Orb Weavers

WindyCityzen · 09-28-2020, 11:10 AM

Hi all,

I grow my bananas, mostly as ornamental in containers on my deck. We had a dry hot summer, which created ideal conditions for orb weaver spiders. Not necessarily a bad thing outside but my bananas are starting their migration indoors (into my home). This morning I found a rather large web strung across my kitchen, between where my dwarf Cavendish is currently has been sitting in the sink, to the adjacent wall. Not cute.

How do I kill these little buggers? I don't mind them outside, but these things can get gnarly big and I don't want them in my house. They are pretty much nocturnal, hiding during the day, so locating them has been problematic. But given the location of the web this morning, it's pretty obvious that it's hiding somewhere deep in the banana.

Neem oil seems to be pretty ineffective so far. The plant has been treated a few times (along with a good rinse the following day) to help prevent spider mites from coming in. I have pets, so hoping to go the nontoxic route.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

cincinnana · 09-29-2020, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WindyCityzen

Hi all,

I grow my bananas, mostly as ornamental in containers on my deck. We had a dry hot summer, which created ideal conditions for orb weaver spiders. Not necessarily a bad thing outside but my bananas are starting their migration indoors (into my home). This morning I found a rather large web strung across my kitchen, between where my dwarf Cavendish is currently has been sitting in the sink, to the adjacent wall. Not cute.

How do I kill these little buggers? I don't mind them outside, but these things can get gnarly big and I don't want them in my house. They are pretty much nocturnal, hiding during the day, so locating them has been problematic. But given the location of the web this morning, it's pretty obvious that it's hiding somewhere deep in the banana.

Neem oil seems to be pretty ineffective so far. The plant has been treated a few times (along with a good rinse the following day) to help prevent spider mites from coming in. I have pets, so hoping to go the nontoxic route.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Ok......odd answer but here it goes..

20 years ago I collected about 15 local weavers from a field..
These were directly introduced to my garden.

This is one the best things I had ever did.

If you have children.....this is one of the most educational things they will ever see.

I could talk for hours...on the benefits natural insect solutions and I do locally.

But if you want to kill them ...use a permethrin based spray and that should do it..
Or what you have on hand....

Isolate the plant and treat for a few days.

WindyCityzen · 09-29-2020, 05:36 PM

It's not that I want to kill them, it's that I don't want to live with them inside my house all winter. If I had a way to get them off the plant, take them back outside and let them do whatever spiders do during Chicago's winter, I would. Problem is, they are very effective hiders during my normal awake hours.

cincinnana · 09-29-2020, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WindyCityzen

It's not that I want to kill them, it's that I don't want to live with them inside my house all winter. If I had a way to get them off the plant, take them back outside and let them do whatever spiders do during Chicago's winter, I would. Problem is, they are very effective hiders during my normal awake hours.

Yep......the perfect predator.

You have spray if you want to limit them.

09-28-2020, 11:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
WindyCityzen Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 23 BananaBucks : 13,778 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 5 Times Was Thanked 30 Times in 13 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Orb Weavers Hi all, I grow my bananas, mostly as ornamental in containers on my deck. We had a dry hot summer, which created ideal conditions for orb weaver spiders. Not necessarily a bad thing outside but my bananas are starting their migration indoors (into my home). This morning I found a rather large web strung across my kitchen, between where my dwarf Cavendish is currently has been sitting in the sink, to the adjacent wall. Not cute. How do I kill these little buggers? I don't mind them outside, but these things can get gnarly big and I don't want them in my house. They are pretty much nocturnal, hiding during the day, so locating them has been problematic. But given the location of the web this morning, it's pretty obvious that it's hiding somewhere deep in the banana. Neem oil seems to be pretty ineffective so far. The plant has been treated a few times (along with a good rinse the following day) to help prevent spider mites from coming in. I have pets, so hoping to go the nontoxic route. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

09-29-2020, 05:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
WindyCityzen Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 23 BananaBucks : 13,778 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 5 Times Was Thanked 30 Times in 13 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Orb Weavers It's not that I want to kill them, it's that I don't want to live with them inside my house all winter. If I had a way to get them off the plant, take them back outside and let them do whatever spiders do during Chicago's winter, I would. Problem is, they are very effective hiders during my normal awake hours.

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