i dont know your area ... but i have two thoughts ... first.. you said.. it needs a lot of work ... so i imply.... infer ... that this jungle was basically abandoned for a few years ... let me suggest.. simply being there... and taking command of the yard will start to solve the problem ... e.g. ... if the lawn is mowed weekly ... and kept short.. like a lawn is supposed to be.. they are going to not being hanging out in the lawn ... so simply by mowing.. you are taking control ... same thought with overgrown gardens and bushes ... and do keep in mind.. spiders are most apparent .. in fall ... thats when we get these kind of posts... and that is because.. they have had all summer to grow and mature. ... sooner or later ... even in your zone.. winter will come.. and the populations will ebb ... simply based on the cycles of the season ... so i would highly recommend not going with the nuclear option this late in fall ... perhaps this is not a proper suggestion for NC .. i dont know ... a quick call to your LOCAL COUNTY extension office.. might get you some very LOCAL pertinent information on the current populations of any given plague.. maybe its just been a big year for them.. in your area .... and you might ask a new neighbor... if its in their yard also ... again.. to find out if its not just your jungle .... as for the crumb muncher ... teaching them to respect such.. is much easier than eradicating .... and for sure.. at that age... give them a baggie of goldfish crackers as you launch them out the door.. and teach them to eat NOTHING in the yard ... and to bring back the empty bag ... and mommy will fill it up when they want more ... believe it or not.. that are very malleable at that age.. and a lot smarter than given credit for .... and if youa re giving out food.. they will be back ... lol ... for about 16 years min ... lol .. as to mushrooms and their ilk ... i consider them a free show of ma nature ... they are one of ma natures decompsers .... there is simply no downside to them.... most of the time... they are decomposing rotting wood under the surface... or on old used up mulch ... its interesting to learn what they are ... but there is little to do.. to be rid of them.. so go zen.. and accept them ...basically.. the same with the spiders .... [i suspect you might find a big dead stump somewhere out there... and the pattern of the shrooms/fungus its its dead root mass] enjoy your new yard ... but do keep in mind.. it is going to be winter... even in NC ... ken

A fun trick I learned: At night, take a flashlight outside. Turn it on and put the end on your forehead. Aim the light towards the grass. You will notice tiny shiny "lights" in the grass. If you get up close to them, you will see your spiders. They will be everywhere. At least they are here, the same kind you have the picture of. My sister taught me that trick when she was in the girl scouts. They are harmless though.

I think that you know what you've got. :-( I strongly suggest that you contact a professional exterminator to help eliminate the spiders. They will be able to get rid of them with products that are probably safer than what you can find. In the meantime, use sticky traps downstairs, too. Shake out your clothes and shoes before putting them on, turn down the bed linens, turn on the lights when walking around at night (they're nocturnal), check the shower before stepping in, Place traps under the bed, behind furniture, on the closet floor, etc. The one that got me was in a stack of clean, folded towels in my linen closet. I also found one on a blouse hanging in the closet and saw one marching across my bed in the night. That was nearly fifteen years, two homes, and another whole state ago....yet I still do all of those things I mentioned. Lol, no BR spiders in this house....just the garage.

As was said: No see this http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2002/5-24-2002/brownrecluse.html Here is a link that might be useful: more info This post was edited by jean001a on Thu, Feb 20, 14 at 1:12