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Household Insects
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Daddy Longlegs
by Dennis Ferraro Extension Educator Douglas/Sarpy Extension Unit
Harvestmen (Daddy Longlegs) have a small (1/4) oval body, usually
rust, tan or brown in color. Eight legs more than one inch long
radiate outward from the body and so many people call harvestmen
"daddy longleg spiders." They are neither spider or true insect.
Harvestmen are found in many habitats, but prefer cool, moist
locations such as forests, basements and shaded plant beds. They
like areas with a lot of organic material.
These arthropods feed on small insects and mites, but do not harm
humans. They do produce a bad-smelling fluid. Harvestmen can appear
in large numbers in moist years and will invade houses, garages,
basements and sheds. They more quickly and climb easily.
Inside a house, harvestmen do not live long. Vacuuming and vigorous
swats with a towel or hand will reduce their numbers indoors.
To prevent this pest from invading your home, make sure windows and
doors fit tightly. Seal and caulk all holes, if possible. Remove
moist organic matter from the area near the foundation, and keep
vegetation next to the structure thinned. Spraying the perimeter of
the building with diazinon, or another outdoor insecticide will help
prevent entry. Always follow all label directions when using any
pesticide.
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Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders are one of the most common types of spiders found
across Nebraska. They usually elicit alarm and stress among
homeowners because of their large size, quick movement and hairy
body. There are several different types or species of Wolf spiders
in our area, so most people do not always recognize all of them as
same species. Wolf spiders are harmless to people or pets. However,
many people fear harmless spiders because of misunderstandings
concerning their dangerous nature. In reality there are only a few
species of spiders that warrant caution. Wolf spiders are a normal
and desirable part of the ecosystems in which they occur. They feed
on other insects, including species which are pests of plants and
nuisance species such as biting flies, as well as other spiders and
scorpions. Therefore, these spiders are generally considered to be
beneficial organisms.
Non-Chemical Control of Spiders - Sanitation and habitat
modification are key tactics for control of spiders indoors. This
includes vacuuming in corners, window sills, and attic areas, and
keeping premises free of unneeded, unwanted items such as
undisturbed clothing, papers, and other litter. Indoor habitat
modification that creates a barrier to the movement of spiders into
buildings is also a key tactic to effective spider control. The
corners and crawl spaces of buildings should be kept free of spider
webs. This may be accomplished by simply dusting these areas or by
using a vacuum to remove existing webs. Vacuuming removes active
spider webs, adult spiders, and spider egg sacs. Living spiders will
desiccate quickly in the vacuum bag, but depending on the design of
the vacuum, it may be useful to empty the bag immediately after use
in order to prevent the spiders' escape . Removing litter such as
newspaper and wood from the interior and the sides of buildings is
also crucial for effective elimination of spiders. In addition to
sanitation, creating a physical barrier to movement of spiders into
buildings is also an effective management technique. Pruning
shrubbery and other plants away from buildings will also limit the
access of spiders to buildings.
Barriers also limit access of buildings to spiders. Caulking,
repairing screens, and filling cracks and crevices around windows,
doors, and foundations with materials such as expanding polyurethane
foam will exclude many spiders from buildings. Common areas to
inspect for holes and gaps include entry holes for plumbing and
electrical lines, and window and door casings. Window and door
screens should be repaired to fill in holes large enough for entry
of spiders. Gaps in the wall boards and ceiling-wall interfaces
should be closed, and door and window casings should be filled with
caulking or a foam insulation material. Foam insulation material can
also be used to fill wall voids and crawl spaces if spiders come in
through these areas. Spiders can easily gain access to buildings
through gaps beneath doors. Placing a piece of weather stripping
under a door so that there is no gap between the bottom of the door
and the floor when the door is closed will alleviate this problem.
If crawl spaces are a breeding area for spiders, the reason is
usually excess moisture. By eliminating moisture from crawl spaces,
spiders can be eliminated. Placing plastic over bare soil can
eliminate moisture in some areas, such as beneath cabins. The key to
many moisture problems is to increase venting. Therefore, opening up
ducts under a foundation may eliminate moisture from a crawl space,
without allowing increased access of the building for spiders.
Additional precautionary measures which may reduce the risk of being
bitten by spiders include wearing shoes at all times, using leather
gloves when moving rocks, wood or other debris, and shaking out
sleeping bags and clothing before using them.
Chemical Control of Spiders - Chemical control of spiders inside of
buildings or outdoors is not recommended and should be considered
only as a last resort. Residual sprays are not recommended for use
in buildings that are occupied, or are to be occupied in the near
future. For reduction of large numbers of spiders indoors, room
foggers containing pyrethrins/ pyrethroids are helpful . Follow all
label directions.
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