Creepy crawlies and other nasty arachnids

[b.lindsey]

A while back, and I don't remember the thread it was in, there was some discussion about ants and other pesky little creatures in the shop. Back in the summer, here at home we were having a small problem with those little ants coming in from the garage and crawling around the kitchen sink. Tried sprays, etc which helped for a few days but back they came.  Anyway, wife saw this and we ordered one and plugger it in next to the sink and haven't seen an ant since. I am normally dubious about such things but for the small price it was worth a shot.

Shifting gears slightly to the shop, ants aren't so much an issue but teeny spiders are. They look like baby daddy long legs spiders, and before the renovation began they had enjoyed years of peace and quite and generated lots of cobwebs. Those have all been cleaned out but I am still seeing the spiders and a few larger cousins too.  So for $22, I ordered a six pack of these things (cheaper by the half dozen) and plugged two in on opposite sides of the shop today. Will let you know if it works as well there as it did at home. Anyone had similar results?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07L691XLW?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

Bill

[Ian S C]

I'm waiting to hear how you get on, here they advertize a gadget that plugs into the mains and it's supposed to keep away all insects, and rats and mice. But the thing is it doesn't effect cats and dogs.
Ian S C

[b.lindsey]

If you look at the link Ian, this sounds like the same thing. Mice, and, flies, mosquitos, spinners, even fleas. We have dogs and it has never had any effect on them at all. I will keep you posted though.

Bill

[Jo]

I had one for some time to discourage the mice/rats.. Even with two different frequencies they get used to them after a while 

They don't come back if you smack them one with a soup ladle but you do have to dispose of the mess after 

Jo

[b.lindsey]

Remind me not to eat soup at your place Jo    Now there is a  bird in the garage at home that is driving the dogs crazy. Going to try one out there to see if it might repel birds too

Bill

[crueby]

Well, if the critters get bigger and furrier, get yourself one of these bird-feeders!
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgDa_cpgHWs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgDa_cpgHWs</a>

[Jo]

That almost makes me want to feed the Tree Rats   

Jo

[GWRdriver]

Bil,
You, like me, are in Brown Recluse (spider) territory and those can be dangerous and are almost impossible to eradicate without expensive and/or toxic treatment.  After 40+ years in the same house I became infested only a couple of years ago and their reclusive nature makes them elusive and difficult to get at with chemical spray.  I live in a densely wooded area so the occasional rodent is to be expected, and is easily dispatched, but stepping on a Brown Recluse whilst trudging to the Loo in the middle of the night could ruin my day.  They love my workshop and the larger ones tend to hang out there where sticky-traps left out overnight always catch quite a few, but not enough.
I've never put much stock in ultra-sonic devices, ones I had years ago only made the mice bolder, but it's getting to the point where desperate measures are needed for something which will get them where they sleep!

[b.lindsey]

Harry, i haven't seen any of those yet. A few black widows in dark wet places like the well house, but I know to be careful there. I like the idea of stick traps as a secondary measure though.doyou place them around on the floor or where?

Bill

[GWRdriver]

Bill,
The sticky-traps I use come in flat sheets made to be bent up into a triangular tunnel.  They are relatively expensive so I cut the sheets into strips and lay the strips here and there along the base of a wall.  Some will trap many, others not so much, so you'll eventually kind of zero-in on where they are.  I've forgotten the brand name, most hardware stores have them, but like everything else these days there are online reviews of the many available products.  They are very sticky, one touch by a bug foot and they're stuck for life . . which is then usually quite short but traps alone won't eradicate.

[Ian S C]

One thing that does work on ants is borax, put a little pile on the track they take when they raid the kitchen. I think we mixed in a little bit of white sugar, and a day or so and the ants didn't come back. They take the borax back to the nest and feed it to the Queen.
Ian S C

[b.lindsey]

Thanks for the info Harry.

Bill

[Tennessee Whiskey]

Bill, we have a pest service at home and the store (required) and they always use and leave us extra glue boards. Lou puts them in various places, but especially by exterior doors and you would be amazed at what they catch; spiders, lizards, and mice have all fallen prey. As Harry said; if it touches it, it's stuck.

Cletus

[b.lindsey]

I have used these at home in out of the way places like in a pantry etc. Just have to be careful, the dogs might think they are a new chew toy, so have to keep them in places they don't have access to. Will get a few for the shop though and see what I can nab


Bill

[10KPete]

I know a number of boaters who find that dryer sheets are very effective at repelling spiders/bugs, especially in closed spaces like lockers or sheds. Engine compartments and cabins sometimes need a couple...

Pete

[Trevorc]

My wife sucks them up into the vacuum cleaner then blocks the exit hole in the hope they will suffocate!!
Trevorc

[Tennessee Whiskey]

Oh yeah Prof. (Ret.) two flat rocks works well also 

Cletus 

[Admiral_dk]

My wife sucks them up into the vacuum cleaner then blocks the exit hole in the hope they will suffocate!!

They do not survive a trip into the vacuum cleaner - so no need for blocking the exit.

I never kill the spiders if I in any way can avoid it (no dangerous type her in DK) - ants are a completely different matter.

[crueby]

Oh yeah Prof. (Ret.) two flat rocks works well also 

Cletus 

Two round rocks work too, just need better aim!   

[steamer]

Right after the boat shed was built, I was putting up a strong back, and the shed became LOADED with crickets.   Until!   all of a sudden it wasn't     Wolf spiders!...big uns.

25mm or maybe a bit bigger...had one big guy who hung out for a couple of weeks...I got in the habbit of calling him "Bubba"....until he reared up and showed me his fangs one evening as I was setting up to plane a board on the bench.....My mallet took care of that attitude problem.....

[ddmckee54]

My mallet took care of that attitude problem.....

At 25mm-ish that probably made quite a mess.  I hope it wasn't on the board you were going to plane.

Don

[steamer]

My mallet took care of that attitude problem.....

At 25mm-ish that probably made quite a mess.  I hope it wasn't on the board you were going to plane.

Don

Nope permanent impression on the bench though

[zeeprogrammer]

When my shop was in the basement, having had a snake crawl across my feet was one reason I wanted out.
Spiders dropping down from the ceiling was another.

Too often, I would go to the basement, turn on the lights, and see some huge hairy thing scurry away.
And it wasn't one of Chris' elves trying to screw with me. My secret recipe for 'Chris Elf Be-Gone' has never failed.
(I'm currently working on removing 'Elf' from that title.)

I wish I hadn't remembered the snake. I have too many stories regarding snakes. Including saving a buddy's life after he got hit by a water moccasin (cottonmouth).

[crueby]

...

And it wasn't one of Chris' elves trying to screw with me. My secret recipe for 'Chris Elf Be-Gone' has never failed.
(I'm currently working on removing 'Elf' from that title.)
...