Spiders, need advice

vintagehollywood

Hey all. I need some advice, or just a sounding board to help me think it through.

I've been living in my apartment for a little over a year and have had two really bad brown recluse spider outbreaks. One was right after I moved in, but it was quickly put under control about a week after begging the landlords to spray and remove the woodpile beneath my deck. The second one is currently on-going and started middle of May. I thank goodness for the long, frozen winter because I think it kept them at bay longer than an early spring would have.

My problem is that they keep coming. We think they live in the walls, so any amount of outside spray will only keep new ones coming in but keep old ones already in, well, already in. And spraying inside just deters them until they find a new way around it. The worst part is that they are huge. Last May, I had three really large, insanely large (we're talking about 2 inches in diameter with legs spread and running around like mad -- I could see them on a wall across a large and dark basement), but I attributed that to the apartment having been vacated and empty and allowing them to set up shop -- I should have run then. Any more I found until the problem abated were small ones. This time, every spider I see is quarter sized or larger. Before the landlords sprayed again (in late May), I was finding them in my shower, above my shower, above my bed, running across the floor, and, worst of all, playing tag with my cat.

I have kept glue-boards down since last May, but often find the spiders dead around the house rather than attached to them -- although I have caught a couple huge ones! This year, I have sprayed the over-the-counter Ortho Home Defense Max, natural bug spray with citrus, lemon, and mint., and keep a bottle of organic, natural bug spray in every room of the house that is pet friendly. My landlords this year sprayed both inside and outside the apartment, and due to not finding an attic access, did not fog the attic space. Last summer I caulked the entire apartment, filling all the crevices I could find.

My question is this: When is it time to call it quits? I just graduated from college and do not have enough saved up to move anytime soon. But is this a problem too important to put off?

I have asked around my small circle of friends and have been met with "move now. don't ask. just go. once they're in, they're in.", "they're just spiders. deal with it. spray and caulk. you're fine," and quite a few "i don't know. sorry, kid."

So to get a broader range of opinions, I'm posting here. I know every situation is different, but just thought I'd ask. I feel mostly alone and helpless right now because of it. And terrified for my cat. I find it hard to leave him at night because he likes to play with them. Tonight, I had just finished dinner, turned around, and saw him licking his front legs with a recently dead (as in still in death throws) quarter sized arachnid by his nose. Is he licking because it bit him? Because he's a cat? Because he stole food off the counter and is experiencing smug satisfaction? The not-knowing and not being able to control it is where the question of leaving comes in. I'm scared for him.

So, what is the last straw? When is the breaking point? Should I stay and pray for a cold and early winter or should I try to find a way to find a new spider-free place (although, on my budget, who knows, ha)? Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Note: I love my apartment. I would be very sad to leave it.

kinkyslinky16

I didn't even read all of it. Why the hell are you still there? I would have left after just ONE outbreak of spiders.

Wait.. is this a joke? :huh:

Tla0126

Burn it down.

_HeartsOnFire_

Burn it down.

This.

Now in all seriousness, I'd be calling the landlord and demanding it be taken care of DAILY. If they don't want to actually take care of the problem then I'd escalate the issue upwards - news outlets, etc.

Nicolee_2014

Let the owner know & get them to sort it out for you

JenAndSome

I am pretty sure that a brown recluse bite is very serious, possibly deadly. Imagine how sad it would be if that happened.

roanokejoe49

If you have to stay there, I would withhold your rent until the landlord dealt with the problem. This is a safety issue, so you are perfectly within your rights.

baba_helly

I don't think brown recluse spiders are "huge". are you sure that's what they are?

eta: also, what region are you in? I know they only live in certain areas, I think mostly just the southern US.

kinkyslinky16

I don't think brown recluse spiders are "huge". are you sure that's what they are?

eta: also, what region are you in? I know they only live in certain areas, I think mostly just the southern US.

Agreed. Brown recluse spiders are tiny usually.

Drama_Free_Zone

First thing to do would be to capture multiple specimens and bring them somewhere where they can be officially identified. Once you have done that and they have been determined to be brown recluse and you can verify that there is an outbreak you can simply call the health department as brown recluse do represent a bona fide threat to your health. If the landlord won't do anything of their own accord there are ways to insure that they do.

Derp_Diggler

Burn it down.

kaseyr1505

Are you sure it's a brown recluse? They're usually pretty small, 6-20mm (.23-.78 inches, about a penny) and live mainly in the south. IIRC, their natural habitat is from south-east Nebraska to southern Iowa, then central Texas to Georgia, and up north to Kentucky. They only have 6 eyes.

