Just Before Bed!
By Catherine
@bluesa (15022)
Johannesburg, South Africa
December 11, 2017 7:27am CST
Not enough that I suffer with insomnia! Last night just before bed, I got a warning message on my phone about violin spiders.
Seems this crazy rainy weather (we had 10 thunderstorms on Sunday, 3 of them hail, they just kept rolling in) is motivating violin spiders to head indoors, in my suburb, it is probably motivating any spider or bug to head indoors, but a violin spider is poisonous! And they want in, out of the rain!
So you can imagine my eyes immediately beginning the search of floors, walls and ceilings! Walking on my tippy toes, don't know why I walk on my tippy toes at that point, I just do! With my trusty can of bug spray just about glued to my hand. I had to head off to bed feeling very unsettled!
Have you gotten a warning message about the possibility of dangerous bugs invading your home just before heading to bed? It does not inspire a restful sleep! 
20 people like this
20 responses
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Dec 17
From the comment by JolietJake, and the photo you posted in your comments, it looks like a violin spider is another name for a brown recluse. Nasty little spider! I've been bitten by a brown recluse before, it's very painful and not very fun at all.
If you want to discourage spiders from entering your house, you should get some peppermint oil and sprinkle it around your doorways, windows, baseboards and other potential entry points for spiders. They don't like the peppermint oil at all, and will avoid areas where the oil has been sprinkled.
2 people like this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
12 Dec 17
Yes, it appears so, same spider different names. Oh ouch. Sorry you were bitten @moffittjc .
Very cool about the peppermint oil, I didn't know that, and at least it is a nice scent to me.
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
19 Dec 17
@moffittjc the whole two birds with one stone thing again 
. Goodness knows the bug spray makes me dizzy.
. Goodness knows the bug spray makes me dizzy.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Dec 17
@bluesa After I got bitten by the brown recluse, I sprinkled peppermint oil around my house. Not only did it eliminate any spider populations that may have been in there, it also made my house smell great for many months! lol
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
21 Dec 17
With winter weather my worries are more about mice trying to get into my basement. Finding any invading creatures in your home is not fun 
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
22 Dec 17
@bluesa I have run into a few over the years. We are both usually startled when that happens, lol.
1 person likes this
@Luap1050 (878)
•
13 Dec 17
@bluesa We only received 10 cm , so about 4 inches over Monday night, so not too bad...now,, it's the damn cold I have to contend with minus 22 degrees Celsius tonight, -8 F ,colder than any time last winter and winter doesn't start for us until the 21st!!
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
12 Dec 17
We don't get this kind of warning messages on our phones. I can understand receiving this kind of message just before going to bed, could be scary.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
22 Dec 17
@bluesa It is better to switch off your phone, when you are going to bed.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
12 Dec 17
That is very unsettling! What happens if one is bitten by these violin spiders?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
22 Dec 17
No I have never got that type of alert I get bad weather alerts but not bugs
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
19 Dec 17
I would be a bit worried too, I guess. It's always good to be alert about such things. Just curious, who issued the warning message though?
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
22 Dec 17
@bluesa That's very helpful. Hope you won't find any in your house though. Take care!
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
27 Dec 17
@cahaya1983 thank you! I keep checking. So far so good
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
12 Dec 17
do those spiders bite? are they venomous?
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
16 Dec 17
@bluesa 2 nights ago, my son went to the bathroom. at 10pm, he was making some noise, like banging his slipper in the wall of the bathroom. when i asked him when he went down if he killed a spider, he said yes.
you see, my son has phobia to arachnids, just like me having phobia to earthworms. the spiders here are non-venomous too.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
11 Dec 17
Oh ack! I've never had that (no or minimal dangerous insects here) I'm sorry that warning came as you were trying to get to sleep
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
14 Dec 17
@FayeHazel , thanks. I keep checking. :)
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
13 Dec 17
@bluesa Oh yes, be careful, and I hope you are safe
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (77084)
• Philippines
12 Dec 17
I haven't at all and I'm not even aware and I don't even know what a violin spider is.
Take care of you.
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (8261)
• United Kingdom
11 Dec 17
We don't have dangerous bug alerts here in the UK.
I've never heard of a violin spider. Does it have bow legs? 
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
12 Dec 17
good one with the "bow" legs @Orson_Kart ! It is also known as a brown recluse, as JJ mentioned.
@jobelbojel (36791)
• Philippines
14 Dec 17
No, I haven't received one. And for sure I don't want to see this warning.
1 person likes this
@mysimplelot (1347)
• Calcutta, India
12 Dec 17
Sleep is important for our body and mind both. Just before bed we have also some bugs always there. So stay safe!
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
11 Dec 17
I have added a photo to my answer to Maluse @peachpurple, it is a poisonous spider.
