Big Spider

Banrion

Hello,
Ive one of those sliding doors (french doors I think theyre called) and in the door jamb (where the shut door meets the frame) theres a massive spider. Im getting shivers thinking of him. Only for Charlottes Web Id have him stomped long ago. Any idea what type (do spiders have breeds?)he might be? we're living in peaceful co existence at the moment. I open the door, shriek shrilly, jump out the door, hang out the washing, shriek, jump back over door and close door all the while watching Charlotte unfold these massive legs. Im having dreams of it coming into my room with a machete...
I think it has two circles on its back. I know its harmless but why did it pick on my door....why meeeeeee?
But seriously....any idea..?

DarkJager

Ah its most likely something harmless...like a funnel web

Banrion

:eek: Jeekers.

Run_to_da_hills

It will only be a matter of time before Ireland receives some of these niceties from abroad. Only a few years ago Japan received the Redback from Australia, Irish Climate is not much different to parts of Victoria where the redback thrives, the redback is like the Blackwidow in reverse and has the hourglass on its back instead of its belly. You should never kill a spider because it will only bring bad luck.

dogmatix

I believe the redback is related the american black widow? The bite is not supposed to be fatal but is regarded as being very serious. And what with funnel web spiders and the like, Austraila is a no-go for people like me. Sooner or later someone is going to end up in hospital after fondling a lovely bunch of ripe bananas freshly arrived from south america. with my luck, most likely me.

Woodies where selling spider catchers the other week - its a grabber thingy on the end of a pole that nabs the 8 eyed little feckers and with a flick of a switch dumps them elsewhere. But thats just moving the problem on. Personally i'm thinking of getting one but modifying it to take butane lighter at the end.

Run_to_da_hills

dogmatix wrote: »

I believe the redback is related the American black widow? The bite is not supposed to be fatal but is regarded as being very serious. And what with funnel web spiders and the like, Australia is a no-go for people like me. Sooner or later someone is going to end up in hospital after fondling a lovely bunch of ripe bananas freshly arrived from south America. with my luck, most likely me.

Woodies where selling spider catchers the other week - its a grabber thing on the end of a pole that nabs the 8 eyed little feckers and with a flick of a switch dumps them elsewhere. But thats just moving the problem on. Personally I'm thinking of getting one but modifying it to take butane lighter at the end.

I worked at a sawmill in Banella Victoria in 1990, the place was crawling with redbacks, you had to check your safety boots, overalls etc for spiders. My job at the time was to torch any webs with a gas blower before the technicians worked on the machinery, the webs would appear over night.

The female Redback is the nasty one unlike the male funnelweb. Redbacks are very docile compared to the funnel web and will only bite of really aggravated or disturbed. I have also seen widows in the States, they live in similar conditions as the redback and are almost identical.
Blackj widow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAsLBpueppM

Redback.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZpMPZkWwq8

Banrion

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

It will only be a matter of time before Ireland receives some of these niceties from abroad. Only a few years ago Japan received the Redback from Australia, Irish Climate is not much different to parts of Victoria where the redback thrives, the redback is like the Blackwidow in reverse and has the hourglass on its back instead of its belly. You should never kill a spider because it will only bring bad luck.

I dont believe in bad luck to be honest.;) I wont kill him cos I feel kind of sorry for him cos he's more scared of me I suppose than I am of him. Sometimes I look at his legs and I think....ah sure the pet, he's just doing his best, like the rest of us.

Cool job with the torch blowers!