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Child Item

Earwigs and Spiders in my house!

Gamer Bhoy 89

WARNING: There are pretty nasty details in here if you don't want to lose your appetite.

I have been getting them pretty frequently now since July or August.
Every day I have killed at least 1 wig and 1 spider.

The spiders don't bother me as much as the earwigs though. I've had to pretty much DISINFECT the dish-rack because I saw one crawling around dishes I recently washed and I also had to throw a bag of bread out because there was one lurking around inside.

I'm getting the odd BIG spider aswell recently. Not ones that are as small as a rice-krispy now, these are about as long as a bookie's pen and as wide as a euro coin (bad comparisons. I know, sorry *snigger*) and I've only saw 4 in total since July. And the fright I get when I run into one is ridiculous. They're the biggest spiders I've seen inside my home.

Where are these wigs and spiders coming from and what is their purpose? (like, what is attracting them?). I think dirty clothes attract the spiders (like clothes sitting in the washing basket waiting to be thrown in the machine). But I have no idea what is attracting the earwigs.

If anyone is unsure what an earwig is, I won't post an in-your-face picture here it's pretty disgusting.

Here's 2 links for each:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earwig

http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-page-main/ehow/images/a07/ft/e0/identify-common-household-spiders-oklahoma-800x800.jpg

Now, that is the spider that, I THINK, looks like the ones that have been crawling around my house.

(and I am constantly reflectively itching myself every 5 seconds because i'm getting squeamish!)

Thanks *shivers*

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Wattle

I once unwittingly brought back a cockroach from Costa Rica. I was on a volunteering thing in a rural part of the country and there were cockroach's all over the gaff. I was killing three or four of them a night cos I didn't like the idea of the slimy mo'fcukas crawling around while I was asleep. Anyway one of them must have somehow climbed into my bags and took a free lift across the Atlantic. About two months after I got back I moved the bathroom mat one night and this cockroach goes hurtling towards cover in a crevice under the bath-tub. These bastards are lightning fast and difficult to kill. I was dumbfounded. Did I really just see a cockroach? I knew it was hanging about which creeped me out a bit. I came home a few days later and there he was in my en-suite shower. I had the fcuker cornered. Justice was administered swiftly and brutally after that via the sole of my shoe. I can cope with a few spiders but cockroachs? They must die.

LeeHoffmann

I think I heard that if you step on a cockroach the eggs can still survive, so I hope you cleaned that shoe properly

Wattle

LeeHoffmann wrote: »

I think I heard that if you step on a cockroach the eggs can still survive, so I hope you cleaned that shoe properly

Must have been a male cockroach. I never did see any babies.

cat_dog

Clean your house, slob

annascott

JaxxYChicK wrote: »

There's been a huge increase in Giant House Spiders in the last few years, and I think most of us have seen one or two lurking ominously around the house. I wouldn't be too worried about these OP, though they have a nasty enough bite they can't harm you..

Please tell me you are joking here! I did not know that there were any biting spiders in Ireland and if they are too big for me not to feel creeped out by letting them stay, I often lift them up in my hands to put them outside.... I won't any more if they are likely to bite!! :eek:

marcsignal

annascott wrote: »

Please tell me you are joking here! I did not know that there were any biting spiders in Ireland and if they are too big for me not to feel creeped out by letting them stay, I often lift them up in my hands to put them outside.... I won't any more if they are likely to bite!! :eek:

Yeah, I have to admit, I spent 6 or 7 years working for Rentokil and never came across any biting spiders in Ireland.

Funny thing is, many people also report being bitten by ants as well, but thats not the case. I hate to break the yucky news guys, but there is formic acid in ants urine, rather than biting you, I'm afraid they are peeing on you instead

pragmatic1

marcsignal wrote: »

Yeah, I have to admit, I spent 6 or 7 years working for Rentokil and never came across any biting spiders in Ireland.

Funny thing is, many people also report being bitten by ants as well, but thats not the case. I hate to break the yucky news guys, but there is formic acid in ants urine, rather than biting you, I'm afraid they are peeing on you instead

Giant house spiders can pierce human skin as can the woodlouse spider. Both found in Ireland.

annascott

Does anyone know how to get rid of tiny fruit fly things in the bathroom?

FlutterinBantam

annascott wrote: »

Does anyone know how to get rid of tiny fruit fly things in the bathroom?

