We've got a serious problem with these nasty and very LARGE spiders. They are in my garden shed. They are all around my terra cotta pots. They are living in my patio table. I threw a BBQ for my friends Birthday, some months ago and hung fabric curtains from the overhead patio trellis thing...when I went to take them down a week later..I found the biggest one ever...in the fabric...with all her teenagers running everywhere!

I've got a 13 month old wild child running a muck in this place and I'm very concerned.

How can I deal with this? Oh yeah...they're in the house too. I hate to have to call an exterminater. I try to live as natural and organic as possible.

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I agree with catlover Rosebud. I recently had a plague of redbacks, the Aussie equivalent of the black widow, and was concerned about using high volumes of sprays. They were in my workshop in droves. I went out one night and turned on the lights and instead of hiding in the crevices and under edges and stuff they were all sitting out in their webs, waiting for a feed. So i wandered around for 1/2 an hour and sqished 'em. Came back next morning and gave the hidey holes and concealed bits of nest a squirt with some flyspray and that took care of the eggsacks. I kept it up for a few weeks every now and then and though i wouldn't have got the lot i'm easily in front now.

Are you positive they are black widows? Black widows tend to be smaller, with very shiney black bodies and spindly legs, and remember that the red hourglass is located on the underside of the abdomen and not o top. Also, black widow webs are very messy looking, kinda like she was drunk when she did it and the web silk is very fine and closely woven. Think, cotton ball fluff. They also tend to be very shy. Of course, even if they aren't black widows, it is a good idea to exercise caution. All spiders deserve respect. And to help keep the spider population down all together, try and get mud wasps to live on your property. They are very passive and I have never known anyone to be stung by one. I grew up with them. And best of all, they kill spiders to feed their young!!

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Rule like a Goddess.
Command like a queen.
Work like a slave.

Winter...I really wouldn't spray the container if you plan on eating food products from it. They say the spray doesn't work on them or their white poof ball nest of egg babies unless you make direct contact with the spider and live babies. (Still not so sure of that btw) I would just continue to be very careful...go out at night and smoosh/spray them. Be persistant and you will get their population down. Since it is getting pretty warm around here now they are starting to come back out now in great numbers. I almost walked into one yesterday that was dangling in front of me in the garage. If you have space under your garage door release as many lizards as you can find in there....they will get em and leave when they need water! Yum....Yum!!!
I have seen the show you were speaking of....make sure to not only check your shoes before putting them on but slip on sandals too!!

Plantlady....we are very sure they are black widows....they can get VERY LARGE here!!!!

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Yikes...Ok..a smooshing I will go. Blagth!

Thanks!!!

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We live in a very old house. We need to move into something bigger, but rent is outrageous out here now, so we're stuck with trying to deal with this issue I guess.

I really need to figure out a way to train my one year old to NOT touch any spiders. I don't want to teach him to kill them though. Anyone got any good ideas for that??

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Oh I am! He's just hit the exploring phase too. Blech....I squished on this morning though!

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