Killing spiders in vehicle?

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Svenn

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Anyone know of an effective way to do this?  I have yellow sac spiders in my new truck which are apparently highly venomous and are attracted to the scent of gasoline.  

Park in Death Valley for a couple days?  Pay a seafood company to drive into their freezer warehouse?
 
I use Ortho brand Home Defense for all sorts of insect issues. Works great. I've seen hundreds of flies drop after spraying windows in a house. And it keeps working with the dry film. Just don't lick it. Haven't used it on spiders but the bottle says spiders and I believe it.
 
There is a plant called "Pennyroyal"  that spiders do not like at all.   People often keep pots of it growing in various areas of their homes to run off the spiders. 

You may check with a greenhouse/nursery to see if you could purchase  a few small pots of the stuff.  Just sit it out some during the day so it can get some sun and keep it watered.  In a Van or RV I doubt it would take much of the stuff.  You may even find some of this stuff growing wild.

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Growing Pennyroyal

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/pennyroyal/growing-pennyroyal.htm
 
A friend of mine says she kills spiders with hairspray. If you want to try it, use the cheapest stuff you can find.
 
TrainChaser said:
A friend of mine says she kills spiders with hairspray. If you want to try it, use the cheapest stuff you can find.
Hairspray is excellent at killing spiders, provided you use it with "creativity" 😎
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REVELATIONS 8
 
I prefer the "SQUISH" method.  No toxic chemicals. :dodgy:
 
If it's just a one time thing you're dealing with I think a shop vac is the way to go. Exterminators use them for spider control so that's how i've always dealt with them.
 
I think people are misunderstanding my question... yellow sac spiders are highly venomous; they live THROUGHOUT vehicles in North America and a single car can have 30+ inside, mostly outside the cabin proper. I want to get them off the entire vehicle, not just kill the ones that happen into my living space.
 
Svenn said:
I think people are misunderstanding my question... yellow sac spiders are highly venomous; they live THROUGHOUT vehicles in North America and a single car can have 30+ inside, mostly outside the cabin proper.  I want to get them off the entire vehicle, not just kill the ones that happen into my living space.

IIWM and I knew I had venomous creatures living in MY living space, I'd be calling an exterminator promptly!

Since you report that they live both inside and outside the space, probably tenting the vehicle would be the most likely scenario, much like they do for termites in a house only scaled down.
 
Not "highly venomous" although certainly unpleasant and worth getting rid of.

"Medical Importance: The yellow sac spiders probably account for more human bites that any other type of spider. The bite of C. inclusum is more destructive then the bite of C. mildei. Humans usually incur C. inclusum bites outdoors while gardening in the summer. C. mildei will readily bite, despite their small size, and they have been observed crawling across the human skin surface and biting without provocation. Fortunately, most bites are relatively painless and do not result in any serious medical conditions. For C. inclusum victims and some individuals sensitive to C. mildei, the bites will exhibit the symptoms described below.

The bite is usually very painful at the outset, with developing erythema, edema, and pruritus. The burning sensation associated with the bite will last for up to an hour, with rash and blistering occurring during the next 1-10 hours. Some patients may exhibit systemic reactions with fever, malaise, muscle cramps, and nausea. These symptoms are similar to black widow bite symptoms but are much less severe. A necrotic lesion and ulceration may also occur at the site, but this is less serious than the similar symptoms that accompany a brown recluse bite, and it usually does not result in scarring." [sounds really bad if you're one of the sensitive people, but fortunately this isn't common.] http://www.pestid.msu.edu/insects-and-arthropods/yellow-sac-spiders/

Prevention and treatment
"Yellow sac spider prevention is best accomplished by sealing holes, cracks and gaps in the home ‘s doors, windows and foundation that enable the spiders to enter the home. [difficult in a van] In addition, removing inside clutter that serves as harborage for spiders is also helpful. Should the homeowner need assistance to control yellow sac spiders or any other spiders, contact your pest management professional (PMP) and request an inspection. Your PMP will use his inspection findings to prepare a comprehensive pest management plan that will effectively and efficiently deal with the specific pest problem. Your PMP inspection includes looking for egg sacs in the upper corners of rooms, spaces behind pictures, ceilings, window moldings, and curtains and blinds. His recommendations will also include using a vacuum to remove sacs and removing and discarding vacuum cleaner bags to prevent reinfestations." http://www.orkin.com/other/spiders/yellow-sac-spiders/