Obviously, the type of spider doesn't matter, because infestations suck. Have you talked to your landlord about an exterminator? A professional would be a lot of help, and you shouldn't pay for it, since you're renting. I would also document any correspondence with my landlord, and call daily until the problem was fixed.

Archon2

Yeah, if they are hanging out around and under piles of wood, they might be Wolf spiders. Freaky looking. Large, they are. ([/i] said with a sage Yoda-like accent[/i]) But they aren't dangerous as their venom is much weaker than brown recluse.

http://www.articlesweb.org/blog/wp-content/gallery/wood-spiders/wood-spiders-1.jpg

Brown recluse looks similar, but has distinctive violin shaped thing in the first segment.

http://firstworldfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Brown-Recluse-Spider.jpg

Edit: dropped the img tags as the size wasn't too good for the forums.

larrodarro

I come at this from an entirely different direction. For the last 30 years I have gone out of my way to never kill a spider. When I came home from the Navy, I was staying in our little house by the pond. One day I killed a spider as I was walking down the hall. Fifteen seconds later another spider came leaping out of the bathroom and bit me on the foot. The two had communicated, even though they were in different rooms. That got me to thinking. What if they teamed up on me while I was sleeping? If there were enough of them, I would be doomed. So since that day, I have tried my best not to kill spiders. I do have my house sprayed by a professional service. I just hope they don't hold me responsible for their departed loved ones.

Larro

SnuggleSmacks

Brown recluse spiders are quite small, not much bigger than a penny or dime, and that's including leg span. They have a violin pattern on their backs, and they have six eyes instead of the usual eight. They're also not furry except on the underside of their abdomen.

Still...I wouldn't care if the spider is dangerous or not. I'd still burn the place down.

tehboxingkitteh

I used to live in peace with wolf spiders. I even woke up to one staring me down, about 6" from my face, on my pillow.

Totes mcgoats srs.

kaseyr1505

I used to live in peace with wolf spiders. I even woke up to one staring me down, about 6" from my face, on my pillow.

Totes mcgoats srs.

It just wanted to cuddle!

SnuggleSmacks

Wolf spiders aren't dangerous but they're SO FREAKING SCARY when they have their little babies HANGING OUT ALL OVER THEIR BODIES!!! IT'S LIKE THIS MASS OF SPIDER FLESH!! GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

neojedi

I just got skeeved from that image. TFT

CamilleJackie350

OP that's awfully coincidental because I also need some advice, or just a sounding board to help me think it through.

I've been living in my apartment for a little over a year and have had two really bad brown recluse spider outbreaks. One was right after I moved in, but it was quickly put under control about a week after begging the landlords to spray and remove the woodpile beneath my deck. The second one is currently on-going and started middle of May. I thank goodness for the long, frozen winter because I think it kept them at bay longer than an early spring would have.

My problem is that they keep coming. We think they live in the walls, so any amount of outside spray will only keep new ones coming in but keep old ones already in, well, already in. And spraying inside just deters them until they find a new way around it. The worst part is that they are huge. Last May, I had three really large, insanely large (we're talking about 2 inches in diameter with legs spread and running around like mad -- I could see them on a wall across a large and dark basement), but I attributed that to the apartment having been vacated and empty and allowing them to set up shop -- I should have run then. Any more I found until the problem abated were small ones. This time, every spider I see is quarter sized or larger. Before the landlords sprayed again (in late May), I was finding them in my shower, above my shower, above my bed, running across the floor, and, worst of all, playing tag with my cat.

I have kept glue-boards down since last May, but often find the spiders dead around the house rather than attached to them -- although I have caught a couple huge ones! This year, I have sprayed the over-the-counter Ortho Home Defense Max, natural bug spray with citrus, lemon, and mint., and keep a bottle of organic, natural bug spray in every room of the house that is pet friendly. My landlords this year sprayed both inside and outside the apartment, and due to not finding an attic access, did not fog the attic space. Last summer I caulked the entire apartment, filling all the crevices I could find.

My question is this: When is it time to call it quits? I just graduated from college and do not have enough saved up to move anytime soon. But is this a problem too important to put off?

I have asked around my small circle of friends and have been met with "move now. don't ask. just go. once they're in, they're in.", "they're just spiders. deal with it. spray and caulk. you're fine," and quite a few "i don't know. sorry, kid."

