Daddy long-legs spider to control gnants

[HB Rob]

Hey everyone.

Where I live gnats have always been a problem in my soil grows. They are attracted to the ample moisture in soil after a fresh watering and will then burrow and lay eggs. Hanging pest strips works well, but being a poor college student I've discovered another FREE method that works flawlessly. I've been able to completely eliminate gnats from both my growing rooms.

The method uses Pholcus phalangioides (known as granddaddy long-legs spider, daddy long-legs spider, daddy long-legger, cellar spider, vibrating spider, or house spider). This common species is not poisonous to humans, however DO NOT TRY THIS UNLESS YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE CORRECT SPIDER!

Easy to follow steps:

1. Water according to your personal schedule. After a fresh watering gnats will pop out of the soil (their homes were flooded) and fly around looking for free moisture.
2. Collect one (1) spider per plant and relocate them to the base of your beautiful cannabis.
3. Wait. With high insect activity the spiders will usually make a small web around the lower branches of your plants.
4. Within a few hours the spiders will have a new web up. As the soil begins to dry and gnats are flying back to the soil's surface many will become entangled in the web.

The web has no adhesive properties but the irregular structure traps insects, making escape difficult. The spider quickly envelops its prey with silk and then inflicts the fatal bite. The prey may be eaten immediately or stored for later. After 24hrs you'll see gnats all over the web instead of chilling down in your soil. You can then feel proud of yourself for fixing your gnat problem and making a few new friends. Pholcus phalangioides is also a predator of various other insects and a few variety of spiders including Tegenaria (the notorious Hobo spider falls into this genus).

Remember, though, that spiders do not have a long lifespan and will leave after their food source has been exhausted. Start the process over as you feel necessary to control pests. Depending on your growing environment it may take another application or two, but your pest problem will be solved by the circle of life.

Again, DO NOT TRY THIS UNLESS YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE CORRECT SPIDER!.

 

[SmokeyMacPots]

Now the only problem i will have is trying to locate one of these daddy long legs ... temps have dropped really low lately, probably in the 30's at night. Spider activity has definitely dropped around my house since summer.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[placerville]

I have use spiders for many years. I find them in house or garage, and relocate them. They do not seem to mind the foliar spray.

 

[SmokeyMacPots]

Also found out that there are a few predatory plants out there that you can stick in your grow room. These plants attract the gnats, and when the gnats land on them they get stuck to a sticky resin. From there the plant breaks down the gnats and digests them. From what I have heard, they work really well. karagrows told me about this one, Pinguicula moctezumae.

 

[mk1903a3]

thanks a ton simple is always better

 

[KingJoe83]

Hey everyone.

Where I live gnats have always been a problem in my soil grows. They are attracted to the ample moisture in soil after a fresh watering and will then burrow and lay eggs. Hanging pest strips works well, but being a poor college student I've discovered another FREE method that works flawlessly. I've been able to completely eliminate gnats from both my growing rooms.

The method uses Pholcus phalangioides (known as granddaddy long-legs spider, daddy long-legs spider, daddy long-legger, cellar spider, vibrating spider, or house spider). This common species is not poisonous to humans, however DO NOT TRY THIS UNLESS YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE CORRECT SPIDER!

Easy to follow steps:

1. Water according to your personal schedule. After a fresh watering gnats will pop out of the soil (their homes were flooded) and fly around looking for free moisture.
2. Collect one (1) spider per plant and relocate them to the base of your beautiful cannabis.
3. Wait. With high insect activity the spiders will usually make a small web around the lower branches of your plants.
4. Within a few hours the spiders will have a new web up. As the soil begins to dry and gnats are flying back to the soil's surface many will become entangled in the web.

The web has no adhesive properties but the irregular structure traps insects, making escape difficult. The spider quickly envelops its prey with silk and then inflicts the fatal bite. The prey may be eaten immediately or stored for later. After 24hrs you'll see gnats all over the web instead of chilling down in your soil. You can then feel proud of yourself for fixing your gnat problem and making a few new friends. Pholcus phalangioides is also a predator of various other insects and a few variety of spiders including Tegenaria (the notorious Hobo spider falls into this genus).