Don't leave your skiddies in a heap in the corner:cool:

marcsignal

annascott wrote: »

Does anyone know how to get rid of tiny fruit fly things in the bathroom?

They love stagnant water, and usually hang about near lazy drains, or if you have a slight leak in the u-bend of a toilet. Regular bleaching of sink drains and toilets should alleviate the problem. If it persists another option is to get hold of an oil based insecticide like Pybuthrin, and pour an eggcup full down the drain or toilet. You should also remove the side panel of your bath, and check for dampness underneath from a leak around the plughole. If there is dampness there, leave the side panel off and air the underside of the bath. You should see flies in there also if that is the source of the problem.

IMPORTANT ! - Using Pybuthrin for this purpose is not exactly environmentally kosher, because it is oil based, and takes a long long time to break down. So if you must use it, don't do so very often, (no more than once every 3 weeks), and never use any more than an eggcup full, per Toilet or Sink in the affected room. The chemical causes a toxic oily film to form on the inside of the pipe that prevents the fruit flies from breeding.

As soon as the problem stops, stop using the Pybuthrin. Just make sure the drain is kept free of blockages and gunge in the future, and regularly bleached. This type of chemical should only be used as a last resort, and should never be used liberally.

Wear Gloves and a Mask.

Jaxxy

JaxxYChicK wrote: »

The woodlouse spider can bite humans effectively. AFAIK most of our spiders here are unable to actually pierce skin and I'm not sure if the Giant House Spider is big enough to draw blood but I've heard reports from people that unknowingly disturbed them only to get a sharp jab.

All spiders can bite people, just the majority can't actually pierce human skin.

Wattle wrote: »

I once unwittingly brought back a cockroach from Costa Rica. I was on a volunteering thing in a rural part of the country and there were cockroach's all over the gaff. I was killing three or four of them a night cos I didn't like the idea of the slimy mo'fcukas crawling around while I was asleep. Anyway one of them must have somehow climbed into my bags and took a free lift across the Atlantic. About two months after I got back I moved the bathroom mat one night and this cockroach goes hurtling towards cover in a crevice under the bath-tub. These bastards are lightning fast and difficult to kill. I was dumbfounded. Did I really just see a cockroach? I knew it was hanging about which creeped me out a bit. I came home a few days later and there he was in my en-suite shower. I had the fcuker cornered. Justice was administered swiftly and brutally after that via the sole of my shoe. I can cope with a few spiders but cockroachs? They must die.

What makes you think he was smuggled back from Costa Rica? We have cockroaches in Ireland too.

Though granted, I've never actually seen any in someone's house before. Yuck!

Latchy

annascott wrote: »

Does anyone know how to get rid of tiny fruit fly things in the bathroom?

Leave the window open (when at home )then light a joss stick and hope the smell kills them /the buggers 'bugger' off .

Sticjones

Wattle wrote: »

I've been seein lots of tiny one's about the house. Didn't bother me in the least unitil I came upon a HUGE one in my bathtub. Why do they always head for the bath-tub?

They don't target the bath-tub, just when they happen to crawl into one it's impossible for them to climb back out on such a slippy surface.

If you leave a towel hanging over they will crawl out.

Toby Take a Bow

marcsignal wrote: »

They love stagnant water, and usually hang about near lazy drains, or if you have a slight leak in the u-bend of a toilet. Regular bleaching of sink drains and toilets should alleviate the problem. If it persists another option is to get hold of an oil based insectecide like Pybuthrin, and pour an eggcup full down the drain or toilet.

Jesus, Marcsignal, your advice is much appreciated. I've been plagued by these for most of the summer, and eventually gave up. After reading your post, no more.

I used to live in a horrible basement flat, and there were (it seemed) hundreds of spiders (usually the ones with tiny little bodies, but really long skinny legs) and, near a leak in the back door, a constant stream of earwigs. It wasn't even a cleanliness issue, and eventually I moved out, and thank god I did.

I do like spiders, theoretically. They eat dirty flies and annoying wasps. I was a bit freaked out when I was trying to get rid of a fly in the bathroom the other day, and the spider dropped to the bottom of the window. With no web, a lurking spider jumped the fly and slowly killed it. I had to give it credit (before I put it in a glass and threw the both of them out the window).

marcsignal

Toby Take a Bow wrote: »

Jesus, Marcsignal, your advice is much appreciated. I've been plagued by these for most of the summer, and eventually gave up. After reading your post, no more.

