Spiders can be very scary, especially if you have a phobia. There are also many times where you might encounter a spider, like the black widow or even a brown recluse. A bite from these spiders can even result in you ending up at the hospital.
Spiders can, however, be difficult to catch. There can be times when you might grab the thing next to you, just so you can get rid of the spider. Often, people might only have ant sprays in their houses. But, does ant spray kill spiders? To answer this question, we have done all the research for you. Today, we will tell you about how ant sprays work and whether or not they kill spiders or not!
The main objective of any ant spray is to get rid of them as soon as possible. To do so, some ant sprays contain chemicals that can help stop the physical processes inside the ants. You will also find some ant sprays that make use of bacteria, virus, or fungi, that can help kill the ants.
Most commonly, you will find ant sprays that directly affect the insect’s nervous system and its metabolism or growth.
Let’s dive deep to see how ant sprays work!
Ant sprays contain chemicals such as organophosphates, carbamates, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and pyrethroids. These chemicals are responsible for disrupting the transmission of nerve impulses in the insects that they are sprayed on. The chemicals inhibit the synapses, causing disruption in bodily functions. Ants will end up with paralysis or uncoordinated movement.
Ant sprays can also affect their respiratory system. Some ant sprays contain potassium salts that disrupt the ant’s breathing. The salt penetrates the body and starts attacking the respiratory cells. This causes the breathing tubes to stop functioning. Similar course of action will take place in a spider’s body, when sprayed with an ant spray.
Some ant sprays also contain insect growth regulators (IGR). When ants grow, they often shed their skin and grow a new one. The process of molting is disrupted by the IGR in the ant spray. The IGR comes with chemicals such as Methoprene that inhibits the growth hormone in an ant’s body. Luckily, the IGR does not affect humans since our bodies do not have the receptors for them. If you have pets, make sure that you use a pet-friendly ant killer. However, ant killers are ineffective on spiders. This may be one of the reasons why your ant spray is not effective on the spider, as much as you would have expected.
Ant sprays can also contain insect-attacking microbes that can help get rid of ants. Whenever ants ingest the ant spray, the microorganisms present in the ant spray, attack the cells inside the ant’s body. The microbe also multiplies in number to make sure that they kill effectively.
Long answer short, ant sprays can help kill spiders. However, they can only kill a spider if the spray is sprayed directly onto the spider. However, you won’t be as lucky against a whole colony of spiders, if you use an ant spray or any other insecticide.
The reason behind this is the fact that an insecticide won’t work as effectively on spiders as it would on other insects. There is a common misconception which places spiders under the category of insects. However, that is not true as spiders come under the category of arthropods Trusted Source Arthropod - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org in the animal kingdom.
There can be some ingredients in the ant spray which does not affect the spider. However, that does not mean that the spray is completely useless. In fact, ant sprays contain some active ingredients that can be harmful to the spiders if they come in physical contact with the spray particle.
When it comes to ants, they can easily come into contact with the spray particles. This is because of the way they move, their bodies remain close to the ground. However, when it comes to spiders, physical contact with the spray can be hard. This is because spiders come will longer leg as compared to ants. Their bodies are unable to touch the ground. This is why, simply spraying the ant spray, might not do the complete job.
Ants also pick up food from the ground that has a high possibility of being contaminated with ant spray. Ants ingest the ant spray in this way. On the other hand, spiders do not eat in this way, which is why there is less chance for them to ingest the ant spray.
To kill a spider with an ant spray, make sure that you directly spray it on the spider. This ensures that there is physical contact between the spider and the insecticide, decreasing the chances for the spider to escape.
For best results, you can use Terro Aerosol Spray, which also kills spiders as well as other insects. This spray can be directly sprayed even in corners and places that are hard to reach. You can even use the ants on the ceiling guide to help eliminate spiders from the ceiling.
While an ant spray may not always be effective, there are many ways to get rid of spiders. Here are some of those ways:
Make a habit of cleaning your house regularly. While cleaning, make sure that your vacuum reaches all corners of your house. This will not only help destroy the cobwebs but there is even a possibility that you might catch a spider or two in the process. After vacuuming, dispose of the garbage somewhere far away, immediately.
Since spiders come in a big size, they can be easily spotted. However, they come with a hard exterior so they might not be killed in one swat. While using a fly swatter, make sure that you put enough pressure that it kills the spider. After killing the spider, make sure that you dispose of it immediately.
Constant use of insecticides can often make the insects resistant to them, which is why it is not recommended for consistent use. However, you can replace that by treating the cracks and corners of your house. This will make sure that they don’t make any cobwebs over there. You can use cleaners such as Ortho insect killer that come with a slim applicator to help reach the corners.
If you do not want to use chemicals in your house, then you can always use organic, non-toxic substances to get rid of spiders. For example, spiders do not react well to peppermint oil, which you can use easily. Using peppermint oil Trusted Source Benefits of Peppermint Oil: Uses, Side Effects & Research Peppermint oil has many beneficial uses, like relieving GI discomfort, easing nausea, and alleviating pain. Here’s what to know about benefits, side effects, and research. www.healthline.com can also make your home smell nice. You can even spray a mixture of saltwater to help kill the spiders.
While ant spray can work on spiders, it may not always be effective. If the issue persists where you have a consistent spider problem at your home, then you should get some spider traps. Spider traps come with a sticky compound that attracts the spider and traps them onto it. Spider traps can be easily found in any market or online place. While buying, make sure that the trap does not contain scents that can attract any other pests or rodents. You can also make a spider trap yourself. Find out how from the video below!
When using a spider trap, make sure that you place it correctly. There would be no point in placing it somewhere where spiders don’t reach. Ideally, you should be placing them in dark places, near the corners. You can even experiment and change location to see what works the best for you. If there is no spider in your trap two days after placing it, then you should place it somewhere different.
You can even place a series of traps all around the house to make sure that it is caught. You can even kill ants or mosquitoes and place them on the trap as bait for the spiders. Combine a spider trap with a fogger and this will be the most effective way to kill spiders.
To conclude, the answer to your question “does ant spray kill spiders” is yes. Ant sprays will kill a spider when you spray on them directly. However, this is not an extremely effective or reliable method to get rid of spiders. While using ant sprays, make sure that you use them in the correct amount as they can be harmful to human health as well.
If you have to kill more than one spider, then you need to look for alternate methods such as spider traps or spider foggers.
