My solution for spider webs

[marklyn]

For years I've tried all kind of "remedies" to rid the area around my cameras from spider webs. Peppermint oil, various commerical sprays, home-made concoctions, etc. Nothing ever worked or worked for more than a few days.
Until... I discovered that if I place (hang) a small plastic container with about 4-5 mothballs under the camera that either the flying bugs (bait) or the spiders finally give up and stop coming around. I've done this to 5 cameras that I had webs and spiders and flying insect problems with and now I have had zero problems with spiders or webs and rarely does a flying insect come around.
My theory is that the slow release of the fumes of the mothballs discourages flying insects from coming too close to the camera's IR and if the spider doesn't have food in a known good area they don't come around. Maybe the spider doesn't like it either, who knows... all I know is that I've used this method for months now and have had no webs unless I forget to reload a location with mothballs. An uncovered container usually lasts about 3+ weeks and a covered container lasts 2+ months.

My method is to use a small container with small holes in the bottom (in case rain gets in) and place those under the eve of the house, mostly protected from rain.
For cameras out in the open I used the same method but with a top for the container and I add holes at the top of the container to let fumes out so that the fumes waft upward toward the camera. I've attached a picture.
PS. for some reason a cheesecloth sack with mothballs was not nearly as effective as this setup!?
I'm telling you. This.works.well!
Also, get the mothballs in the big box at home depot, they last much longer than the cheap ones at the dollar store!

 

[TonyR]

Years ago I saw a maintenance man at a factory outlet mall emptying trash cans outdoors in the walkway areas. He'd pull a full bag out of the can, tie it up, throw a dozen mothballs in the can, put in a new bag, throw in a dozen in the bag and walk away. I caught up with him and asked...he said it kept the yellow jackets out of the cans. The yellow jackets LOVE empty soft drink cans. It seemed to work well!

I tend to agree with you, I think the fumes of the naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene keeps them away (and can be toxic to humans and pets as well if inhaling too much of it and/or frequently). But I don't plan on huffing them and our dogs don't get up there so I'm going to try that on my bullet cams.
One day I plan to replace my bullets with domes or turret cams, I understand they don't get the spider webs as much, I guess poorer attachment points.
Our house is all brick and I'm surrounded by 4 acres of woods so spiders are a BIG problem. They don't bother me or my wife, none of them we see are deadly to us (no brown recluses or black widows) and I prefer them to a fog of poison but I do not care for their handiwork over the cam lenses.

 

[marklyn]

TonyR, I should have mentioned that it might take a few days for the Spiders to "learn" that food isn't coming by. I recall that it was about 4-6 days before the spiders gave up and no more webs since then. Domes and turrent cams help but whatever they are attached to (awning/tree limbs/side of building) might still have points where webs (even long webs) can still be built. I had that issue in my attic with a dome camera and since the mothballs the spider has moved to greener pastures.

 

[fenderman]

One day I plan to replace my bullets with domes or turret cams, I understand they don't get the spider webs as much, I guess poorer attachment points.

The domes wont help you with spiders and will be worse when wet or dirty with respect to ir reflection...the reason why turrets are less prone to this issue is that the lens and IR are separate..

 

[TonyR]

Makes sense...thx!