black widow spider

Amazing! I wasted a small fortune to have my yard treated, to no avail. Alcohol! I will get a spritzer bottle today. My dogs thank you. Now, if I could just hear the bloodsucking little creeps scream.......
Peace,
~Kate

I worked for a vet for years, and we used ether on animals that were really infested. But the suckers would jump on people to. Just make sure you really smash them between your finger nails so you know they are dead.
Kate-I don't know if alcohol will work in your yard for one thing it evaporates really fast.
Lisa

Thanks, Lisa, I just mean to use it on da boyz.

A friend told me of a product for area mosquito repellent that she swears by - when I find and test it, I'll post.

Meanwhile I talked to Bug Guy today, and is my face red! The reason his yard treatment is not helping mosquitos is 'cause it's for fleas. (I really have to start writing stuff down!) And now that I say so, the dawgs are scratching a lot less. Still I think spritzing them with alcohol is a good idea. Hmmm, I wonder about spritzing ME with alcohol when I do evening gardening? I could shower and moisturize after...what do y'all think? Sandy: Is this treatment just for fleas or do you think it'd work on other pesky biters?

Peace,
~Kate

I received an email the other day that you could put listerine in a mister and mist yourself and the mosquitos would stay away...... or course, you wouldn't smell too good. But I haven't tried it. I have also heard you could wipe your self with a bounce fabric sheet and it would keep the mosquitos away.. I never think of that until I am out watering and the suckers start attacking. Although currently my problem is the little black gnats about eat me alive while I am watering in late evenings!! I REALLY need to try both of those and see if either one works...................

Genna

I don't know about the alcohol as a repellent. I just know it kills the fleas, mosquitoes don't like me, I guess I'm lucky.
Lisa

Very lucky!! :)

Avon Skin-so-soft works great on keeping mosquitos away and it keeps your skin soft while it's working!
So far my dogs have not had fleas but the mosquitos are biting them and it worries me about heartworms. Any ideas on dogs and mosquitos?

No alcohol is just for fleas. It is good however for taking the itch out of mosquitoes bites. Just rub a little on the bite area,

I have not heard of anything for mosquitoes on dogs. I know there is a salve for flies biting dogs ears that repel them. I would think if Listerine would work for us it could not hurt dogs. But if they are outside all the time I am not sure you should use it that often.

I also have the little black gnats. They bite and it hurts. You would not think something so little could make such a bite. They did not seem to like the Listerine. I just rub it on I don't spray it on. I like the smell of listerine better than off and they have citrus and I am not sure what other flavors.

I'll try to rub some alcohol on my dogs bellies. I have 2 chihuahua puppies and a catahula/border collie mix. They stay inside most of the time but go out to use the bathroom. It could be gnats biting them? It's so hot here I'm waiting for the flea outbreak:(

You can also put bleach or ammonia on insect or scorpion stings/bites. When I get stung by fire ants I pour one of the 2 (Don't mix them you will make a poisonous gas) on the area and rinse it off right away. They break up the amino acid or protein chain of the poison. I don't even get blisters from the ant bites if I do it quick enough. Also I must share this, my son, who will be 14 tommorow, killed his first scorpion today. Usually he screams for me but he said it was coming right at him and was going to attack him. I'm so proud.
Lisa

Wow- I haven't seen a scorpion since I was a kid at Lake Jordon in Alabama.
That's good to know about the sings! My 2 year old gets bit alot. I'm gonna pass this along to my MIL for when my younsters are over there.. you think it works on mosquito bites too?

It should work on mosquitos too. The quicker you get the stuff on the better before the poison has time to take affect.
Lisa

Thanks we have a bunch of them squiters!!

A pest control guy told me once that spiders are difficult to control with poisons because they do not "groom" themselves like most insects do. He said the greatest enemy of the spider is the broom. They like dusty, undisturbed places. Sweep porches and outdoor areas near entry doors, and regularly use a brush around exterior windows and gates. I am a real estate broker, and I can't tell you how many times I see bw spiders and their webs on the bottom of overhead garage doors. I have learned to look up before entering when I raise a garage door. This is especially true in vacant houses. I keep a long-handled brush near my garage doors at home and use it routinely. I have also seen bw's make webs inside exterior dryer vents.

Store firewood, landscape rocks and bricks away from the house. And yes, empty plant containers are spider hotels!

When you vacuum your furniture, be sure to turn the furniture over and also vacuum the underside of the furniture. Use a brush to clean that recessed space between the floor molding and the base of built-in cabinets. Vacuum or sweep your closets as often as you do other rooms. When you clean your house, try not to leave any area undisturbed.

pen

Thanks for all the hints. Never would have thought of them and I should!!

Great ideas....... now if I could just find the time to clean that thoroughly!! :) or find a maid.......................

Right!

Just alcohol works to take the itch out of mosquito bites. I was buying After Bite when I was told alcohol. Wow the money one can save.