Kathy Forer on mon 4 oct 04
On Oct 4, 2004, at 12:29 PM, Rhonda Kale wrote:
> How do all of you keep spiders/roaches/ etc. at bay without constantly
> spraying/fogging?
I vacuum them. And wince, thinking how someone once told me they're
good luck and wondering how they'll suffocate in a mass spider dust
bag, but then go ahead and do it rather handily anyway.
It's mostly been daddy long legs spiders, but I just read how they eat
the host, eggs or prey of other not so benign spiders, so maybe I'll
leave them.
Kathy
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on mon 4 oct 04
Hi Rhonda,
I have quite a few Cellar Spiders here, who are delightful
and curious little Creatures...they like making high webs as
well as mid-high ones, make sort of ghost trampoline webs
often, 'pulse' rapidly to become a blurr if freightened,
have white knees on long legs, with amazing detailed sort
of 'Indian' or Amarind figures on their little bodies, and,
are tender to their young whom they will hold as eggs, in a
bunch ( like grapes) in their mouths for weeks while they
mature enough to hatch. As the babys grow, they wander off
like puppies, full of enthusiasms and curiousities to share
the webs of uncles and aunts older siblings or the like who
also are also kind to them, and share their webs with them.
Too, these Spiders let Spiders of other species share their
webs or to build their own different webs onto or contiguous
with theirs. They do not tend to cross paths with the Black
Widows very much, oweing to their different tastes in the
heights they elect for their respective webs.
I had a Net Web ( I think it was) Spider, gloss and matte
black, a lot bigger than a 'Widow', and pretty much
reclusive, who lived some years in a little Edwardian wicker
tumbler she'd sometimes crawl out of but liked to call home.
I found her in the armpit of a Wool shirt that had not been
worn for over a year, as was hanging in my chiffarobe, so, I
set her into the little wicker cannister intending to put
her out, forgot about it for a day or two, and then found
that she liked the cannister-tumbler and already had a dandy
web made, and so I just said, "okay". She is still somewhere
around here I am sure...after a year and a half or something
hanging out in the tumbler, after a molt on day, she up and
wandered off...
Also, I do have lots of Black Widows here, or certainly
during the
warmer months anyway, as they tend to sort of hibernate in
the
Winters...and...
They just hang tremble-plump and happy in their various
webs...in the bathroom, the kitchen and so on...the
office...wherever...
I just leave 'em be. They are not aggressive or looking for
troubles, and will tend to be shy and retireing if
accidently disturbed.
The ones (Widows) as make their webs under chair seats, or
under the Kitchen table ( which they will do often in the
Summer) I tend to re-locate outside, or,
across the street...
If you put your finger tip into one of their webs, and
wiggle it ever so temptingly, likely, the Spider would come
to investigate, and, likely too, decide you were way too big
and then retreat.
If they (Widows) are scared, they will roll into a
ball...and it is
easy then to slide a little paper under them and gently toss
them
outside, or, some few yards away outside...or, to have them
in the palm of your hand, where you may keep 'rolling' them
as you carry them out, as a measure to keep them occupied
for the moment...
Or, allow them unroll, and to creep onto a paper towell or
the likes for
an escort to new localles...they will tend to calm back down
pretty fast if they know you are not intending to hurt
them, but just wish to relocate them so keep your
thoughts-intentions 'clear'...or, if they are in-their-web
and
you can get to it easily, just take some slender stick and
twirl it gently around them ( "Lassoooo time!" ) in one fast
little motion, being careful not to bruise them of course,
to
temprorarily get them a little tangled up onto the stick,
and keep your thoughts friendly to them, amusedly well
intended to them, admireing to them,
and put the whole gently outside...they will untagle
themselves forthwith...and go somewhere else...
Too, if they feel there is no reason to be afraid of you,
you can actually disturb them a good deal without them being
upset about it,
you may let them creep upon your hand, or, in effect, you
may pick them up, and just carry them out that-a-way.
They ( all) eat smaller insects as they may catch in their
webs,
they are clean, often vivid in their way, carry no diseases
or complaints, and really pose no threat worth mentioning.
If
you are aware of them, if they are in your way so far as
mental comforts, and you prefer them not to be indoors, just
put 'em outside if their
presence worries you.
It is actually incredibly rare that anyone ever gets bit by
Black Widows, even though so many people are afraid of them.
