Large spiders in pool

[gumbeaux71]

Has anyone had a problem with large spiders living near the pool? These are very strange looking--reddish-pink bodies and they crawl in and out of the spacing between the brick trim of our vinyl IG pool. When you do see them in the water they are dead, thankfully.

Does anyone know how to kill these?

Thanks!
Erica

[waste]

Erica, I'm not familiar with the little beasties you describe, but I've yet to come across a spider I can't kill with my foot!

[KurtV]

Most are not at all harmful to people and all of them eat a ton of insects; I personally like to see spiders around (except Black Widows and Brown recluses which thankfully are fairly rare around here).

Now, if they would just eat the mosquitos...

[PopcornGirl]

Ummm... Kurt? I live in Baton Rouge and Black Widows are VERY common here!
In fact, they're prolific!
We moved here from Arkansas where Brown Recluses are more prevalent and were SHOCKED at how many Black Widows we have seen. Talking to our builders who grew up in Amite, they are very common in SE Louisiana.
We battle them every year and are REALLY careful about reaching into dark, quiet corners.
Erica, those just sound so strange! I don't think I've ever seen anything like that. Good luck!

[gumbeaux71]

PopcornGirl,
You are right about those black widows. I am from SE Louisiana and we had lots of them (n addition to brown recluse spiders)! Shudder.

You really have to see these spiders living near my pool. I'll post a pic tonight when I get home from work!

Erica

[PopcornGirl]

What a small world!

Yes, please DO post a pic! I truly have no idea what they are.

[gumbeaux71]

Okay, so just when I threaten to post a pic, my spiders become scarce. After some research, I believe them to be Dysdera Crocata - Sow Bug Killer.

http://pick5.pick.uga.edu/mp/20q?go=...ode/view/46083

[Simmons99]

OMG - that would scare me half to death!

I don't know if that is worse than the mouse-sized flying roaches we have down here though

[gumbeaux71]

LOL! Well, the photos make them look larger than they are, though they are obviously a decent size -- check out the photo of the spider with the pillbug: http://spiders.entomology.wisc.edu/D...a/crocata.html

We do have LOTS of pillbugs around, so I understand why these critters would be hanging around. Maybe I'll let them live after all. I found something saying that their bites do hurt, but that the venom is harmless to humans.

I hear ya on the mouse-sized flying roaches. I grew up in Louisiana, and we had TONS of those things around!