More Spiders Than Usual?

Is it just me or is anyone else seeing more spiders than usual? I have webs everywhere! I can't walk between tall plants without running into a web. There are lots of crab spiders and the argiope are everywhere.

X

I am 6'4 and i always run into spider webs. cant say we have had lots more in the way of webs. Around my house there has been a slight drop as to ones "on" the house. Around the yard there seem to be just as many. Seems like each small tree/plant I have has one guarding it!

I have noticed a lot of spider webs this year.

Same here. I thought maybe it was just "that time of year" a little earlier than usual. Maybe it's indicative of the type (harshness) of winter we're in for?

It's got me wondering .. I actually saw a wooley worm in July .. now that can't be a good sign.

X

I've seen some spider webs on plants I plant to bring indoors for winter (e.g., tropical bird of paradise, palms, etc.). Any suggestions what would be good to spray them with before bringing them in, and how far in advance (e.g. week, two weeks, etc.) should I do this before moving them inside? I don't want to wait until the freezing point to move them. I like to do so when the temps outside are about the same as that which I keep the inside of the house so it's not a huge shock to the plant.

I usually use a long (the operative word here is long) stick to move spiders. I just swirl them up along with the web and put the stick somewhere else. If you do spray them then make sure you use an insecticide for gardens .. plain old bug spray in a can is not good for plants.

X

Thanks! I just didn't want to bring any of the little fellas into the house, and wasn't sure if they burrow into the soil at all. I'll give my hubby the job of relocating the visible inhabitants, as he's much more spider/bug friendly than I am.

I tried that stick thing on an Argiope and she was not a happy camper .. climbed on to the stick and headed my way. Needless to say that's where using LONG sticks came from .. more time to drop and run.

X

Your best bet jij072 is to blast the plants with a hose 48 hrs before you plan to bring them into the house. Use a fairly forceful spray on the wand, (but NOT the one you'd use to wash the car/house windows with)! Then do it again 24 hrs before you plan to move them in. I take the added precaution of spraying all ornamentals with a systemic (Merit) before moving them to their winter home in the greenhouse, but only AFTER I've gotten rid of the good guys (spiders) with the water. Merit is also a contact insecticide and will kill spiders on contact. I know it's primarily marketed/sold as a systemic (and it works well as a systemic), but it is also an extremely effective contact killer, so don't use Merit around friendly insects...

THere are tons this year! I park my car for one day and boom. there is a big spider web on it.