Spiders - love them or hate them. If necessary, you can set traps around the house to catch and eliminate them. Outdoors, you can try to catch these arachnids for storage and study. Sticky traps are the most effective around the house. They are easy to place and you can even make them yourself. If you are more interested in catching live spiders outdoors, you can learn how to make trick traps, which cause spiders to drop into small holes.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Use Sticky Traps
Step 1. To save money, make a sticky trap yourself
Just put a strong adhesive substance on a flat object. For example, you can attach double-sided tape to a piece of cardboard or make a triangular tube with double-sided tape inside it.
- Another option is to use a liner designed specifically to trap insects, which you can find at garden stores.
- Spiders are natural predators of many insects. In some cases, it may be easier to eliminate the conditions that attract those insects.
Step 2. In order not to have to work too hard, buy commercial sticky traps
If you don't want to waste time making them yourself, you can find these traps at home improvement stores and hypermarkets. Their main advantage is convenience.
Step 3. Place the traps near the water
Spiders need water as much as other animals or insects. As a result, sooner or later they will have to visit a water source in your home or work environment. Try placing the traps in the most hidden places in the bathroom, such as behind the toilet, as spiders may be hiding there when people enter the room.
- Additionally, spiders eat smaller insects that can be attracted to moisture.
- Try filling a bottle cap with water. Since spiders are attracted to water, it may be a good idea to place it near the traps. Just fill a small bottle cap with water and place it next to the trap. When a spider approaches to drink, it will have to go through the sticky zone.
Step 4. Place the traps in other hiding places
Spiders love dark places where they can hide. For example, you can try placing a sticky trap under the sink or near the water heater if it's in a dark closet. You can also try in closets and pantries.
Step 5. Place the traps along the baseboard
Another ideal place to hide them is along the skirting board of the house, right next to the wall. Spiders and insects love to pass along these edges, so you'll catch more of them by placing traps in those spots.
Step 6. Try using insecticide to kill spiders
Once the traps are in place, try spreading an insecticide in the nearby area. For example, you can use a powder, so that the spiders pick up some of it as they move towards the water. They may be able to somehow avoid the sticky part, but they will still pass on the insecticide, which will kill them later.
Step 7. Check the traps and throw them
Of course, you will need to check the traps from time to time. Usually, you just need to collect them after catching some spiders and place new ones. Be careful if you spot live specimens, so you don't risk getting hit by their venomous bite. If possible, use rubber gloves.
Method 2 of 2: Catching Spiders with Outdoor Set Up Traps
Step 1. Set up a trick trap
To make it, you will need to bury a jar or other container with smooth sides. The spider will walk over the trap and fall inside, unable to get out. To build one, dig a hole large enough to hold the jar, then place it on the ground. Make sure the rim of the jar is level with the ground.
Catching outdoor spiders is a great way to study the arachnids that live in your area
Step 2. Add a cover
You will need to install it on top of the trap to keep birds and other predators away. The lid should be high enough for the spiders to enter. You can choose whatever material you prefer, as long as it provides coverage and is waterproof.
Step 3. Try a trick trap with a liquid in the bottom
The type of trap is the same as in the previous example, but in this case you will add a liquid inside, capable of killing the caught spiders. In addition, the liquid should also preserve the specimens, which you can study. For example, alcohol (isopropyl or other highly concentrated type) or 10% formaldehyde are widely used solutions for this purpose.
You can purchase formaldehyde on the internet or at stores that sell chemical laboratory supplies
Step 4. Place traps in areas frequented by spiders
Trap traps don't just catch spiders, so you need to place them in areas where you know these arachnids are found. Look for signs of their presence, such as cobwebs, so you know where to focus your efforts.
If you catch other insects, you can study them or let them go
Step 5. Go back to the traps
Once placed, you will need to check them periodically to see what you have captured. Try it after one day. If you are unfamiliar with the species of spiders you have caught, be sure to research information before moving the trap. Don't take the risk of being bitten by a poisonous specimen.
- Some common venomous spiders include the violin spider, black widow, Brazilian wandering spider, and mouse spider.
- If you get bitten, make sure you get the right care.
Step 6. Move the spider
Once you have found the spider, you will probably need to transfer it to another container. Carefully pick up the trap from the ground, using the lid to keep the live specimen locked inside. Cover the top of the trap with a second container, then turn it over to drop the spider.
