Another helpful predator per Brittanica « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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Another helpful predator per Brittanica

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spideyjg

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Aug 22 2008 17:56:35
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"The book scorpion (Chelifer cancroides), 4 mm long, occurs in houses and libraries. It feeds on book lice, carpet-beetle larvae, clothes moths, and bedbugs."

Encyclopædia Britannica. Deluxe Edition. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2008

Kinda creepy looking but hell if they eat book lice, carpet beetles, and BBs, I can live with the looks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudoscorpion

Jim
death2allbbs

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Aug 22 2008 21:35:57
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quote:

"They are small and inoffensive, and are rarely seen due to their size."

Well, if they are that small, then I think that I could live with them. But I was curious as to if they are killed off by the pesticides used for bbs.
spideyjg

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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Aug 23 2008 1:56:56
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death2allbbs - 4 hours ago »
quote:
"They are small and inoffensive, and are rarely seen due to their size."
Well, if they are that small, then I think that I could live with them. But I was curious as to if they are killed off by the pesticides used for bbs.

Probably. I found a few shriveled spiders after the DE application. Really haven't seen any insects since my caulking/DE mania set in.

Predatory insects would not be a be all end all control and pesticides would be far more effective.

However IMHO if you run across a live predatory bug, book scorpion, wolf/jumping spider, or house centipede, may as well let them be so they can keep eating whatever they hunt down.

Allies are a good thing.

Jim
busy with my kids

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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Aug 23 2008 7:35:37
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So have we decided that that Thantos whatever spider is a wolf spider?
spideyjg

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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Aug 23 2008 14:57:35
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busy with my kids - 6 hours ago »
So have we decided that that Thantos whatever spider is a wolf spider?

NoBugs is trying to track down the paper from 1929 to see what is in it. The way spiders were classified changed so all the current scientific names don't apply. If they started from scratch there may be no way to cross reference.

Been doing some digging and can't find anything but I am not in academia. I may try to locate an spider expert and present them with the mystery. Sounds like a legitimate element of research to find what harmless predatory insect prefers BBs. Some stuff from 1934 indicates cockroaches will eat them. NOT a good option.

My guess based on their inherent behaviors is that it would be a wolf spider species. In general they are fast moving, nocturnal hunters with very good eyesight. A flat little BB may not present a lot of nutrition as opposed to larger prey so the larger wolves or tarantulas may not waste the energy to eat them. Spiderlings of large species and the smaller wolves would probably eat them like popcorn.

The Thanatos is perhaps a spider that was just the right size, location preference, and finds BBs particularly tasty.

Jumping spiders are generally daytime hunters but since BBs will come out in the day also I'd lay you odds a hungry jumper is gonna take one down if it sees it.

Once that paper is located it would be interesting to hear the take of a BB expert entomologist.

Would not try to introduce predators but if in decluttering you run across them, they had already been in your house, let them be.

Jim
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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Aug 23 2008 15:12:55
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I submitted that question to a couple Ask the Expert sites. One said it was known as the bed bug spider, but didn't know anything else; and the other didn't get back to me.

Keep us posted if you find out anything else.

Maybe spider farming will be the entrepreneurial idea of our era.
spideyjg

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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Aug 23 2008 16:23:50
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busy with my kids - 41 minutes ago »
I submitted that question to a couple Ask the Expert sites. One said it was known as the bed bug spider, but didn't know anything else; and the other didn't get back to me.
Keep us posted if you find out anything else.
Maybe spider farming will be the entrepreneurial idea of our era.

Well if it is know then why can't we find anything on it?

Even if this spider is identified, can you imagine the reaction of people if someone came up to the building with a few buckets of spiders saying they were gonna help take care of the BBs?

Then wander the building releasing the spiders all over the place.

Unfortunately people are very adverse to spiders despite the fact, with a few poisionous exceptions, they are a good thing to have around.

Jim