Keeping spiders out

Now before I go on, let me just say I live on the water. The spiders around are the size of tennis balls, lol. I have a local company spray my house, garage, seawall and boat once a month. They do an excellent job.

However, the spiders are seeking refuge in my Prius Even though I keep the windows shut and the HVAC on 'recirc' at night, they find a way in.

Today I must've grabbed 15 spiders with napkins and threw them away. 15!!! I had to pull over to the side of the road three times because the inside of the car is crawling with spiders

What I tried doing a few weeks ago, is I sprayed my car with this non-toxic spider spray that I also use for my boat. It uses peppermint oil and vinegar (VERY strong, strong enough that its still dangerous to get on your hands, etc) and it did help keep the spiders out of my side mirrors and vent visors. However, they still got inside the car. I wouldnt want to spray the same stuff inside the car because it smells very repulsive and the warning label says its an irritant. Probably not a good idea to spray in a small area.

Any suggestions for a non-toxic, not messy, method to keep spiders out of my car and/or kill them when they get in?! Im going crazy over here.....

 

Ah ha.. Thats a good idea, the glue traps. Ive been using a spray under the vent visors and mirrors that is peppermint and neem oil or something like that and it works GREAT at keeping them off the mirrors and vent visors but they still manage to get IN the car And the stuff smells like vinegar so I dont want to spray it inside the Prius.

 

OMG yeah!! They get into my partners Ford Escape too, but for some reason, not 1/10th as bad as the Prius.

We both park outside in the driveway. Never had this problem with my Envoy. Of course, maybe the spiders are green and wouldnt want to nest in a gas guzzling SUV

Our monthly house, garage, and seawall treatment is tomorrow morning. THANK GOD. I can tell when the 30 days is coming near, spiders start getting in the house at alarming rates. My cat can only eat so much....lol

And the spiders DO bite, but the bites arent poisonous, just painful. They leave bumps like what a zit would be lit. They itch and hurt for about a day. Alas, why I want to rid this problem.

I went out and re-sprayed the windows, vent visors and side mirrors with the Star-Brite Spider Away spray (non-toxic) that I also use on our cabin cruiser. I definitely like the idea of the glue traps, I actually might have some laying around somewhere that I bought on sale a while back......

 

Well the one spider that we have A LOT in our area is this guy, hes the one that bites and leaves "zit" like lesions. They hurt!

Yellow sac spiders (Cheiracanthium inclusum and C. mildei)


The ones that keep inhabiting my Prius look similar but have much longer legs and when they are resting, fold flat. I cant explain it but they pull their legs in so they are no longer round in shape, but vertical. I cannot for the life of me identify it, in spite of extensive googling! argh

 

Ok Ive identified the mystery spiders that keep inhabiting my Prius!!
Long-jawed spiders

Unless they are willing to pay some of the car loan, they are getting kicked out, lol. Tonight I start with glue traps.

 

Typical....root of all my problems, men!

Last night I set up a glue insect/pest trap and put it on the dash. I re-sprayed the vent visors and exterior glass. Im interested to see how many spiders are in the car today.

Back to what is attracting the spiders; the interior of my car is pretty dusty right now. I have a Pier 1 eucalyptus air freshener under the seat. The spiders seem attracted to my windshield area and sun visors.

 

Haha 12 times a year, no - I couldnt afford that. Im in Michigan and our summer (read: peak spider season) lasts only 4 months or so. I have the house sprayed usually just once but this year with all of the precipitation, the spiders are much much worse. Im going on my 2nd spray of the season today and that should be all I need for the rest of the season. It doesnt help that I live on the lake. That alone, seems to breed spiders the size of tennis balls...lol

In my neighborhood, most everybody has their house professionally treated. If you do not treat your house against insects, you will be living in something out of a Stephen King book/movie...lol.

We have spiders that bite, and they hurt!! These are all over Michigan and more importantly - my house:

Yellow sac spiders (Cheiracanthium inclusum and C. mildei)

 

Today, not a single spider - that I could see at least - in the Prius when I got in. I set up an insect glue trap on the dashboard, nothing in it.

However, there were two spiders, 1 very large one on my side mirror and 1 of those long jawed whatever you call them under my vent visor. I treated both the mirrors and vent visors - under and top - last night. More updates to come....

 

Ugh I wish there was a non-toxic bug bomb. I just dont want to be breathing that stuff in.

Some of my boating friends use these on their boats, although the directions specifically state NOT to use in an enclosed area where you sleep or something to that effect
No Pest Strip Unscented Hanging Vapor Insect Repellent


Maybe I can buy one, hang it in the car overnight, then take it down in the day and put it into a sealed ziplock baggie or something??