4
$\begingroup$

I want to kill the insects and spiders living in my egress using something non-toxic to humans, dogs. I was thinking copious amounts of salt would kill earth dwelling bugs and what appears to be ground spiders with funnel like webs. The insects seem to be majorly silverfish. I am in Missoula Montana.

enter image description here enter image description here enter image description here

I think the bugs are coming from the egress. Here's an internet photo similar to my egress. The ground at the bottom is the area in question.
enter image description here

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
3
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Not sure what the spiders will do, but salt is toxic for plants. In my place at least (Western Europe), usage of salt would kill the native plants and leave the ground to nettle. $\endgroup$
    – Joce
    Commented Aug 11, 2015 at 8:20
  • $\begingroup$ The ground in question is in the egress. I want to stop the whole basement window food chain. $\endgroup$
    – 12345678910111213
    Commented Aug 11, 2015 at 8:21
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I have had some success with boric acid against an infestation in my bathroom. $\endgroup$
    – March Ho
    Commented Aug 11, 2015 at 8:28

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3
$\begingroup$

Dusting the area with a diatomaceous earth based insecticide ought to do the trick, while being essentially non-toxic. If you want to prevent plant growth there too then of course salt the earth.

See Efficacy of modified diatomaceous earth on different cockroach species (Orthoptera, Blattellidae) and silverfish (Thysanura, Lepismatidae)

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ As soon as I dumped diatomacous earth on my 5 egress windows, hundreds of millipedes, centipedes, spiders, silverfish, beetles, hornets came up out of the ground and the surrounding grass. Before that was 50lbs of salt, which didn't bother anybody. All the basement windows are beautiful white wastelands. THX @jzx :D $\endgroup$
    – 12345678910111213
    Commented Aug 21, 2015 at 9:17
  • $\begingroup$ Hahaha, happy to be of service! $\endgroup$
    – jzx
    Commented Aug 21, 2015 at 9:21

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .