Brown Recluses

[proffnorrskenet]

So we bought a camper and are renovating it this summer. We opened the sides, are replacing the water damage and are going to hit the road in July. But during our peel back, we realized we have brown recluses. Anyone had this issue? We bought this dust to put behind the walls and a spray for the inside. We know bug bombs don't work on recluses. I am sure they probably aren't as scary as I have made it in my head - and other spiders don't really bother me - but these recluses    . Any tips for getting them out of our rig once and for all?

 

[lenny flank]

 We know bug bombs don't work on recluses. 

It depends. Many bug bombs use pyrethrin as their active ingredient, and that is not very effective on any type of spider. But there are bug bombs that use different ingredients that are specially formulated for spiders.

 

[JD GUMBEE]

Non-chemical way I have seen them get rid of spideys with is to glue a fabric towel onto a cheap orbital sander and place it so it vibrates the snot out of the wall paneling.

In a day or two, there will be NO spideys...or mice in the RV.

 

[tx2sturgis]

So, a 3000 pound vibrator scares off the arachnids?

No wonder I never had any spiders on my Harleys.

Other stuff happened tho.

 

[AMGS3]

I hate to be " that guy" but they really are that scary. And they are farther north than the habitat range maps indicate. I live in MN and I got bit by a brown recluse years ago. Almost lost my arm. It was a crazy life event that led to an insane case of arachnifobia.

So I'm just here cheering you on. You're right to take them seriously. I hope that you can find the solution to this.

~angie

Sent from my VS501 using Tapatalk

 

[lenny flank]

^^ I probably shouldn't tell you then that I kept tarantulas as pets (and wrote a book about it) and used to breed Black Widow Spiders for zoos.




I like the eight-legged eight-eyed little fellows. But alas, some of them tend to not get along with humans very well. To be fair, they won't bite unless they think YOU are trying to east them or trying to squish them .... but they haven some pretty loose interpretations of that.

 

[Firebuild]

I love spiders, and most of the time their danger is way overrated... but my brother-in-law lost a toe to a brown recluse, so those, I take seriously.

Don't know if you know the site Do It Yourself Pest Control, but it is my go-to when figuring out any unwanted guest situation.

https://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/brown_recluse_spider.htm

 

[maki2]

or you can read up on them from the Texas A&M university web site. That is the agricultural university that also has a school of veterinary medicine. Lots of information about insect control is available from agricultural schools including the latest thoughts on it.

https://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/biting-stinging/others/ent-3003/

 

[Dingfelder]

^^ I probably shouldn't tell you then that I kept tarantulas as pets (and wrote a book about it) and used to breed Black Widow Spiders for zoos.




I like the eight-legged eight-eyed little fellows. But alas, some of them tend to not get along with humans very well. To be fair, they won't bite unless they think YOU are trying to east them or trying to squish them .... but they haven some pretty loose interpretations of that.

I was bitten by a spider while I was lying unmoving for a good half hour in the middle of the carpet in a large living room, watching TV.  Right on the web of the thumb.  Hadn't twitched an inch, and he had to go well out of his way to pick that fight.  Thank goodness it wasn't a dangerous one.  Been bitten while quietly reading in bed, too, same thing, not moving.  Not looking for trouble, to say the least.  I think spiders are like pitbulls.  People who like them, like them no matter what and tend to underplay their potential for aggression.

 

[JD GUMBEE]

Anything that eats its own family should be feared.

 

[Weldman]

Wait till it's about in the negatives somewhere in temperature and pull the camper there. They won't survive that...

 

[lenny flank]

Anything that eats its own family should be feared.

It's not THEIR fault they are too dumb to recognize their own children.   

 

[maki2]

the pro websites for insect control I looked at said to put sticky traps along the base of the wall. The kind from the hardware store that are used for mice and cockroaches, the flat sheets.

 

[Matlock]

Small critters can't tolerate vibration. Ok, to clarify, small critters with more than 2 legs.

As mentioned earlier, using an electric vibrating sander locked "on" for a day or so will drive them out of that wall and possibly the entire RV. Spiders hunt for living food by vibration.

Or a better option, maybe, would be to park the mobile spider home away from other dwellings, cause when they leave they are going somewhere, and turn on a radio with the Base setting turned all the way up to make the windows rattle in the entire RV. Tune it to a rock station crank up the volume and walk away for a couple days. Anything living will leave the structure.

I would do some research to verify when your brand of spider multiplies so any new-born critters will be old enough to leave on their own before starting the party. Probably better to make sure the entire family is mobile and no stragglers are left behind (the walls).

Just another option and my 2¢.

 

[proffnorrskenet]

It depends. Many bug bombs use pyrethrin as their active ingredient, and that is not very effective on any type of spider. But there are bug bombs that use different ingredients that are specially formulated for spiders.

This is a great idea! I like what someone said a bit farther down too about pulling the trailer to somewhere without other houses. Right now the camper is pulled up on the street in front of our house. Luckily the neighbors think the project is cool and are fine with it being there while we renovate. There is a lot at the university with RV hookups I think we could use with nothing but a big stone parking lot around it. I don't think many critters would survive the heat of the tarmac for long. Maybe. I'm not from the south and don't get the whole ultra heat thing 

 

[proffnorrskenet]

So, a 3000 pound vibrator scares off the arachnids?

No wonder I never had any spiders on my Harleys.

Other stuff happened tho.

I get it! My friends think I am crazy for taking the measures we are to seal the camper after treating it, and wearing gloves they can't bite through when fixing it up, but these are little demon spiders! And hard to kill ones at that! But then again, most of my friends think I am crazy for wanting to full time eventually too.

 

[proffnorrskenet]

^^ I probably shouldn't tell you then that I kept tarantulas as pets (and wrote a book about it) and used to breed Black Widow Spiders for zoos.




I like the eight-legged eight-eyed little fellows. But alas, some of them tend to not get along with humans very well. To be fair, they won't bite unless they think YOU are trying to east them or trying to squish them .... but they haven some pretty loose interpretations of that.

I want to get a jumping spider - or 10. They are supposed to be smart, and basically kill all other spiders if they need to. But are also harmless to people. That or burn down the rig.

 

[lenny flank]

Awww, the jumpers are cute little fellers. They are also alert and interested in what is going on around them. And they have two big eyes that make them look vaguely mammal-like.

I think my poor eight-legged little friends get an awfully bad rap.

 

[Willy]

I try to always have those little jumping spiders in my rig. ..Willy.

 

[proffnorrskenet]

I hate to be " that guy" but they really are that scary. And they are farther north than the habitat range maps indicate. I live in MN and I got bit by a brown recluse years ago. Almost lost my arm. It was a crazy life event that led to an insane case of arachnifobia.

So I'm just here cheering you on. You're right to take them seriously. I hope that you can find the solution to this.

~angie

Sent from my VS501 using Tapatalk

Yeah, we are that guy too! We ended up changing trailers! But, this new one was a major upgrade. Still not new, but also no water damage.