So - whats your spider story?

[bigal]

When we first moved into our house 14 years ago at Morphett Vale, upstairs above the hallway window was a Huntsman spider whilst looking at it we twitched the curtain,it then decided to give birth an amazing site I will never forget as I reckon about 300 tiny huntsman cascaded over the top of the curtain and dispersed over the entire ceiling,initially we panicked I masked up with a T shirt over my nose and mouth and sprayed the entire ceiling with Mortein[insect killer],left them for an hour then hoovered up the remains,I unashamedly admit spiders or insects in the house we kill,why take the risk,a Huntsman aint gonna hurt you,a Redback could if you have a low immune system,White Tails are bad news if you suffer a reaction, if killing them bothers you catch them and put them outside.

[alex27]

We just spent four weeks in Sydney for our visa validation visit...i was completely obsessed with huntsmen the entire time. I was scanning every ceiling, looking under every chair, checking my clothes etc etc. I am absolutely terrified of spiders. We didn't see one...but I thought about them almost always...My OH was getting so annoyed and telling me that we can't move to Australia if I am going to act like this etc. I don't know what the answer is...I love Australia but the thought of having a spider like the one in the pic on the previous page...ugggh I saw they do a course at the Taronga Zoo, a fear of spiders thing. Maybe hypnosis?! The worst thing is that Aussies don't even seem to mind them. They just say, no worries-they won't kill you. As if that is why I am afraid of them!!

[niknjas]

Hi
Been here two years, hate spiders with a passion and normally scream for hubby. Within the first three months of being here, got bitten whilst doing the garden. Wearing flipflops and bit me above the ankle (now do gardening in boots) and ended up with a trip to the hospital and home nurse for a week to admininster iv drugs.

Took a year to see my first huntsman and it ran as fast as I did.

Last week, whilst everyone at school / work saw my first real live redback with egg sacs close by in the utility behind a chair. Sprayed it to within an inch of it's life. Splatted the egg sacs to past an inch of theirs. Kept the redback in the dustpan for everyone to see when they got home. told the kids if they see these to come and tell us immediately.

Still hate spiders but having to toughen up a bit but don't try to climb the walls when I see one now. Mortein does not seem to be working as well now, think I might need to get the professionals in.

Niki

[Tyke]

I'm afaraid you just have to get on with it and (politely) - toughen up a bit.

Lots of bugs ,beasties and nasties here but if you live in the suburbs you will hardly see them.

On the other hand, we live on a small acreage and have seem most stuff visit us..........

We often see these 4 inch + centipedes




This Huntsman was catching flies between the fly screen and window in our kitchen, excellent natural pest control!!




We have a lovely lizard which lives down the dirt track. I always have to keep my eye out for him as he sunbathes on the track and will not move,even if a car is coming!
He really is tame, I have to get out and just touch his tail,then he moves.
Last week he was sat there in his full glory, Mrs Tyke came out to see hi. I said "just stand behind me ,then when I touch his tail he will go off in the other direction"
Ermmmmmmmmmmmmmm no, I touched his tail ,he went behind me and tried running up Mrs Tyke's leg!!! You should have heard her scream. I was just gasping for oxygen with the uncontrollable laughing!! Poor lizard!!

[Tyke]

Just to add,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[niknjas]

Just to add,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

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euugggghhh - gross Tyke to all of those apart from the centipede, now feel a bit sick. We get lots of millipedes and don't mind those. Phoebe has christened all of them "Penolope" for some reason and likes playing with them. Thought it was supposed to be boys that were the grub magnets

[jtct]

Saw a Huntsman when we first arrived - left him alone so he could deal with the other nasties. The only redbacks I've seen were dead. Lots of small millipedes when it rained but fewer now and we get a vist from the blue tongued skink when its hot - bit scary looking but he just basks on a hot rock then disappears again. Keep brushing away any webs and have the Mortein handy - nothing yet! The one place we get heaps are the car wing mirrors - not neat webs like UK spiders but a messy mass.

They know not to mess with me! Will be careful in the spring when in the shed (its pretty empty at the moment) I wear shoes not thongs for gardening and always shake the gloves before putting them on. Had loads of bites from the mossies when I forgot to spray myself one warm evening at 'Night Owls' recently but so far ..............

[Barney Rubble]

When we first moved into our house 14 years ago at Morphett Vale, upstairs above the hallway window was a Huntsman spider whilst looking at it we twitched the curtain,it then decided to give birth an amazing site I will never forget as I reckon about 300 tiny huntsman cascaded over the top of the curtain and dispersed over the entire ceiling,initially we panicked I masked up with a T shirt over my nose and mouth and sprayed the entire ceiling with Mortein[insect killer],left them for an hour then hoovered up the remains,I unashamedly admit spiders or insects in the house we kill,why take the risk,a Huntsman aint gonna hurt you,a Redback could if you have a low immune system,White Tails are bad news if you suffer a reaction, if killing them bothers you catch them and put them outside.

Bingo !

Our 5 year old (at the time) came down to our bedroon saying the ceiling was moving and he didn't like it,after trying to seriously coax him back to his room i hear the wife carrying on and being the 'man of the house' (when it suits er indoors) i rushed down an from the light rose in the centre of the ceiling we hundred of these little f$%^#rs going everywhere.

I was amazed but the missus didn't see the funny side when i said, Ok 1 ,2 ,3 ,4 ,5, 6 oh damn it i've lost count again; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 . . . . .

Well i think she put a bigger hole in the ozone layer with the aerosol can's she used !

Next came our friends who brought the boys 'Bug Catchers'

We found a redback and kept it for a few days and then decided it was time to 'put nasty spider to sleep' we sprayed it white with the mortein and left it for two days. Went to throw the contents of the 'bug catcher' into the bin and as the leaves twigs hit the bottom the spider crawled under the trash and hid

Man those things are tough

Overall i guess we've seen about half a dozen redbacks, loads of whitetails and a few huntsmen.

Not that bad really for 20 years worth

[ali]

I'll be moving to Adelaide some time this coming September. The only thing that is annoying me (scaring me to death) is oz spiders! Is there any way, any way at all to keep them out of your house? Any chemical, alarm, nets... that are useful?

[ali]

I'll be moving to Adelaide some time this coming September. The only thing that is annoying me (scaring me to death) is oz spiders! Is there any way, any way at all to keep them out of your house? Any chemical, alarm, nets... that are useful?