[glevering (OP)]

Placing conkers strategically around my Mums house has certainly reduced the visible spiders on the floor to zero [] but is this just a coincidence or do conkers really repel spiders?

If so then my question is; HOW DO CONKERS DO IT [?]

Any ideas, please feel free to speculate. Many thanks!

PS. this is my first post... Hi Everyone []

_{Mod edit - Formatted the subject as a question - please do this to help keep the forum tidy and easy to navigate - thanks!}

[dentstudent]

Hi glevering

Why did you decide to put conkers down in the first place? OK - to get rid of the spiders, but why not apples, or cotton bobbins to come up with 2 random things.....

For anyone not sure, conkers are the fruit of the Horse Chestnut tree "Aesculus hippocastanum" - Buckeye, in the states. Spiders are small eight legged creatures ;-)

[dentstudent]

and you also said "strategically" - in what way?

[dentstudent]

Having done some basic research, there appears to be quite some anecdotal weight behind this phenomenon, though very little scientific support. My initial thoughts would be that there may be some essential oil that is present within the conker which spiders find repulsive. There are many insects that dislike various "smells", and perhaps this is the one for spiders. The efficacy of the conkers reduces over time, which suggests that there may be some chemical that is released but which loses its volatility with time. However, without any evidence, I wouldn't want to state that this was a genuine effect as yet.

[glevering (OP)]

dentstudent-

Actually it was a request from my Mum. She said she had heard (from a friend) that conkers would protect her from my eight legged friends when I am not around to remove them for her  []


I like to play a lot of strategy games... Therefore if I'm *fighting* spiders I consider every move I make to be strategic  [] ha ha, ok, I put conkers in the corners of most rooms and also next to the door (on the floor)  [O8)]


Essential oils huh... Wonder if I can make some anti spider spray from that.

By this time next year we'll be miwwionaires Rodney!  [)]

[blakestyger]

and you also said "strategically" - in what way?

On top of them?  []

[BenV]

and you also said "strategically" - in what way?

On top of them?  []

With great force?

[glevering (OP)]

and you also said "strategically" - in what way?

On top of them?  []

With great force?

Chuck them at the offending arachnid.. that seems to work too  []

[Don_1]

See this thread http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=17233.0

[LeeE]

Could be that the conkers may release decay gases that are toxic to spiders.  Conkers certainly do contain toxins but I've no idea whether they're nasty to spiders too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesculus#Uses

[helpme]

I live in los angeles. Can anyone tell me where I can purchase CONKERS from because I have a spider problem also.

THANK YOU...THANK YOU....THANK YOU

[tangoblue]

The conker thing is a myth! in fact some spiders like them.