No wories mate, glad I could help. Just keep in mind that ALL insecticides are dangerous to pets, especially fish in an aquarium.
If you're in doubt about anything, just PM me first.

In fact, if there are any other boardsies out there that end up with pest problems, feel free to PM me anytime.
I was a senior technician in Rentokil for over 6 years and have come across nearly every pest you're likely to encounter, in Ireland.

Although I don't do that work anymore, I'll be happy to give fellow boardsies any advice I can for free, and if you need the help of a professional ? I am still in contact with loads of people in the extermination game that I can put you in touch with.

good hunting

emer_b

Thank god for this thread, I thought it was just my house being infested with earwigs! Lots and lots of spiders around but they dont bother me...the earwigs on the other hand, I thought my house must be minging, turns out they're everywhere....or else all our houses are minging!

annascott

Yes, thanks for all the advice. There is definitely a leak under my bath and I keep finding all sorts there. Mainly woodlice and earwigs. The fruitfly thing was really annoying. How come boiling water down the sink doesn't kill them?
Glad to know I'm not the only one. I've put it all down to the perils of living in an old house in the country. I didn't have any of these problems when I lived in a new house. This is a high price to pay for privacy.

PrincessLola

ShooterSF wrote: »

Quit putting the spiders back outside. That's how they get in my house. Kill them and stop being such a sap
I treat them and all the insects as tresspassers. Enter my home without permission and youre getting squashed.

Actually I know for a fact that the giant house spiders are so named for a reason, they are both giant and live mainly in houses (or sheds, or garages) if you put them outside they won't survive anyway.
They don't actually 'come in from the cold' in the late summer, they've been in your house all along but have only grown to maturity at this time and are now wandering around looking for a mate.

thats right. You heard me. They've been there all along :pac:

http://www.burkemuseum.org/spidermyth/myths/house.html

marcsignal

annascott wrote: »

How come boiling water down the sink doesn't kill them?

Pouring boiling water down the drain will kill the ones in the immediate area of the u-bend and overflow of a sink, or around a drain, but it wont prevent others from arriving within a few hours, or even minutes.

The oil based insecticide leaves a toxic oily film around the area, and that kills them, because it forms an oily skin on the top of the water just down the drain, that they cannot pass without coming into contact with. It will also remain there after many flushes, killing them off for days after.

af_thefragile

Just get a cat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF9fcIqX9XQ

the purple tin

It's funny that we all think our spiders are really huge.
I saw a documentary about a tribe living in the jungle once and by the time the children were five years old they were able to go out on their own to catch these bad boys http://brightguy.webs.com/goliath%20bird%20eater.jpg and cook them for the tea.

--Kaiser--

the purple tin wrote: »

It's funny that we all think our spiders are really huge.
I saw a documentary about a tribe living in the jungle once and by the time the children were five years old they were able to go out on their own to catch these bad boys http://brightguy.webs.com/goliath%20bird%20eater.jpg and cook them for the tea.

They taste like chicken, apparently

marcsignal

the purple tin wrote: »

It's funny that we all think our spiders are really huge. Big MF

HOLY SHIT !! :eek:

*backs away slowly

Wattle

cat_dog wrote: »

Clean your house, slob

I'd love to but I'm kinda afraid that the spiders and the cockroaches and the earwigs will band together to form a kind of Super Insect force. I don't want to wake up one morning cocooned in a giant spider web with earwigs going in one ear and out the other and hordes of cockroaches streaming out of my gob.

marcsignal

Wattle wrote: »

I'd love to but I'm kinda afraid that the spiders and the cockroaches and the earwigs will band together to form a kind of Super Insect force. I don't want to wake up one morning cocooned in a giant spider web with earwigs going in one ear and out the other and hordes of cockroaches streaming out of my gob.

sounds like a weekend in Mosney

[Deleted User]

I don't understand why anyone would want to kill spiders or insects in a house. Irish spiders do not attack or bite humans and are handy to have around in summer, when opening a window even a centimetre will bring at least one irritating fly in. My apartment is quite clean and I let the spiders stay in their corners because they have never done anything to me; to actually go out of your way to kill them is nothing more than a silly, irrational reaction.

If anything, mosquitoes are the new Hitlers of your lebensraum.

Oh, and 'saving' a fly from a spider's nest is like bulldozing someone's house because they eat meat.