Spider Advice

[TrsSecurity]

Hello All

I Have been looking about for a solution to this problem. I am a security consultant and set-up many cctv systems often including external housings and this has given me a slight problem.

I have no problem with spiders and often rescue them from the other half before they get squished. My problem is that I have a site with a flat roof layout and CCTV units mounted on the side of the building.

About twice a month I get a call from the customer complaining that instead of seing the doors and car park they have a lovely spiders web slap bang in the middle of the picture. A trip onto the roof with a feather duster resolves the problem but soon I am back again ..... that roof is a long way up !!!

I am hoping that a spider guru will read this and be able to offer advice. I dont want to harm them but at the same time I need to stop them spinning webs as nice as they are over the front of the camera lense.

Any sugestions appreciated, is there any form of liquid that would deter them ?

Many thanks for your time and attention.

Stuart.

[Hedera]

Would stretching cling-film over the front of the camera do the trick? It is see-through, and would put the spider off because of not having a space behind its web.

[Tursiops2]

Perhaps smearing Vaseline on the outside of the camera (not on the lens, obviously) would keep them off?

Welcome to the forum.
T2

[TrsSecurity]

Thanks so much for the help

Sadly the cling film will be a no go as the night vision lights will reflect. The vassaline sounds a good idea. Is there something about it they dont like or is it simply the sticky'ness ect ?

I have have seen a mention of some seeds working.

Given there must be many people terified of spiders I find it strange that someone has not developed a repelent !!!

Thanks for the help so far everyone

[Hedera]

There is the old country repellent of horse chestnuts - they sell a spray now containing the essence, but I've not tried it.

[TrsSecurity]

That sounds just what I need. I am thinking of making a cover that a ball of cotton wool can sit in to protect it from the rain or it would wash away.

Had to go out agian last night to site. Grrr but cant blame the spiders, the camera's are warm and have a nice cavity they can sit in. I have now sealed the gaps with silicon sealent will see if this helps.

Do you think it would be better to just put a horse chestnut under the cover and if so I wonder how long it would last.

Am also wondering about about a fake bird or other natuaral spider preditor sitting on the roof near the camera.

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by TrsSecurity

Am also wondering about about a fake bird or other natuaral spider preditor sitting on the roof near the camera.

I doubt if that would have any effect, spider vision isn't that good. My vaseline suggestion was completely off the top of my head, I've never tried it, but I imagine it would make it difficult to attach webs.

I've never heard of Horse Chestnuts being a spider repellent before, interesting if it's true!

T2

[dazultra2000]

I got some spider repellant spray which is based on Horse Chestnuts and cloves I think and it worked wonders in keeping the Steatoda Nobilis out of my house. Sprayed around all door and window frames and we were spider-free.

I expect that it would also work for you, though would probably get washed away in the rain. Maybe just actually getting a load of conkers and putting them in a mesh bag might have a similar effect?

[No.9 Spider]

I think Tursiops suggestion is the most effective and practical solution to the problem and certainly worth a try, I've used the same method effectively around the lower trunk of a palm tree before now to stop insects climbing up it. I've heard of the Conkers and Cloves suggestion before but have seen spiders web up in a bucket of conkers before now.
The vaseline (or similar substance, grease?) would be impervious to a degree, at least for a while, to the elements. Let us know if you have any joy.

[TrsSecurity]

Hello All

I am still having issues with this site and watched 3.5 hours of the spiders crawling over the front of the lens.

I had another idea..... Does anyone know how spiders would react to a low voltage DC or AC voltage? If so what kind of energy levels would be needed?

I have some self adhesive strips of small spikes that are supposed to keep pigeons away. They have a small hole at the top of every spike so my idea would be to run a copper wire through making in effect a miniature electric fence.

I assume that due to there small size very little power would be needed and indeed I hope so as this must be harmless to people and a very high voltage could arc over and damage the camera's!

Anyone got any advice on this one. Strangely enough on the net there is a massive void in the research of passing current via arachnids

Many thanks for all your help.

Stuart.