Natural Solutions to Things That Bug You (21 page)

The red house spiders are rusty red and are about the size of a dime. Their bodies are spotted, with females bearing a red, vertical band as well as an hourglass-like shape along the underside of the abdomen.

They are often found in dark, undisturbed, indoor spaces and may be found spinning their tangled webs under eaves, in doorframes and along the corners of baseboards.

HAIR DRYER TO THE RESCUE

    Pseudoscorpions prefer damp areas and that is where you most likely will find them. Drying out these areas with a hair dryer or dehumidifier should do the trick.

RED SPIDER

Usually found on plants that have poor air circulation and suffer from malnutrition or lack adequate water. Spray the plant with a mild soapy water solution to get rid of the spiders, then feed and water the plant well.

RED SPIDER MITE

General Information:

    These adult and nymph spiders will suck the juices from your plants and turn the leaves yellow, silver or even speckled.

They lay their eggs on the plants and are closely related to the horseshoe crab than to insects. They are so small that you should check your plants with a magnifying glass to locate them. They make tiny tents that look like cobwebs on the underneath sides of leaves. They like it dry and too much moisture will drive them away.

If you water your plants and fertilize them regularly, it will limit damage from spider mites.

SALT THEM

Red spider mites can be eliminated from an area by spraying with a solution of 1 ounce of table salt mixed into 1 gallon of water. Seawater will work great but be sure that the plant will tolerate being salted.

DUST THEM WITH POISON

Spider mites: can easily be eliminated by using tobacco! If you dry and powder the tobacco leaves and then dust the plants it will eliminate the mites in short order. Never use nicotine on roses or they will turn black.
Nicotine is a poison to humans, fish and animals.
High concentrations will also kill plants.

BUTTER THEM UP

To prepare a plant dip for houseplants that have become infested with spider mites, just place 2 cups of buttermilk in 1 gallon of water. Dip the plant in the solution and allow it to remain overnight before rinsing it off.

PREDATORS WORK GREAT

There are two predators that really work great in eliminating the red spider mite. They are the lacewing and the ladybug beetles.

LIME THEM

You can spray them with an insecticidal soap or a combination of soap and lime. Dusting them with a lime dust will also eliminate the problem.

GET THEM DRUNK!

Red spiders; can be eliminated by mixing 1 cup of rubbing alcohol with 1 quart of cool tap water. Place the mixture into a spray bottle and be sure and test a leaf first before spraying to be sure you won’t damage the plant. If the mixture is too strong reduce the alcohol to ½ cup. Best to wait one day after the leaf test to be sure no damage will occur. Never use this spray in the hot part of the day for the best results.

GREAT SPRAY FOR SPIDER MITES

1              Cup of all-purpose flour

4              Tablespoons of buttermilk

1              Gallon of cool tap water

    Prepare a paste from the flour and water before adding the balance of the liquid. If the mite infestation is mild, then just paint the mixture on the leaves instead of using a sprayer. It is best to do the underneath, sides of the leaves as well.

SPEARMINT SPRAY

1              Cup of chives                           

1              Cup of crushed spearmint leaves

½        Cup of hot peppers or ¼ cup Tabasco Sauce™

1              Small horseradish plant (ground)

1         Quart tap water

¼        Cup Ivory liquid soap

Grind all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and add just enough water to liquefy. Add the quart of water and the liquid soap and refrigerate. To use mix ½ cup of the base to 1 quart of water then strain into a spray bottle. It works great for mites, cabbage loopers and most caterpillars.

GREAT KILLER

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that coriander oil will repel the red spider mite. Prepare an emulsion of 2% coriander oil and spray the areas where the spider mite condition exists.

TARANTULAS

    These cute hairy spiders will usually not harm a human and just want to be left alone. They live in burrows and go out hunting after dark.

    
WOLF SPIDER

These can either be a hairy gray or brown color with eight eyes. These are excellent hunters and will chase down their prey. However, wasps kill 99% of all wolf spiders.

They have very stout bodies and thick legs.

NATURAL METHODS OF ELIMINATION

AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE SPIDERS AWAY

If you want to repel all types of spiders without killing them, just place a hedgeapple or two in the room where the problem exists. These are the fruit of the Osage orange tree and have been used for hundreds of years as a crawling insect repellant. For more information see
www.hedgeapple.com
.

GOOD USE FOR OLD PANTYHOSE

If you place cedar chips in the toe of some old pantyhose and hang it where you have a problem, the spiders will avoid the area. However, so will your friends and neighbors when they see the pantyhose hanging all over your home.

AN HERBAL SOLUTION

If you sprinkle the herb pennyroyal in areas that spiders frequent they will never come back. Pennyroyal can be purchased in any health food store.

CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE

Fresh chestnuts have been used for centuries as a spider deterrent. You can’t use packaged shelled or roasted, only fresh, shelled chestnuts. If they are placed across any entry point it will stop them dead in their tracks.

    
    
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