Some more on them:
"To control yellow sac spiders (and other spiders
and insects that commonly enter the home), the
following exclusion and sanitation techniques are
recommended:
• Remove spider webs, egg sacs, leaf litter and
vegetation adjacent to the house foundation.
• Store wood piles away from the house.
• Frequently clean inside closets, attics, basements, and
other storage areas.
• Vacuum behind furniture, under baseboard heaters or
radiators, in closets, and in other undisturbed areas.
• Remove harborages, such as clutter, that provides
hiding places for spiders and insects.
• Reduce possible food sources (other insects).
• Turn off exterior lights at night.
• Use caulk to seal cracks or crevices in the
foundation or where pipes, etc., enter the house.
• Install seals (weather stripping) around doors and
windows that have large gaps.
• Repair broken screens or windows.
• Reduce moisture content in the house.
• Reduce your chance of being bitten in bed by
removing the bedskirt and moving the bed 8 inches
away from the wall." https://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/yellow-sac-spiders08.pdf

It sounds like they are so common that even if you completely eradicate them, you may see get another infestation. Very few if any reputable sources recommend sprays (this is my experience with most other spiders also - sprays generally aren't effective (and really undesirable in a small enclosed space like a van)) Changing the conditions that allow them access and that provide good living conditions for them is the key.
 
Short version adapted for a van/rv.

Take everything out if possible. Vacuum everywhere inside including all tiny hiding places. Vacuum all your belongings and storage containers. Even if you don't see any spiders this will help get rid of eggs and other things spiders feed on (and the stuff that the insects they feed on feed on). Wash and dry things you can't vacuum. Repeat vacuuming regularly, although you shouldn't have to remove everything again unless reinfested.

Park on gravel, solid rock, asphalt, dry bare areas. Spraying the van inside is a VERY bad idea (very enclosed space that you sleep in daily - high exposure to pesticide.) Spraying the area around your vehicle if you see signs of spiders may be ok. Be sure to follow all label directions. SERIOUSLY Make sure you spray and let dry before putting your food, chairs etc out. Pesticides are NOT your main way to stop these guys - the cleanliness bit below and the vacuuming are the most effective.

Caulk/seal everything possible. (although not totally possible, every bit helps)

VITAL - Get a bit OCD about cleanliness and tidiness. Keep food bits, moisture spills, trash etc cleaned up at least once a day. If at all possible, don't eat inside the vehicle. You're trying to get rid of both the spiders and anything they eat or are attracted to. Keep moisture well controlled - wipe out showers, ventilate van well daily (but have screens on openings), put zeolite bags around to keep area dry. Seal up all food stuff in impervious containers - Tupperware type, mason jars are ideal. Plastic bags and cardboard boxes are not enough. Insects that spiders feed on easily get into these.

When you come back from hikes, take off outer layers and shoes outside and shake them off before bringing into van. Just keep thinking clean, clean, clean. Cut off their food sources.
 
Svenn said:
I think people are misunderstanding my question... yellow sac spiders are highly venomous; they live THROUGHOUT vehicles in North America and a single car can have 30+ inside, mostly outside the cabin proper.  I want to get them off the entire vehicle, not just kill the ones that happen into my living space.
 OK how about a large tarp. Say a 20 x 30 and a couple of bug bombs. Put the tarp over the vehicle so that it touches the ground on all 4 sides, then toss in a couple of bug bombs https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Shot-201...1468278530&sr=8-1&keywords=spider+killer+bomb .
 
rtb111 said:
There's gonna be SPiders!... ok, I'm out

:D ... Ya beat me to it.

Ok, back to the Op.
What kind of critters do you have roaming around inside your vehicle that these spiders like for dinner?
If ya quit feed'in em they will move out on there own.

As mentioned above, carefully empty out the vehicle and clean/vacuum everywhere. Don't put anything back until it's been wiped down or laundered.
 
DannyB1954 said:
 OK how about a large tarp. Say a 20 x 30 and a couple of bug bombs. Put the tarp over the vehicle so that it touches the ground on all 4 sides, then toss in a couple of bug bombs https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Shot-201...1468278530&sr=8-1&keywords=spider+killer+bomb .

I agree, if you are worried about your vehicle being infested by them clean it out well, pressure wash the outside and pay special attention to the underside and engine compartment and dry it all out. Then bug bomb it under a tarp. Then let it air out real well! If anything is alive after all this it deserves to live there and should be considered a traveling companion :)
 
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