Generally, they like low or near the ground webs, and one
never sees them higher than say a couple feet from the
ground or floor, so far as I ever saw.
As web makers who lay-in-wait for whomever shall get tangled
in their webs, Black Widows do not like clothing, rags or
bedding, or secretive places, they like being in the open or
semi-open where they can catch mostly little aerial or
winged things or the odd ground walking insect-other if a
low web...
and overall, they have no surprises to offer.
I have seen mighty contests of a large Roach and a low-web
abideing Black Widow whose web the Roach had wandered into,
she quickly went down and was fastening support lines all
over...up-and-down, trying to keep him from tearing out the
whole web...comeing down to try and get a few wraps on him
off and on...some of these contests can go on for hours...
I had some kind of largish pale honey colored Spider as was
kind of transluscent, and at first scared me 'cuase I
thought she looked somehow quitly venemous and grouchy, who
made her web from the bottom of a little wall lamp, to my
can of shaving cream, on a little shelf next to my shaving
mirror in the Bathroom. She was there for many months. It
got to where she got so used to my greeting, ( I would say
"Oh! Hello spider gal, and aren't you pretty to-day! - my oh
my such delightful little legs, and eight of them!" and so
on, and I 'd touch one of her leg's little feet in a sort of
shaking-hands thing)...she got to where would extend one of
her leg's feet to meet my finger tip when I offered the
gesture. She was a sweetie...no idea what kind of Spider she
was...
(...like the vivid black Net Web was too, a sweetie. She did
stuff like that too...would come out and set outside her
wicker tumbler if I was sitting there reading or eating or
something, or if I was doing some kitchen chores, there with
her little wicker tumbler, on the kitchen table where she
lived...) I would not sell them short for being aware in
their way...and really, if you do not want them, just think
that really clearly and at least some of them will leave
just on that score. They'll say, "Okay then" and wander
off...
The Brown Recluse, is associated with clothing, bedding and
old rags and debris, as well is cracks, crevices and so on,
and is mostly nocturnal...and, if you think you may have any
such
spiders, you should find out for sure just what they look
like so you may identify one if you do see it. They have six
eyes, three rows of 'two', where, other spiders have eight
eyes.
There are many entirely benign and friendly 'Grass Spiders'
or whatever Spiders,
and so on as never bite anyone, and who would not hurt even
if they somehow did bite you, who, being 'Brown' suffer
unreasoning prejudices against them...but really too, most
Spiders suffer to have prejudices against them.
Most people as are bit by the Brown recluse, get bit because
the Spider is rolled over on during sleep, or bruised by a
sleepy arm in sleep, or, if the people were cleaning a
disused shed or other, the Spider gets trapped in their
clothing and looses patience with the situation's annoyance.
Brown recluse really like being left alone...and certainly
want no troubles with giants...
But oweing to the association of the particularly
necrotizeing effects of their venom, it is allright to keep
things tidy, well lit, and clean, and to caulk up cracks or
spaces where they may wish to hang out...also keep rags or
rumpled cloths closed up in something snug instead of
casually laying about, and you likely will never have them.
Anyway...
Little Spider buddies...
Best wishes,
Phil
el ve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rhonda Kale"
> My art studio and potter's shed are in the very back of my
yard and back up onto a field (peanut/cotton/asstd.) I
understand that the potter's shed is more open and prone to
bugs-especially spiders.Starting to have problems with
spiders in studio also. Does anyone use anything in
particular that keeps them under control? We do have
problems being on the verge of rural area with an occasional
black widow and this state does have brown recluses(BAD
news). One day I picked up a pot and a mature very pregnant
black widow was making a place for her babies. If I had not
had on gloves, I probably would've been bitten. How do all
of you keep spiders/roaches/ etc. at bay without constantly
spraying/fogging?
> Any sugesstions/help wopuld be appreciated.
>
>
> Rhonda Kale
> 31.23595 N, 85.40529 W
> Potters Council Member
> qndivauniv@earthlink.net
Rhonda Kale on mon 4 oct 04
My art studio and potter's shed are in the very back of my yard and back up onto a field (peanut/cotton/asstd.) I understand that the potter's shed is more open and prone to bugs-especially spiders.Starting to have problems with spiders in studio also. Does anyone use anything in particular that keeps them under control? We do have problems being on the verge of rural area with an occasional black widow and this state does have brown recluses(BAD news). One day I picked up a pot and a mature very pregnant black widow was making a place for her babies. If I had not had on gloves, I probably would've been bitten. How do all of you keep spiders/roaches/ etc. at bay without constantly spraying/fogging?