So to get a broader range of opinions, I'm posting here. I know every situation is different, but just thought I'd ask. I feel mostly alone and helpless right now because of it. And terrified for my cat. I find it hard to leave him at night because he likes to play with them. Tonight, I had just finished dinner, turned around, and saw him licking his front legs with a recently dead (as in still in death throws) quarter sized arachnid by his nose. Is he licking because it bit him? Because he's a cat? Because he stole food off the counter and is experiencing smug satisfaction? The not-knowing and not being able to control it is where the question of leaving comes in. I'm scared for him.

So, what is the last straw? When is the breaking point? Should I stay and pray for a cold and early winter or should I try to find a way to find a new spider-free place (although, on my budget, who knows, ha)? Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Note: I love my apartment. I would be very sad to leave it.

mzbek24

Wowsers. Here I thought all the dangerous spiders were here in Australia .
Yeah, it is sometimes really hard to self-determine exactly what spider is which, I had that issue with a large number of potentially very venomous ones living on my back porch over the summer here.

So I would try and get someone to take a look for you to confirm it. I'm not sure how you could go about that, whether there's a free service in your area or a bug exterminator who may know (get the landlord to pay for that)
Maybe you could show a friend/ neighbour or post a photo on here of one and people here can assist? Perhaps somebody in your neighbourhood who has lived there for many years may know if you do get those spiders in the area??

Then, if it is indeed the one that could harm yourself or your cat, you should have some more grounds to stand on with the landlord. In the mean time, maybe you should try and keep the cat confined to one room if possible while you're asleep at night just in case. Also, maybe those in home self-sprayer things you place in hallways etc could help? We had two on either end of the house, and those helped us quite a lot with bugs and spiders over summer. And we get spiders the size of your hand here lol.

neojedi

Oh, and VintageHollywood, as a landlord in Hollywood, CA, I'd give you this advice:
-contact the landlord and tell him you'll be contacting the LAHD about the infestation
-contact the LAHD about the infestation
-buy a LOT of this stuff:
http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Wisdom-Grade-Diatomaceous-Earth/dp/B003QJ8CSE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1403929154&sr=8-2&keywords=Diatomaceous+Earth

(What do I mean by "a lot?" Enough to have a thick coating across every single floor surface of your house, including inside cabinets and under furniture), on bookshelves, inside nooks and crannies, etc., as well as in front of door cracks, and (if your apartment has an exterior wall) outside. Also: squeeze into air vents. PUT IT EVERYWHERE.

It's organic and not harmful to humans or pets.

You should pack your bags...carefully. Make sure you don't have "hitchhikers"
Then, either your landlord or a pest control dude should spray inside the walls to flush the spiders out INTO the apartment, where the dust is
Move out for 1-2 weeks, if possible
Meet landlord back in apartment to clean up the spider - there should be dead bodies everywhere

Once they clean up, put another LIBERAL coating of the stuff around the edges of your room and in same nook/cranny/etc. area.
Keep that up for a few weeks, probably at least a month
Back off on using it and see if they're taken care of

The goal is to starve them out or poison them out into the dust, then the dust basically gets into their joints when they walk into it and cracks their exoskeleton. They then dehydrate as moisture seeps into their bodies. It's like if a human walked over ground glass, we bleed out. I did that for bedbugs - it took a month, and for most of it I was covered in white chalky powder, but when it was over, it was OVER.

That's IF you don't want to/can't afford to move. Me? I'd move...bedbugs are bad, a spider infestation...I can't imagine. I live in the city: I see anything alive that isn't me in my apartment, it dies or I move.

Good luck. And thanks for giving me the freakouts all night!

klight1236

I can't stand seeing one spider let alone seeing multiples. I would've run a lonnnnnnggggggggg time ago. My sister still has to come and save me when I see a bug. If you can capture one and get proof that it is indeed a brown recluse you and your landlord still does nothing but spray you can probably sue or get outta your lease because it's endangering your life ( I have no real knowledge so don't sue without getting legal consulting first).

vintagehollywood

Wow. Thanks, everyone! (And thanks for not mocking and being all "silly girl, its just a spider.")

To respond, in no certain order:
- Yes, they are brown recluse. I have enough specimens on my glue boards to identify them. Fiddle back, all one brown color, slightly hairy legs, six eyes.

