# Spiders, Spiders EVERYWHERE! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 12, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-spiders-everywhere/754583 "2016-05-12T00:44:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-spiders-everywhere/754583/1 "2016-05-12T00:44:31Z")
We live in Southern California & got termite tented about 16 months ago. Prior to termite tenting, the only bugs I ever saw in my house were fleas, the occasional ant, fruit fly, and spider. The termite guy told me that the chemicals they use under the tent would kill every living thing inside the house, but would not kill spider eggs. So he predicted that we would go for a while not seeing any bugs, but spiders would come back eventually. So for the first 8 months or so after tenting, we saw NO pests. None! It was heaven. But now 16 months out, I am finding spiders of all kinds everywhere. I went to take a shower a few days ago and there were 2 giant quarter sized black spider in the bath tub along with a skinny delicate spider. Then this morning I found a spider in my shoe (:eek:), then 2 more --one in the coat closet and another in the downstairs bathroom sink (a disgusting thick legged horrifying spider). Are these spiders all coming out because they are hungry and their food source is gone? What can I do about them? I hate them and every time I see one, it ruins my day. Can anyone help? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-spiders-everywhere/754583/2 "2016-05-12T00:58:58Z")
If only you had some sort of plane that was capable of carrying enough nuclear armaments to level a city! I don’t think the OP knows where to get that. :dubious: Black widows are the only spider you have to worry about in SoCal. These mostly sound like harmless wolf spiders. If they don’t have a food source, they’ll die. I suspect that you are just more primed to look for them based upon what he said, 5 spiders in a few days is not an epidemic. If you have a phobia, that’s common, just realize that they cannot hurt you. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-spiders-everywhere/754583/3 "2016-05-12T07:31:47Z")
Hang a towel or bath mat over the edge of the bath so the spiders don’t get trapped in there. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-spiders-everywhere/754583/4 "2016-05-12T13:41:00Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Black widows are the only spider you have to worry about in SoCal. These mostly sound like harmless wolf spiders. If they don’t have a food source, they’ll die. I suspect that you are just more primed to look for them based upon what he said, 5 spiders in a few days is not an epidemic. > > If you have a phobia, that’s common, just realize that they cannot hurt you. There are 5 spiders that I SAW. How many more are lurking in nooks and crannies all over my house :eek: And what are these guys doing out in the open during the day? Harmless or not, I hate them -but would hate them less if they at least had the decency to hide in some crevice. > [@bob\_2](#): > > Hang a towel or bath mat over the edge of the bath so the spiders don’t get trapped in there. Thanks for the tip, but I don’t want spiders crawling on my towels ☹ ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-spiders-everywhere/754583/5 "2016-05-12T19:17:12Z")
It could be a seasonal thing entirely unrelated to the tenting. During spider mating season, all the ones that would normally be hiding out of sight, come out to find a mate. If they really bother you, you can just suck them up with a vacuum cleaner hose. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47774/32.png) [@quiltguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-spiders-everywhere/754583/6 "2016-05-12T19:29:49Z")
Hie thee to the dollar store, and purchase a can of hair spray. Douse the little varmints in it, and they will become petrified in due course. Then you can bookends with 'em. Or keychains, if they’re really tiny. 😉 If you wanna’ kill 'em outright, a shot or five of spray window cleaner works very well. Can you tell I’m a dollar store habitué? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-spiders-everywhere/754583/7 "2016-05-12T21:55:05Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > I hate them -but would hate them less if they at least had the decency to hide in some crevice. Rest assured, they hide in crevices. They prefer warm ones. Fleshy ones. Humans and spiders have only genetic memory of The Wars, but the instinctive animosity remains largely intact. Your revulsion is well-founded. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-spiders-everywhere/754583/8 "2016-05-14T00:24:09Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > Rest assured, they hide in crevices. They prefer warm ones. Fleshy ones. Humans and spiders have only genetic memory of The Wars, but the instinctive animosity remains largely intact. Your revulsion is well-founded. Soldier, you got a bug problem?