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Ok, this might not be the right place to ask (at least I put it in the off-topic forum).. but I figure maybe someone else here lives in the desert, or maybe we have a few people who were deployed in Iraq/Kuwait or something.. lol

I live in the Southern California desert in the town of Landers, not far from the Twentynine Palms Marine base. Every summer, houses (and pretty much any other place that's out of the sun) get invaded by these "monsters" (yeah I know they're pretty much harmless, but they look like "monsters" lol). I've heard them referred to as camel spiders, sun spiders, most of the locals here call them "vinegaroons" (even though an actual "vinegaroon" aka "whip scorpion" is a totally different species, doesn't live in the desert and doesn't even look similar to these things lol).

Anyway.. my question.. does anyone here know any way to get rid of them short of burning the house to the ground? I haven't found a pesticide that kills them or repels them, I haven't found any "natural" way to kill them or repel them, and quite frankly I'm getting tired of squishing these things.. lol.. plus even though they're "harmless" (they don't produce any venom), their bite is extremely painful and can lead to infection, especially out here where it seems like every little papercut ends with a hospital visit to treat a staph infection for some reason.
  • Profile picture of the author dave830
    Steven,

    No experience with camel spiders personally, but I've seen pictures. And I'd opt for burning the house to the ground. Them things are freaky.

    Dave

    P.S. Do I smell an ebook brewing... "The Eco-Friendly Way to Get Rid of Camel Spiders!" I'll look for the WSO.
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    I don't have anything to offer, but have a great day anyway!

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  • Profile picture of the author Star69
    Have you tried digging a ditch around the house and keeping it filled with gasoline? (Hope you don't smoke.)

    You could use ammonia, instead, but the odors might keep you awake at night...or attract janitors.

    I wonder how they fare when sprayed with pepper spray?

    I've seen those things and they are quite frightening if you are not aware of them. Normal-sized spiders are enough to drive most people crazy but these things? YIKES! These things can run across the ground at TEN MILES PER HOUR!!! That's faster than a lot of people jog!

    What can you really do about them besides MOVE?

    Maybe you could raise your house and place it ten feet above ground on poles? I don't know if those horrible things can climb poles, but at least you'd have a shady place to park the car in the summer...assuming you wouldn't get attacked by the monsters as you make your way to your car!

    For those who don't know the, uh, little (?) terrors, here's a peak:

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  • Profile picture of the author stevenh512
    Yeah Star, just like the one in the video (ok, most of them are smaller than that but I've seen a couple of them that were at least that size lol).

    Trust me, if moving was an option I'd be back in Santa Monica in a heartbeat. Never had to deal with these things when I lived on the beach, and the weather was so much nicer too.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      OK - I've just added Landers to the list I keep of "Places I can Absolutely Never Live". The list includes places that are always frozen or always hot, and those with humongous monsters like scorpions and camel spiders.

      We have alligators but as long as they stay in the water and I stay out of it we have no problem.

      If I lived in Landers I'd probably keep the fire department busy

      kay
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      • Profile picture of the author stevenh512
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        places that are always frozen or always hot, and those with humongous monsters like scorpions and camel spiders.
        That pretty much sums up Landers.. always frozen in the winter (we got 2 feet of snow overnight the week before Christmas), unbearably hot in the summer and some of the strangest "bugs" I've ever seen. Scorpions, camel spiders, "velvet ants" (actually wingless wasps, they look like a little ball of fuzz blowing across the ground), giant moths.

        And let's not forget the rattlesnakes and coyotes.. lol.. those are really the most dangerous things out here but at least you can shoot them if you have to without putting holes in your house.
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  • Profile picture of the author Star69
    Ah, Santa Monica. Great memories of that place. It's been awhile since I was last out on the pier. And no, I didn't see any giant spiders there, either.
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  • Profile picture of the author John M Kane
    Oh....my.....God!
    That sucker is nasty.
    I've been bit by browns and to this day, over 5+ years, it still hasn't healed.
    I have suspicions about it causing joint pain and fibromyalgia.
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  • Profile picture of the author Aronya
    I got an email not long ago that claimed the Listerine sprayed around the premises would chase away all kinds of bugs (flies, mosquitoes, etc.). It's worth a try.
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  • Profile picture of the author stevenh512
    Would take a lot of Listerine, this is a big house (and the longer I live here, the more I realize why a big 5 bedroom house in Landers costs less than a studio apartment in Santa Monica.. lol).. but it might be worth investing a few big bottles just to see if it works.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Wow, that's a hefty little critter. It looks like it got ant genes in it somewhere.
    Try sprinkling lye around the house and in the area of any holes around pipes, floorboards, window frames - definitely coat the basement and closet floors with it.

    Borax might do the same thing and it's less irritating to people.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author Aronya
    You could dig a moat.
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