- The super huge ones were last May, and I only a saw three of them. All the rest (up until this year) were tiny -- something I was okay to handle. According to the U of I spider page, the body size can get up to 3/4", not including leg diameter I think. If I knew how to post pictures on here … ?
-- I found this on the internet … http://s1.hubimg.com/u/7705476_f520.jpg …. does that help? Mine are the big ones. (Ugh)

- The landlord issue is complicated. The apartment was actually sold to new landlords this winter, and they have been amazing for what they have had to deal with about it. They sprayed within a week of my asking. They removed the ivy off the side of my house (something I had repeatedly requested of the old landlords) as soon as I asked it of them. I think the problem is exacerbated by the fact that the old landlords did not seem to take that much care in the place beyond new paint and cleaning (and I think the previous tenants didn't either), so it has become the infestation that it is now. I actually had a previous spider-free apartment with the old landlords which is why I chose to stay with them when I transferred to this area. I didn't even think about spiders during that transition -- but now I know! ha.

It might be to the point where anything short of a complete building overhaul will not help. Also, I know my neighbors get them, but they don't seem to have the same size or quantity issues I do. My apartment is on the end of a row.

- Southern IL, located.

- Neojedi, I've read about the diatomaceous earth. would that help them coming in from outside as well, a long-term thing, or just killing what was already present in the walls and ductwork?

vintagehollywood

I come at this from an entirely different direction. For the last 30 years I have gone out of my way to never kill a spider. When I came home from the Navy, I was staying in our little house by the pond. One day I killed a spider as I was walking down the hall. Fifteen seconds later another spider came leaping out of the bathroom and bit me on the foot. The two had communicated, even though they were in different rooms. That got me to thinking. What if they teamed up on me while I was sleeping? If there were enough of them, I would be doomed. So since that day, I have tried my best not to kill spiders. I do have my house sprayed by a professional service. I just hope they don't hold me responsible for their departed loved ones.

Larro

I totally understand that spider communication thing.

I am normally a catch and release kinda person, too. I found a huge spider on my kitchen floor once about ten years ago, he was missing a leg poor guy. So took him outside, released him, and didn't see another spider in that place for about six months. I swear he told his buddies I was a-okay.

Mr_Bad_Example

OP, you need to call this guy.

PapaverSomniferum

these are the spiders my house attracts



luckily, they aren't brown recluses. Unluckily, they're as big or bigger than mice, so it's like having double pest problems at once.

At least we don't live in Australia, right OP?

MaiLinna

We actually get brown recluse up here, but it's rare. I live in Northeastern Ohio and I've seen them. Tiny things.

As a cat enthusiast, however, I would have packed up my kitty and ran back to my Mom's house a long time ago. Spiders? Nty. Deadly spiders? NO EFFING WAY.

All you gotta do is prove that they're a brown recluse, prove that your landlords refuse to do anything, then take that **** to Judge Judy.

Alatariel75

Burn it. Burn it to the ground. Salt the Earth, and move to Nebraska.

vintagehollywood

I'm okay with spiders, usually. Web-builders eat other insects, including recluses if they catch them. And watching them build webs is really nifty. Parson spiders, too, are not poisonous to any large degree, and are kinda pretty.

It's that the recluses are potentially very very dangerous if they bite you in the wrong spot, on a vein or other important circulatory system areas, and my cat seems to think they are playthings. I love him and he's a good cat, just doesn't understand why I take away the toy with a look of panic on my face.

PapaverSomnif, are those dangerous? Other than annoying?

Haha, I think Australia is fantastic. I would probably react the same there as I am here, too: as long as they aren't coming into my house with the mad persistence that these guys are, I'm cool with their existence.

PapaverSomniferum

I'm okay with spiders, usually. Web-builders eat other insects, including recluses if they catch them. And watching them build webs is really nifty. Parson spiders, too, are not poisonous to any large degree, and are kinda pretty.

It's that the recluses are potentially very very dangerous if they bite you in the wrong spot, on a vein or other important circulatory system areas, and my cat seems to think they are playthings. I love him and he's a good cat, just doesn't understand why I take away the toy with a look of panic on my face.

PapaverSomnif, are those dangerous? Other than annoying?

Haha, I think Australia is fantastic. I would probably react the same there as I am here, too: as long as they aren't coming into my house with the mad persistence that these guys are, I'm cool with their existence.

nah, my wolf-spiders-on-steroids are docile and harmless. their bite would be painful, but would be benign if i pissed one off enough to bite me.

for some reason, they like to live right in my door jam, though, which is a bit unnerving. if they get inside, the cat makes short work of them (they're pretty much 8 legged mice), but my Saint Bernard is terrified of them.

in fact, i rarely see any spiders indoors. bug hunting is my house cat's favorite past time next to napping and making noise at 3am.