Remember, though, that spiders do not have a long lifespan and will leave after their food source has been exhausted. Start the process over as you feel necessary to control pests. Depending on your growing environment it may take another application or two, but your pest problem will be solved by the circle of life.

Again, DO NOT TRY THIS UNLESS YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE CORRECT SPIDER!.

Well I knwo what a daddy long leg looks like I’m going to keep an eye and see if I can try this method I can’t get mine to leave throwing everything but the kitchen sink at these gnats for over a month had almost gone apparently then bag .

 

[DavidJohnson]

The larvae of fungus gnats grow and develop in moist soil. They feast on our plants' roots. The easiest way is by allowing your potting soil to dry out completely between watering. One can also use biological insecticide and repeat application every five days until the gnats are eradicated. Get rid of any standing water. If still the problem troubles you best is to consult some pest exterminators in Lincoln CA for the best effective methods.

 

[KingJoe83]

Well i found a daddy little while back and now no pest ! Thansk for the thread

 

[Zimbo 63]

Hi, I like your idea and I've been toying with the idea of adding "jumping spiders" to my tent.

I like the idea of "daddy long legs" which isn't strictly a spider and makes a huge amount of webbing, how do you deal with that?

Jumping spiders don't make so much webbing.

 

[Zimbo 63]

Also found out that there are a few predatory plants out there that you can stick in your grow room. These plants attract the gnats, and when the gnats land on them they get stuck to a sticky resin. From there the plant breaks down the gnats and digests them. From what I have heard, they work really well. karagrows told me about this one, Pinguicula moctezumae.

I've wondered if having a pyrethrin daisy plant in the tent will mitigate pests - anyone know?

 

[Bill284]

Hi, I like your idea and I've been toying with the idea of adding "jumping spiders" to my tent.

I like the idea of "daddy long legs" which isn't strictly a spider and makes a huge amount of webbing, how do you deal with that?

Jumping spiders don't make so much webbing.

Good my friend @zimbo hope you are well my friend.
Unfortunately that's an old thread and you may not get a reply.
Just a heads up.
Top left corner has the date.
Hope your having a great day.

Stay safe
Bill

 

[Zimbo 63]

Good my friend @zimbo hope you are well my friend.
Unfortunately that's an old thread and you may not get a reply.
Just a heads up.
Top left corner has the date.
Hope your having a great day.

Stay safe
Bill

Thanks for the "heads" up hehe. Yeah, I realised that it was an old post.

Have posted my own thread.

 

[SmokingWings]

I've wondered if having a pyrethrin daisy plant in the tent will mitigate pests - anyone know?

Welcome to the group. Oh, and some of these older threads do catch us every now and then. Such is life.

The Daisy that is called a Ptrethrin Daisy is known for repelling some insects. I looked up some basic info on that flower but got sidetracked with other plants that are often used for insect controls. My suggestion is to do some basic google style searches and then follow the links around for awhile.

There is not a plant that will repel every insect that becomes a problem with indoor grows. I see these plants sometimes becoming a problem on their own, especially in indoor grows. Many growers can pull it off but if you are new to this sort of indoor growing then be ready for possible complications.

Getting a Ptrethrin Daisy and getting it to grow successfully is going to require a 2-3 gallon pot of soil and it will have to be watered and fed just like the Marijuana plants that are there. The downsides to think about include that the Daisy might not be on the same watering schedule and might have its own fertilizer mixes. The biggest problem with putting one in the tent is that it takes up room that could have been used for growing a decent sized Marijuana plant instead.

Something more important to consider is that there is no plant that seems to repel or control each type of insect that might cause problems for Marijuana plants, especially when the growing is being done inside in what we can consider a closed environment. One a pest gets in it can be hard to get every one of them out.

A plant might repel one type of insect but attracts a different kind. Next thing we know we have a major problem with the other insect and and that one ends up doing more damage to our plants than the first one could ever do.