inhabiting my property. I step outside, they're there. Their webs, the egg sacs on the side of my house -- I spray one off, six more appear -- it's everywhere.

Went outside today with my daughter, first thing we see is a spider about to eat some lunch of some bug he just caught in a web on our banister. Out of nowhere, this massive red spider swoops down and gets them both.

Walked out onto the grass, looking down you can see them all scurry around your feet. You get the idea.

Now, spraying something on the grass that is harmful to kids or dogs is out of the question, as both are around.

I'm also torn, because the mosquito problem down here is about to get ugly as it does every summer. So I know they take care of a chunk of that. I hate both equally as bad.

Someone suggested i read this thread: http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread/t-266113.html

It's helped a bit. The mantis idea was interesting, but I don't want 500 of them kicking it in my backyard either.

Any suggestions or remedies?

[hmmhmmcamo]

note to self....do NOT go to Copperfield

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by Jayems

I've come to the great CP braintrust for ideas.

I live in Copperfield. There are literally hundreds (probably thousands) of spiders inhabiting my property. I step outside, they're there. Their webs, the egg sacs on the side of my house -- I spray one off, six more appear -- it's everywhere.

Went outside today with my daughter, first thing we see is a spider about to eat some lunch of some bug he just caught in a web on our banister. Out of nowhere, this massive red spider swoops down and gets them both.

Walked out onto the grass, looking down you can see them all scurry around your feet. You get the idea.

Now, spraying something on the grass that is harmful to kids or dogs is out of the question, as both are around.

I'm also torn, because the mosquito problem down here is about to get ugly as it does every summer. So I know they take care of a chunk of that. I hate both equally as bad.

Someone suggested i read this thread: http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread/t-266113.html

It's helped a bit. The mantis idea was interesting, but I don't want 500 of them kicking it in my backyard either.

Any suggestions or remedies?

I have no advice for you, but I must say that's pretty damn awesome.

[awildermode]

[Regulator75]

Sell your house in the Winter, then move.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Please post pictures for those of us who are sadistic.

[Knut]

My last visit to this page. Later

[Wormius]

Ever watch "Infested"? Is it like that?

At least Calgary is pretty much free of anything too harmful. Kelowna is full of black widows, and I am not sure, but I heard some say they found brown recluses around.

Anyway, I am sure once they have eaten all that is to be eaten, they will die off or start moving elsewhere. My cat finds spiders fun and will just eat them if she sees any. On the bright side, you have a healthy ecosystem in your yard.

[dissentowner]

Learn to love spiders like I do. Can I come visit?

[Jayems]

Ok. I'll go out and get some photos tomorrow.

It's not like there are swarms of spiders everywhere and the ground is constantly moving. They're spread out, but aren't too far apart, if that makes sense.

There are just a lot of them. They lurk, everywhere.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by Jayems

I've come to the great CP braintrust for ideas.

I live in Copperfield. There are literally hundreds (probably thousands) of spiders inhabiting my property. I step outside, they're there. Their webs, the egg sacs on the side of my house -- I spray one off, six more appear -- it's everywhere.

I have no solution to your spider woes.

However, since you have pulled off the extremely rare consecutive and properly used sequence above you deserve some recognition.

Kudos.

Hopefully this alleviates some of your spidery distress.

[jeffman]

Nuke from orbit

[Circa89]

Do you leave your porch light on? It sounds to me like you might. The light attracts the flying insects, the flying insects attract the orb weaving spiders like the orange one you saw. Those are the spiders most people find disturbing because of their distended abdomens. try turning the porch light off at night or get a low sodium ( orange bulb ) and that should help. Remove the food source and the majority will move from the porch area.

[Jayems]

No porch light left on. Only for the dog to go out at night in the back yard, that's it. But I didn't think of that.

I did go out any buy one of those bug zapper things last summer, but that was for the mosquitoes and had mixed results.

[Mr_Pilot]

To become the official CP spider thread, anyone?

Tags due to some language

NSFW!

[Circa89]

Originally Posted by Jayems

No porch light left on. Only for the dog to go out at night in the back yard, that's it. But I didn't think of that.

I did go out any buy one of those bug zapper things last summer, but that was for the mosquitoes and had mixed results.

As the community matures there will be fewer and fewer spider residents on the house. Once trees and shrubs mature enough they will move into the vegetation and leave the man made structures more. Plant 5 poplars, wait 15 - 20 years and voila. The spiders will prefer trees to your vinyl siding.

Other than that there are not a lot of environmentally friendly options, other than removing the webs and egg sacs with a broom on a nightly basis, hoping they take up residency next door.

[Jayems]

Yeah, there is still a lot of construction going on in the neighbourhood, especially directly behind us, so I'm sure that plays a part.

[Dion]

Hang some bird houses around the outside of your house - both front and back. They will attract birds who will inturn eat some of those spiders. Granted it's not going to end your problem but i'm sure it will put a dent in the spider population.

[saskflames69]

Posting spider images in this thread without spoiler tags should warrant a trip to the sin bin.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

I have no solution to your spider woes.

However, since you have pulled off the extremely rare consecutive and properly used sequence above you deserve some recognition.

Kudos.

Hopefully this alleviates some of your spidery distress.

Homonym power!