I have ants in my bathroom downstairs, and they only become a problem
when my spiders disappear. Like right before the weather warms up and my
supply needs to be replenished fromt he outside. Perhaps people with
ant problems should encourage spiders. Don't sweep your corners, move
spiders you find in noninfested areas to your kitchens or bathrooms and
don't disturb them once they set up their webs. Though some of the
spiders I've seen in my house don't use webs I don't think. They look
too large. In fact, they look large enough to take care of some of
those mouse problems people have been having.
Deborah
In a message dated 5/31/00 12:27:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
dturton@EROLS.COM writes:
<< I have ants in my bathroom downstairs, and they only become a problem
when my spiders disappear. >>
Be careful of ants in the bathroom. I found out the hard way. The wax ring
under my toilet was broken, water was leaking out, and carpenter ants,
attracted to the water, were eating away the wood that held up my toilet.
Oh, by the way. I found some oil of peppermint that repelled the ants in my
mailbox, until it evaporated. They're back.
Mary Ann
Mary Ann,
Good point about carpenter ants, but these don't look like carpenter
ants. We had some a couple of years ago. We actually ended up using DE
and pyrethrum and leaving the house for a week. When we returned all the
ants were gone, but then so were the spiders.:-(
We haven't had to use the stuff since and the spiders are happily
chowing away at the little ants.
Deborah Turton
On 02-Jun-00 00:03:58, in reference to Re: spiders and ants, Tony & Moira Ryan said:
Although I probably will never overcome my
arachniphobia to the point where I will share my
house with wolf spiders or brown recluses (a prob
here in the southeast). I have noticed since my
conversion to heavy mulching with dry grass a
definate increase in the crawling spider population
in my garden and a consequent decrease in
infestation problems.
William KING
mailto:wbking@netdoor.com
Deborah Turton wrote:
Deborah
I am glad to find someone else who, like me, realizes the value of
spiders in keeping unwanted insect visitors in check. I have myself a
great liking for spiders and try to encourge them both inside and out.
Tony certainly tolerates this excentricity, but I don't think he has
quite the affection for them I do
You are quite right that not all spiders catch their prey with webs.
Quite a few (the hunting spiders) pursue and jump on their prey. The
ones around my house are mostly quite small creatures, but they have
enormous eyes and they can jump well enough for the Olympics!! If I look
carefully between plants in the garden I often see similar ones either
on the earth or climbing up stems. There must be hundreds around I am
scarcely aware of and all are regularly eating other insects, so
potentially useful friends.
The only really big spider around here never comes into the house but
likes to find a hole, between stones or similar, out of doors and line
this with silk. She is dark brown and quite big, but I doubt big enough
to tackle a mouse!!
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan
Wainuiomata, New Zealand. (on the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
Lat. 41:16S Long. 174:58E. Climate: Mediterranean/Temperate
Try using a piece of double mint gum instead of just putting the oil
in there. When the fragrance from the gum disappears, just put
another stick in.
--Talie
