Safe Pesticide for Spiders on Flowering Plants

Benefits

• Spiders feed on insect eggs, larvae, aphids and mites, as well as flies and crickets. Encourage these garden helpers by not using pesticides. Plant a diversity of flowers and vegetables to provide nectar and pollen, as well as prey. University extension services list spiders as welcome beneficial insects and encourage their protection.

Poisonous Spiders

• The vast majority of spiders are harmless to people. The black widow and the brown recluse are the most commonly known spiders whose bite is poisonous. These spiders aren't likely to spin webs on flowering plants, however; they prefer dark, undisturbed corners of buildings or spaces under furniture and appliances in attics and basements. Spiders are shy and unaggressive; they tend to bite only if cornered or provoked.

Pesticides

• Pesticides, whether organic or synthetic, are nonselective and will kill beneficials such as ladybugs, bees and spiders, along with undesirable pests. Natural pesticides such as neem oil and insecticidal soap kill pests by smothering them and, if sprayed on a spider, will kill it. Diatomaceous earth, a fine dust made from fossils, is used for crawling pests, including spiders.

Spider Removal

• Eliminating the pests that spiders feed on means that the spiders will most likely build elsewhere, where food is more prevalent. So watch for insects on your flowering plants and wash them off with water, or spray them before spiders arrive. Another safe remedy for a spider on a flower is to shake the spider into a cup and release it elsewhere. Try tapping the flower with a rolled-up newspaper to dislodge the spider. You can use a broom to brush off the web.