cigcars Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 not so big ass. redbacks are about the size of a small fingernail. Hmm. According to that video it sure looked LARGE to me. 'Guess I'm mistaken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzz Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 I don't know how you guys deal with all those nasty creatures "down under". At least a rattlesnake will let me know where it is here in the States. I mean good lord, if a spider bit my A$$ on the toilet, I'd be out of there! lol Aussie critters let you know when they are around too... they bite you! And in case Mika's pics didn't give you the full impact of a funnel web's fangs, here's something to give you nightmares. Just imagine those fangs (which can pierce boot leather) sinking into your soft flesh... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Gargett Posted March 4, 2015 Author Share Posted March 4, 2015 fuzz, the fangs are the least of it. the deadly poison it injects much more of a concern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coloniales Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 We now have Redbacks running around the UAE, little buggers hitched a ride on some fruit or similar. They seem to like more arid locations. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aushy Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Saw this video on the funnel web spiders. They can survive on the bottom of a pool for up to 4 hours. Scares the hell out of me! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMiZq1vWGAk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 My father had a rule for snakes here: If it is on the ground...Kill it. if it climbs or is in a tree...shoot it. My father was not a Greeny We have about 120 species of snakes in Queensland. 65% are venomous. Outside of Pythons (harmless) and Red bellied blacks (Venomous), I don't trust myself to identify the others. I just assume they will hurt you bad. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugomarink Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I guess with the Redback and Funnel Web spiders around, all you Aussies don't flinch when you come across a giant Hunstman spider. Right? I mean, the Huntsman is huge and scary but harmless (although I might jump out a window or something if I came across a Huntsman so maybe not completely harmless). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzz Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Saw this video on the funnel web spiders. They can survive on the bottom of a pool for up to 4 hours. Scares the hell out of me! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMiZq1vWGAk 4hrs? Keep going. They can trap air bubbles on the hairs of their abdomen to keep themselves afloat and for breathing. Eventually they will get water logged and sink, but can still survive for 24+ hrs. So that funnel web at the bottom of your pool you may think is dead, is actually very much alive and ready to bite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aushy Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I guess with the Redback and Funnel Web spiders around, all you Aussies don't flinch when you come across a giant Hunstman spider. Right? I mean, the Huntsman is huge and scary but harmless (although I might jump out a window or something if I came across a Huntsman so maybe not completely harmless). I'd say the opposite. We have to assume that everything is super deadly (because let's face it, it probably is) so that means no taking any chances! 4hrs? Keep going. They can trap air bubbles on the hairs of their abdomen to keep themselves afloat and for breathing. Eventually they will get water logged and sink, but can still survive for 24+ hrs. So that funnel web at the bottom of your pool you may think is dead, is actually very much alive and ready to bite. Thanks for your terrifying correction but I would have preferred if you kept that one to yourself! I'm going to have funnel web spiders infiltrating my dreams tonight 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puros Y Vino Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I have to wonder what you Australians did to warrant so many deadly critters on land and sea. In Canada you have to wander off into the remote wilderness to get mauled by any kind of bear, made into a snack by a mountain lion, get steamrolled by a Moose or smacked around silly by a wolverine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabashcr Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Terrifying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIKA27 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I'd say the opposite. We have to assume that everything is super deadly (because let's face it, it probably is) so that means no taking any chances! Thanks for your terrifying correction but I would have preferred if you kept that one to yourself! I'm going to have funnel web spiders infiltrating my dreams tonight You're in Melbourne mate, no funnel webs here, let Sydney worry about them!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzz Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Mika, there are Funnel Web spiders in Victoria too (outskirts of Melb and Dandenong Ranges). Though, like everything else south of the border, you get a tame run of the mill variety. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Festa Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I have to wonder what you Australians did to warrant so many deadly critters on land and sea. In Canada you have to wander off into the remote wilderness to get mauled by any kind of bear, made into a snack by a mountain lion, get steamrolled by a Moose or smacked around silly by a wolverine. It's the price we pay for living in paradise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIKA27 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Mika, there are Funnel Web spiders in Victoria too (outskirts of Melb and Dandenong Ranges). Though, like everything else south of the border, you get a tame run of the mill variety. That's cool, I'm fine with that, so long as they aren't around my house and creeping out of my toilet or from under the pillows!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
free85 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Do those things even creep? They seem sort of like the thug life spider... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzz Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 The male funnel web goes wandering between November and April in search of a female... or somebody to bite. They are not normally found indoors, unless they accidentally wander inside. For those of you who like to use your floor as a floordrobe, always shake out your clothes before putting them on (same goes for shoes/boots/work gloves). I myself have found a few whitetails hiding in clothes. Once I woke up and found one sitting on my pillow, not more than 4 inches from my face! Whitetails do not make webs and always go for a wander in search of food, typically other spiders. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIKA27 Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 The male funnel web goes wandering between November and April in search of a female... or somebody to bite. They are not normally found indoors, unless they accidentally wander inside. For those of you who like to use your floor as a floordrobe, always shake out your clothes before putting them on (same goes for shoes/boots/work gloves). I myself have found a few whitetails hiding in clothes. Once I woke up and found one sitting on my pillow, not more than 4 inches from my face! Whitetails do not make webs and always go for a wander in search of food, typically other spiders. Also pick up your pillow before you lay down for bed. The White tail spider loves those areas. Last week, I moved my pillow and sure enough, one big a$$ spider was there. So... I bought around 10 Mortein control bombs and bombed the place the very next day. Sneaky buggers they are Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugomarink Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Also pick up your pillow before you lay down for bed. The White tail spider loves those areas. Last week, I moved my pillow and sure enough, one big a$$ spider was there. So... I bought around 10 Mortein control bombs and bombed the place the very next day. Sneaky buggers they are 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugomarink Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Terrifying That's a nightmare! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIKA27 Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 If houses weren't so expensive here (Then again what isn't!) I'd have done that!! Classic by the way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzz Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 If houses weren't so expensive here (Then again what isn't!) I'd have done that!! Classic by the way Strangely enough, people have accidentally set their house on fire trying to a spider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fosgate Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 WD-40 and a lighter to check under toilet seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headstand Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I confess to a mix of awe and sheer terror when I think of what you antipodeans deal with on a daily basis w.r.t. nature trying to kill you at every turn. Give me a grizzly bear any day. You are a tough breed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzz Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Well, it's not like you see these things every day. Funnel webs are pretty rare, redbacks are more common (in the garage/shed and under outdoor furniture). I probably see a white tail spider once every few weeks. One quick spray with Mortein and it's a goner. Haven't seen a huntsman in several years (a big ass spider that freaks out a lot of people, but is completely harmless). As long as you get a pest man to spray regularly (I get my place done twice a year), you won't have too many problems. Also try to keep as few trees and shrubs close to the house or next to eaves, to stop insects and critters climbing over. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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