Any sugesstions/help wopuld be appreciated.
Rhonda Kale
31.23595 N, 85.40529 W
Potters Council Member
qndivauniv@earthlink.net
conrad krebs on tue 5 oct 04
I don't know about roaches but I've read that the smell of propane attracks
spiders. When storing their RVs for the winter I've heard that people will
use mothballs around waterheater and stove burners in order to keep spiders
at bay. I'm not suggesting that you use mothballs but do you cook or heat
with propane?
Conrad
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of Kathy Forer
Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 9:30 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: insect controlin studios-spiders-ewwww....help?
On Oct 4, 2004, at 12:29 PM, Rhonda Kale wrote:
> How do all of you keep spiders/roaches/ etc. at bay without constantly
> spraying/fogging?
I vacuum them. And wince, thinking how someone once told me they're
good luck and wondering how they'll suffocate in a mass spider dust
bag, but then go ahead and do it rather handily anyway.
It's mostly been daddy long legs spiders, but I just read how they eat
the host, eggs or prey of other not so benign spiders, so maybe I'll
leave them.
Kathy
____________________________________________________________________________
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Arnold Howard on tue 5 oct 04
It is a rare insect that survives in a room where a cat lives. Of course,
then you'll have cat hair in your clay.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
arnoldhoward@att.net / www.paragonweb.com
From: "Rhonda Kale"
How do all of you keep spiders/roaches/ etc. at bay without constantly
spraying/fogging?
John Rodgers on tue 5 oct 04
I'm not the idealist-environmentalist when it comes to spiders. I have
nightmares about them.
I'm trapped in my bed ....... it is dark ..... I have been awakened by
some thing very hairy brushing againsts my face ........ something very
large .........6-8 ft tall large ........... and I can hear the air
moving over it's breathing apparatus........ it is just a matter of time
before it finds me.......... scruonched into a ball under the
covers...........then it leaps!!!!!
And I wake up!!
Spiders terrify me! I cannot tolerate them being in places of surprise,
though I can tolerate...... and appreciate .....them at a distance. This
year I had a beautiful garden spider make a web across from my studio. I
watched it grow most of the summer. Beautiful gold, white and black
thing, hanging always head down with long golden legs extended,
supporting itself in a web spun of gold, that sparkled with dew
collected through the night.
But note, I said across from my studio......! If that thing had been
within 10 feet of my workplace it's genetic line would have been
extinguished!!! Sorry, I'm just that way.
Spiders are not tolerated inside my shop, period.
I sweep, I clean, I dust, I mop, all to keep their hiding places
unsuitable for their tenancy. AND, I give the place a good going over
with Bengal bug spray, at least twice a year. If a cockroach or spider
so much as starts to cross the room, he is dead before he gets to the
other side.
Yes, I am aware of toxics in the workplace. Yes, I am aware of certain
ethics regarding use of toxic materials. I take precautions in my shop,
knowing this stuff is there. But whatever...... no spiders permitted,
period!!!! Same goes for cockroaches!!!
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
Rhonda Kale wrote:
>My art studio and potter's shed are in the very back of my yard and back up onto a field (peanut/cotton/asstd.) I understand that the potter's shed is more open and prone to bugs-especially spiders.Starting to have problems with spiders in studio also. Does anyone use anything in particular that keeps them under control? We do have problems being on the verge of rural area with an occasional black widow and this state does have brown recluses(BAD news). One day I picked up a pot and a mature very pregnant black widow was making a place for her babies. If I had not had on gloves, I probably would've been bitten. How do all of you keep spiders/roaches/ etc. at bay without constantly spraying/fogging?
> Any sugesstions/help wopuld be appreciated.
>
>
>Rhonda Kale
>31.23595 N, 85.40529 W
>Potters Council Member
>qndivauniv@earthlink.net
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>
Laurie Kneppel on wed 6 oct 04
I live at the literal edge of town. Nothing but open fields and the
Sacramento River behind my back fence, with Yolo county farmland on the
other side of the river. Lots of irrigation. Lots of mosquitoes. Lots
of spiders and bugs in general. This year I allowed several garden
spiders to build their big webs in places in the backyard i would
normally not have tolerated them. But not across pathways - of course!
