Spider and other bug issues

[hornhooper]

I looked outside my window yesterday and saw the bugman. He sprayed some chemical mix with water around my neighbors yard and fountain. I asked my neighbor about the spray. He said "I don't know", "It costs about 75 dollars a month." Wow! Where can I get something to kill little spiders, mites, and ants? I would like to spray it around my house using the water hose.

 

[kevwun]

Sorry to hijack your thread, but if anybody has a way to get rid of scorpions other than an exterminator I'd be grateful.

 

[Mrmyke709]

Hornhooper, I use a pump sprayer with Spectracide Bug Stop. It's permethrin, so it's not too nasty.
You can spray the lawn and the foundation with it.
You can use it in a hose sprayer.
For scorpions, I use the indoor spray can of the same stuff. There is a particular brand that is time released permethrin.
Spray the baseboards, corners, doorjambs, behind the toilets, and most of all, any doorjambs to the outside.
I can tell when it's working when I see the dead ones.
We have them pretty bad out in our neck of the woods.

 

[Bookman]

Don't swat at a scorpion when they're carrying their kids.

The little ******** will fly all over the place.

 

[kevwun]

Myke, is the home use Spectracide pet safe? I can't find anything on their website that says either way.

 

[hornhooper]

Good Question K? I need something and not have it kil my dog.

 

[washparkhorn]

Damn I hate scorpions and most spiders.

I had a black widow in the corner of a rarely used door to my basement. That little ***** was very agressive. I had my usual spider killer (a rolled up newspaper) and walked down the darkened steps to the basement door. As I leaned down to deliver the death blow, the spider charged me! Now I'm a pretty big guy, 6'0, 190 and am old enough that it takes a lot to scare me, but I bounded up the steps nearly falling. I grabbed a broomhandle next, and the spider did it again. At that point, I decided superior firepower is the better part of valor and got the nastiest bug killer I had. Two cans of Raid later, the spider was dead. I still get the creeps from that encounter.

Aside from my visceral dislike of spiders, aren't they good for keeping some worse pests at bay?

 

[Mrmyke709]

Permethrin is the least nasty stuff out there for home use.
If you're concerned about pets, check out HEB, there is a label that is a blue can, it's actually considered "kitchen safe".
I use it whenever I really have to fog the carpet.
The cat starts to get fleas, and the carpet is a wonderful sanctuary for them.
Just let the room air out a bit if you really have to blast.

My concern about spiders are the brown recluse that are prevalent around here.
I usually blast under the bed, and around the closets in case those little ******** are around.

 

[randoke]

Scorpions freak me out; I'm terrified. When I was little, a scorprion bit me on the hand and gave me an infection from bacteria on his stinger. It swelled up three times normal and turned bright red. Hurt like hell.

 

[horn1]

Here's where I order all my **** from....

www.doityourselfpestcontrol.com

They sell all the same **** that your professionals use. The 1qt bottle of Suspend ($40) concentrate will last you about 3-4 years...if not longer.

 

[eggroll]

We have a bug man treat the house once a quarter. They call and remind us and we have had virtually zero bug problems for the past 5 years. And in Houston there is no shortage of bugs.

Once a month is a con job.

$50 per quarter is a no-brainer.

 

[UTinBigD]

Just had ours done yesterday and there are about 7 dead roaches in the garage, so looks like this stuff is working.

$75/month sound like extortion or some kind of money laundering scheme.

 

[hornhooper]

The guy signed some contract when he first moved in the house. It's a 12 month thing and it comes with a cancellation fee. That sucks.