MICE, SPIDERS AND CENTIPEDES

Here is some information on mice, spiders, centipedes and scorpions as they all may try to visit you before cold weather sets in. Mice may want to hang out in your car.

Mice info:
If you live in an area where mice or other rodents like to get under the hood of your vehicle and chew on the wires, then you should read this. The best way (and only way I am aware of) to keep them from under the hood, is to get some cotton balls, soak them in peppermint essential oil, place them in little paper cups and put them in various places under the hood, especially around wiring. Rodents will not go under the hood of a vehicle that smells like peppermint. This will work on pack rats to. Much better than rodenticides or traps which rarely work at all in this situation. Peppermint essential oil also works at repelling spiders, ants, centipedes and other pests as well.

Spider info:
Although most spiders possess venom glands, most are too small to break the skin with their fangs and have no desire to do so. All spiders will bite in self defense if they are handled carelessly, such as being squeezed. Most bites occur when people roll over in bed on one and get bitten or when they put on their clothes and a spider inside the clothing bites when it is pressed against the skin. I am not saying all spiders are harmless. Black widows are certainly capable of producing a serious bite and any such bite by this spider should be considered a major medical emergency. The brown recluse is also dangerously venomous although there are NO confirmed deaths due to this spider’s bite. Sac spiders and wolf spiders can give serious, though not fatal bites, particularly if you are allergic to any of the components of the venom. Daddy longlegs (aka harvestmen) are not at all dangerous despite their reputation to the contrary. Jumping spiders are interesting to watch but are not dangerous although a large one can bite if mishandled. Most of the small hunting spiders, such as ground spiders are incapable of hurting anyone.

To control spiders around your home if you don’t want them, here are a few suggestions. Control the lighting at night that attracts their food, which is flying insects. Keep trash and rubbish out of your yard. Seal any cracks or crevices around the house that would let hunting spiders inside. If your doors do not close tightly, install door sweeps on them. You can spray a mixture of peppermint essential oil where you see webs and the spiders will not go back to these areas. Fill a hand sprayer with water and add a eye dropper full of peppermint oil. Spiders do not like peppermint oil!

Centipede & Scorpion info:
Centipedes and scorpions are usually found in areas of high moisture such as loose bark, in rotting logs, under stones, boards, railroad ties, trash, piles of leaves and grass clippings and similar areas. They are nocturnal or active at night and hide by day in the earth, wandering forth by night to hunt. They occasionally invade structures and will feed on cockroaches, cricket, spiders, etc. Although they may be found anywhere in a building, including beds, the usual places are damp basements, bathrooms, and any crawl space under the home or building. Exclusion to keep them out of structures is most important, and this begins with ensuring that no tree or shrub branches are touching the structure. The branches can be pruned away to eliminate this common pathway. You also can carefully examine the entire exterior, including up to the eaves as scorpions and other pests may crawl up rough surfaces, and you want to permanently fill in any openings found and ensure all vent screens are in place and in good condition. In the yard you can eliminate many potential harborage sites for scorpions and centipedes such as rocks, boards, and other objects resting on the soil. Scorpions will also hide under bark on trees, so these can be can be dusted with food grade diatomaceous earth where loose bark is found. If you can’t seal any cracks or crevices where they can enter, put a bead of peppermint essential oil in the areas and they will stay out. You may have to repeat this in a couple of weeks, but cold weather is coming and that will stop them.