And they didn't dare build in or on the little kiln shed - too hot from
time to time. i didn't fire any raku after May and the other day i
found black widows had taken up residence in the raku kiln around the
brick base - they seem to not care for the fiber shell. But the garden
spiders were supposed to be catching mosquitoes, so i hope they did
their job. West Nile virus showed up near my neck of the woods this
summer.
Laurie
Sacramento, CA
http://rockyraku.com
Potters Council, charter member
Sacramento Potters Group, member
Lea Phillips on fri 8 oct 04
On the subject of beasties in the workshop, here is a short essay I wrote
last year which may amuse. I haven't even mentioned all the other ones that
get in.
A Potter's Day
Ama Menec sculpts and teaches in a studio shared with her partner Lea
Phillips in Totnes, Devon.
9.30am and have over slept again. Must have needed it as have slept through
the overhead thumping of Leas' neighbours. Can only achieve this when
totally exhausted. Get distracted and lead astray by Lea wanting breakfast
in bed and cuddles and general not-getting-up-ness. Whiz around Totnes
market and spot a waistcoat Lea might like and so lead her astray by
dragging her out to the market to see if it'd fit her. Too late; waistcoat
sold, so stop and chat with friends, finally running to car and so to
workshop arriving at gone noon. Appalled with our tardiness as it's going to
be a short day today; bonfire and fireworks at the local rec at 6pm. We don'
t normally finish work 'till 9pm...
Lea goes to turn around the 'pottery open' signs on the road and I open up
the workshop, swinging my bag onto what was, last night, a clean workbench.
Not very surprised to see it is no longer clean and wonder what else Robin
has been relieving himself on. Look at the Cycladic figure made last night
and pleased to see it has no evidence of bird shit on it. Look at wheel and
spot an impressive amount of cleaning up to do. Look at large mirror behind
wheel and realize the strange marks which have appeared have been made by
Robin trying to murder his own reflection. Stupid bird. Then I look down the
back of the wheel and into the pot of sponges on sticks. Call Lea over who
exclaims "That's utterly disgusting" and decide I don't need half an hours
cleaning every morning, and the wildlife situation is now out of hand. Ah,
the joy of sheds. Climb up to roof and plug hole Robin is getting in by.
Much wobbling on stacks of old tyres, bash naked elbow hard on steel roof
girder, much swearing. Wonder if I'm going to get any making done today or
what.
Clean up, again. Press mould another Cycladic figure in marbled red
porcelain and muse it has the texture of bubble gum and the colour of
strawberry blancmange. Assure myself it will not look so horrible when
fired. Make a base for the figure and realize a hour and a half after
getting here I still have not made myself a cup of tea. Also realize today's
student is due in ¾ of an hour and have a piece from last night to finish
before she gets here.
Take blancmange figure out of mould and find... it's lovely. What a relief.
You just don't know 'till you open the mould what it's going to be like.
Student arrives and announces will only be staying for an hour. What does
she hope to achieve in ceramics in only one hour?! However student,
(mercifully), not requiring any emotional work. Many students have a
misguided belief that ceramics is therapeutic, (it is not), and that I
therefore, am a therapist. I wish I could charge therapists rates..
Rupert Andrews arrives to collect the outwork Lea has been doing for him. I
worked for Rupert, in his mocha ware days, 20 plus years ago when I was 16.
I had day release from 6th Form working for him in exchange for throwing
lessons. What an enlightened 6th Form that was. Now my partner throws mugs
for him. It's a small world. Have a long chat about faulty kilns, blistering
of majolica stains, selling and good advice given by potters over the years:
Never, ever sell your best work; if you haven't your own retail outlet,
spend a 1/3 of your time on P.R.; keep your range focussed and small; don't
get distracted from making...Hmmmm. lovely to have a grown-up conversation
about ceramics.
Bolt lunch at last at 4pm. Finish fettling, smoothing and tidying Cycladic
figure made yesterday. Run late to the bonfire party; homemade soup, veggie
burgers, bonfire and fireworks. Marvel at the stupidity of whoever built the
bonfire so close to the trees at the edge of (a very large) field, that they
catch fire! And ponder at how popular Raku is these days - it's probably the
only naked flame most people see any more. Finally off to the pub and then
to bed.
Next morning: given a welcoming serenade by Robin as I enter the workshop.
Isn't he sweet!
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