Spider update: the property is infested with both black AND brown widow spiders
Submitted by Fatboy on December 7, 2014 - 12:08pmI was just informed of this yesterday evening. The neighbor in the front house had been cleaning up around the property all day yesterday. After I found the spider at my door yesterday evening is when she told me about the problem. Apparently the landlord knew about this issue since the people before us moved out. It seems this information should have been disclosed before we rented the property; no one would have wanted to rent it if it were made known.
Not to sound like I'm repeating a line from Game of Thrones, but winter is coming. Those jerks are going to find their way inside soon. I couldn't get to the home depot yesterday as I locked myself out of the house, so I sprinkled diatomaceous earth around the doors and windows for the time being. My husband isn't in town right now, but he told me I'll have to caulk the opening of the dryer hose. I'll get the spider spray and caulking, but is there anything else I am missing? I want to feel safe leaving Fatboy here alone during the day while I'm at work.
Fatboy aka Stinky :)
This is a horrible story............
I hope somebody here can offer you advice...........this is just so wrong!
If you mean Brown Recluse, you need an exterminator right now.
i don't know where you live, but if you are talking about Brown Recluse spiders, they are more dangerous than Black Widows. Get a good exterminator right now, they will need to spray for those. You can also do a bug bomb, but make sure it will hit those two spiders specifically. We have both here, as well as scorpions. I spray every spring and fall. We still have them unless I have an exterminator once a year.
Amy and Sophia
No, it's the brown widow (a cousin of the black widow). They're
the hunters of the two, which really scares me. The black widow will wait for food to show up. The brown widow will seek out its food at night. We're lucky enough to have both =/
Fatboy aka Stinky :)
Eiks!@!! I have never heard of those before!
I think I was better before I found that out! How scary:-(
Amy and Sophia
I would call in an exterminator if...
you have an infestation. Raid flying insect spray will kill them, I use it all the time. You need to look for them at night with a flashlight and then spray the crap out of them. An exterminator would be my first call though. Black widows tend to hide during the day and come out at night.
This is turning into a nightmare. We have the spider
infestation and now cockroaches are finding their way inside. I am beginning to think moving into this house was a bad idea. I bought Ortho Home Defense and sprayed the outside area. I noticed when I sprayed, more bugs ended up inside. They were sluggish, so I know the spray is working. But now I'm worried about the Fats. He tried to eat them when he saw them running across the floor. If he ingests even one, he'll get sick.
Another thing I noticed is the grass. When I take him out, he tries to rub his face in it. When he does this, he immediately starts to drool like a water facet. He also tried to rub his face into the fence post (which is where I sprayed for the spiders).
I have a feeling the neighbors found both roaches and spiders that Saturday morning when I spoke to her. She was up pretty early cleaning and working on the house with the handy man who was there. They might have stirred up a storm for us. I also have a feeling she sprayed our grass. Fatboy immediately had a reaction to it when he tried to rub his face in the ground. The only area I sprayed was the fence. His fascination with the fence post worries me.
Sorry I'm rambling. It's late and I just freaked out about his little reaction he had right now.
Fatboy aka Stinky :)
Honestly, I would immediately contact the landlord...
And make a few suggestions! Starting with the landlord pay for a very good exterminator, and take a good chunk off the rent until the issue is resolved. You can call the county health department and lodge a complaint against the landlord, but that might get you evicted or on raeally bad terms with the landlord and you might want to avoid that. At least talk to them, see what they say and what they knew before you moved in?
I am sorry you are having these scary issues, I would be freaked out also! We bought our ranch and moved into the old home built in the early 70s. Then we found out it houses several other things, like scorpions, black widow spiders, and brown recluse spiders, to name a few. I sprayed and fussed for the first year. I was scared about the dogs being stung or bitten, but thankfully that has not been the case. I, on the otherhand, stepped on a scorpion, then had one inside a pair of jeans a week later that stung me three times up my leg, then again a third time I was picking up laundry and got stung again! All within two weeks! Found out the ones we have aren't lethal!
Good luck to you...I would be furious:-(
Amy and Sophia
Oh my heavens!
I have no advice, but I would be freaking out also. Will your landlord pay for an exterminator? I would get one out ASAP and worry about the cost later. The exterminator we have uses natural and pet safe products. I'm so sorry you ar dealing with this. :-(
**********"Life is far too short not to have a little umbrella in your drink"**********
I would be calling an exterminator and deducting the cost
from the rent.
Some places require certain standards in rentals
I know know the laws where you live, but infested property does not meet the standards for rental up here and the landlord is required to remidy the situation. Ask the landlord first (don't threaten) and see if he'll send a professional out to fix this.
I am so glad I live in a place where so far, at least, winters get cold enough that black widows and brown recluse can't survive. I'm worried that climate change is going to move the south up here and we'll get more of these (and chiggers and termites) which we don't have right now.
This is scary
I would have the landlord paid for this and if she gives you and problems. Then I would hold back the rent and just move. me and my kids and Dogs will will not be put in any Danger. This sounds like a move I have seen. Make them look under the house just to see if they are all living and breeding there. I would let the Landlord know I would of never rented you house if you would of told me this. I'm sorry spiders are just to much for me.
Karonelaine
Check Your State Laws
I apologize for responding so late to this thread, but I would recommend that you check your state's landlord & tenant responsibilities. In Washington State, the RCW (Reviosed Dode of Washington) on Landlord duties: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=59.18.060
Your state may have similar requirements of landlords. If you dealt with a realtor on the rental property, inform the realtor as well. I would do teh following if you have not already done so:
- Contact the landlord (and realtor if applicable) via phone & email.
- Follow up to both with a registered letter statitng the issue to ensure you have proof of delivery & receipt.
- Get a notebook & write down everything: who you spoke to, when & hwat transpired. Make sure to keep copies of any bills, recipts, etc. This will be important, especially if it becomes a legal matter or you need to take teh landlord to Small Claims Court.
- You may want to engage with an attorney if your landlord does not immediately become proactive in resolving the situation. Many attorneys offer a free 15-30 minute free consult to see if you have a case.
Good luck!
~Amy
Check State Laws on Withholding Rent Payments
Before you withhold paying rent, recommend you check state laws again to ensure that you do not inadvertantly take an illegal action. Be sure to keep all bills & receipts for any work you have done.