Bug Killer

[RockysMom]

Ok, I just seriously found a brown reculse in my apartment, now I'm terrified! How do you guys kill bugs in your home safely without harming your fids? I don't want any of my pets to get bit, a spider bite like that would kill all three of my babies! What if any products can I use?

[Kiwi08]

It is starting to become "spider season" here too... I was just wondering the same question this morning!

[Emmilyy]

*shudders*

Spiders.. Bleck.

I don't know what product to use - but i hope you find something!

[NotEnoughTime]

Apparently pryethrin is relatively safe - but I'm not sure of its effectiveness on the Brown Recluse...

[kali]

on the real big ones i get a vacuum cleaner tube and stab them and twist so their legs fall off. then i squish them or vacuum them up. evil i know, but i HATE them!!!

i used to have SO MANY huntsman's in my old house i've pretty much perfected the art... but still doesn't stop me from screamingg and my heart pumping a zillion miles an hour...

[BirdsUnlimited]

Camacide is safe around birds, most bird stores should carry it.

[NotEnoughTime]

Originally Posted by BirdsUnlimited

Camacide is safe around birds, most bird stores should carry it.

This uses pryethrin as the active ingredient... I don't know about the effect on Brown Recluse... Apparently they are hard to kill - fortunately they are not in my area (yet).

[Newticus]

We found a brown recluse in the pet store I used to work for. It came in with a shipment of cricket. Since I am not petrified of spiders I was sent on a mission to clean out all spider egg sacks I could find under our animal units (and believe me there were A LOT of those) just incase the brown recluse dropped a sac in the store - not likely
We did not use pesticide, I had to squish them all with paper towel.
The brown recluse is like it's name, they tend to be territorial with each other and often they are not found within close proximity of each other (reclusive). This was the info provided by the pest control guys we called to identify the spider (after I had gone on my mad egg hunt) We were told not to worry about a second brown recluse because of this nature about them.

I have read enough about pesticides that I don't believe one word on the bottles claiming they are safe for one thing and bad for another. They are terrible chemicals that often take years to leave the body, even if they don't kill the animal. This build up reduces firtility and vitality. They are also terrible for your health as well, for the same reasons. These chemicals often cause cancer and other terrible things.
On top of all those pleasentries, as those chemicals disperse, they find their way outside. They leach into our water and soil and because they are so ubiquitous they stay there for a long time, building up as other people use those chemicals too.

I haven't used bug spray in years, even when I went up to James Bay (just off of Hudsons Bay) and the musquitos were so thick they practically blacked out the sky.

Also be careful about believing safety reports regarding these chemicals, just like pharmaceuticals, the reasearch is done by those who benifit from it being approved as safe.

Do what you need to but don't do it with your eyes closed.

Melanie

p.s read Silent Spring by Rachael Carson

[perchingbird]

I second Newticus. Most spiders are harmless, and the recluse is the exception. Just think like a spider for a day and go Hunting for them. Use the vacuum and duster and hit all the hidden corners, below furniture, etc. Spiders aren't going to run out and attack you, or the parrots. A spider bite is usually an accident (you reached under something and nearly squished it).

I let the spiders roam my home as much as my Arachnophobic boyfriend will let me. They eat the little fruit flies. :D

... as an aside, I had a friend of mine suggest getting anoles to take care of insect problems. Got roaches? Go to the pet store and buy 5-6 anoles and just let them loose in the house. Supplement roaches with crickets. I wonder if they'd eat spiders too?

Pyrethrin is considered a "natural" pesticide because a plant produces it. That doesn't make it safe, however, it just doesn't linger in the environment the same way DDT can.

[Emmilyy]

Originally Posted by kali

on the real big ones i get a vacuum cleaner tube and stab them and twist so their legs fall off. then i squish them or vacuum them up. evil i know, but i HATE them!!!

i used to have SO MANY huntsman's in my old house i've pretty much perfected the art... but still doesn't stop me from screamingg and my heart pumping a zillion miles an hour...

lmao, thats horrible! I'm so scared of them i wont even step on them. Yuck. I get someone else to do it! hehe