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Across the Fence:  black widow spider  |
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FG-Terri
Farmgirl in Training
26 Posts
Theresa
Newport News
VA
USA
26 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 06:42:40 AM
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I am new to gardening and MJ Farms. This is the first year I had a garden, about 6 feet by 30 feet, lol, just enough to get my feet wet! Had been a great experience til Monday night when I picked a watermelon..... and under my melon was a black widow spider!!! I am tempted to let nature take over the garden and buy my veggies at the local produce market but I love the tomatoes that are still on the vines.....
Any ideas on how to deal with the spider?
Thanks !! |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 06:54:56 AM
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Hey Theresa and welcome to the forum. Wow, that would be scary. I have no idea how to get rid of them. I probably would have dropped the melon right back down on it really hard in my fright. I'm sure my garden is just full of creepy crawlies right now. I just don't think about them and just plunge in. I was just out there in my jungle picking tomatoes trying not to scream at all of them.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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harmonyfarm
True Blue Farmgirl
785 Posts
Debbie
Southeastern
Ohio
USA
785 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 07:05:48 AM
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Are ya sure it was a black widow? I thought they liked to hang out in dry dark places. There are a few spiders that resemble them. Maybe you should catch one and check for sure. Be a shame to give up gardening because of it.
Debbie
"If you can't find the time to do it right...how will you find the time to do it over" |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 07:49:01 AM
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I let my first garden go to a garden snake about 12 inches long and a toad about the size of Pittsburgh. I went inside that year and really never came out and I have regretted it ever since. I too thougtht that black widows like it dark and dry. But it was a big enough spider to give you a scare. Sooo I always have something in my hand now to make the offender go away usually the water hose. Cold water usually slows thing down. I always wear gloves and rubber boots good for stomping. And Last but really should be first Is I say a little prayer befor I go in and just announce I am coming in and please watch over me and let all the extra critters in the garden hide really well or go away for a while.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 08:44:30 AM
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Theresa, I know those big ole hairy beasts are very scary, but they eat 3 times their weight in insect daily! I have so many spiders in my garden I couldn't even tell you how many kinds there are. I leave them alone and they leave me alone. When I stumble across one I have my little hand spade with me and I just flick it out of my way. I even leave the ones with long spindly legs and tiny bodies in the house to themselves. They make their webs up high and don't bite, but they sure love the gnats, which I hate, so it works for us. I hate spiders, but I hate the pest insects more!
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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4HMom
True Blue Farmgirl
720 Posts
Kelly
Montana
720 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 08:53:15 AM
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Hi Terri,
I probably wasn't a black widow (and thankfully, black widows aren't agressive, you really have to incite them)...but there are some big, nasty looking ones (black and red) that hang out in my garden. NOT a spider fan, but they do play an important role in the garden, so I'm with the other gals...flick them away and by ALL means, don't let it keep you from the garden! :) Good luck.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
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emsmommy5
True Blue Farmgirl
1547 Posts
Angie
Buckley
WA
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 2:59:36 PM
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I love the little prayer about having the critters hide! I think I will use that along with my gloves, floppy hat and boots to keep the bugs away.
If they are outside and not eating my garden (slugs) they can stay. I just try to be expecting them when I go out to share their world so I don't jump. =)
Do what you love, love what you do. |
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FG-Terri
Farmgirl in Training
26 Posts
Theresa
Newport News
VA
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 7:27:14 PM
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Thanks for everyones excellent advice! Love saying a prayer to make the critters hide!!! It was a black widow.....lol, I did inspect it after I killed it, black with bright red hourglass. Because of the weeds and where it was located, under the melon and very dry here, she must have loved it; also took out her egg sack (or what I took to be an egg sack). I am ok with other spiders, lol, but not friends with them.
This has been a learning year for me, hope to be much better and much braver next year!! |
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FG-Terri
Farmgirl in Training
26 Posts
Theresa
Newport News
VA
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 7:33:10 PM
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Thanks for everyones excellent advice! Love saying a prayer to make the critters hide!!! It was a black widow.....lol, I did inspect it after I killed it, black with bright red hourglass. Because of the weeds and where it was located, under the melon and very dry here, she must have loved it; also took out her egg sack (or what I took to be an egg sack). I am ok with other spiders, lol, but not friends with them.
This has been a learning year for me, hope to be much better and much braver next year!! |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2010 : 03:40:00 AM
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After marrying, hubby also cautioned me when we picked watermelon and especially cantelope. I usually give the melon to be picked a spin on the ground just to get all the nasties off.
And the other day I went to put on my gardening hat, and there was a BIG black widow in it, and the egg sack! Glad I checked first!
There are several species, but it's the glossy black body and red that is the dead giveaway. The red doesn't necessairly have to be the classic hourglas shape either! |
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Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2010 : 04:50:45 AM
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I'm glad you girls are alright!
I have grown accustomed to spiders out here and having a woodstove but when I see one that resembles a Black Widow or Brown Recluse that does it for me :)
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory
http://merryheartjournal.blogspot.com/ |
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Across the Fence: black widow spider |
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black widow spider
