Whats the best way to kill spiders?

gonedrinking

I noticed a spider on my balcony in Melbourne which I think was either a redback or funnel web spider. So I bought baygon and sprayed it, I thought it would die quickly but it took about 50 seconds of spraying before it stopped moving. So I am just wondering is there any better products out there that kill them quicker, like Raid for example? Or should I just pure boiling water over the spider in future?

Sid_Justice

i guess i'll just be the first person to call you a spineless coward.

brendansmith

Flamethrower? If that doesn't work try manning the f*** up.

gonedrinking

Well since I'm not a complete moron, I'm not going to allow a dangerous spider to reside in the door frame of my apartment- its web was in the gap between the door and the wall. So everytime I opened the door and went out to my balcony I would be walking inches away from it. It had also trashed my balcony during the christmas break, I came back to find spiderwebs everywhere!

If I wanted AH responses I would of posted in AH!

irelandspurs

WD40 and a lighter

mandrake04

baygon DIY outdoor is good enough, one spray and they are history. Takes a few mintues to kick in but good old incy-wincy will soon be climbing the old pearly spout in in the sky.

You dont need to keep spraying it doesn't have an immediate effect but it will work, if you want some fast acting try a size 10.


I dont think it was a funnel web... they are not native or that common to Melbourne. If it was a Red Back it would be easy distinguishable that it had a red stripe.

You probably killed something harmless.

Zambia

Could have been a white tail or a wolf spider.

Yeah raid it and just wait.

The Sweeper

gonedrinking wrote: »

I noticed a spider on my balcony in Melbourne which I think was either a redback or funnel web spider. So I bought baygon and sprayed it, I thought it would die quickly but it took about 50 seconds of spraying before it stopped moving. So I am just wondering is there any better products out there that kill them quicker, like Raid for example? Or should I just pure boiling water over the spider in future?

Welcome to Melbourne.

The Sydney funnel web spider does not reside in this state. That's why it's called the Sydney funnel web spider. It's also rather large.

A redback spider has a distinctive red back but is about the size of a fingernail. It also almost never leaves its web, so in order to be bitten by one you'd need to stick your hand in the web and poke it.

If you sprayed the apparently completely harmless spider you found on your balcony for 50 seconds, I think cause of death would legitimately be drowning, as opposed to poisoning.

None of the small spiders in Melbourne have a tendancy to jump from the sanctuary of their webs onto passing humans and try to bite them through their clothes, so you're probably safe enough just walking past it.

The last notable spider you'll encounter in Melbourne is the huntsman, which is large but non poisonous, and eats cockroaches, so they're really good spiders.

But if you're seriously that scared of spiders, use the vacuum cleaner.

Mahatma coat

I find a Size 14 boot wielded in anger is a good solution to spiders, Alternatley as has been suggested "grow a pair"

they're right tho, very few dangerous spiders in Melbourne, Feck there are very Few dangerous spiders in Australia compared to the myriad of other creatures intent on your demise

mandrake04

was in the car but harmless

universe777

Coles own brand surface spray works for me. It does take that long to kill them and they don't drown, it kinda shrivels them.

Huntsmans are quite common on the outside of my building, mostly only small ones. I did kill what looked like a redback on my balcony. I caught a white tail coming in the window one night.
Before I was that vigilant I got bitten on the big toe one night and it went black for 2 weeks maybe, wasn't pretty, my doctor agreed it was a spider bite.

universe777

mandrake04 wrote: »

was in the car but harmless

mandrake04

My mate got a suspect bite on the arm by a wolf spider, left a big ulcer and made him feel sick eventuating in an intravenous antibiotic drip plus the staff at Concord hospital to cut it out leaving him with a scar the size of a 50 cent piece.

seipeal1

Lots of spider fun to be had in Adelaide, South Australia, if anyone fancies visiting the "boring city". It's not, by the way. We have experienced huntsmen the size of your hand, white tails, red backs ( can get bigger than fingernails!!) and wolf spiders. Considering my wife has arachnophobia, she is doing great after a few years!

Traq

As others have said, chances are it was neither as funnel webs don't exist here and there's really no way you can confuse a funnel web with a red back anyway, besides the distinctive red stripe there's a huge size difference too. My advice, along with most other posters, would be to grow a pair, the vast majority of spiders you see in the city here will do no harm to you at all.

The_B_Man

Check here to see which it was:
Aussie Spiders

I doubt you're in any danger. I say keep it as a pet like I did in Perth with a redback. Very little maintenance. Just throw a fly into them every once in a while.

gonedrinking

The Sweeper wrote: »

Welcome to Melbourne.

The Sydney funnel web spider does not reside in this state. That's why it's called the Sydney funnel web spider. It's also rather large.

None of the small spiders in Melbourne have a tendancy to jump from the sanctuary of their webs onto passing humans and try to bite them through their clothes, so you're probably safe enough just walking past it.

Actually the funnel web spider is found in NSW, VIC, and Queensland:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_funnel-web_spider

And it wouldn't need to bite through clothes since I almost always wear shorts and flip flops around the house. All that would need to happen is for me to drop something into or near the web when I'm walking past, and it could get spooked and bite. Why would I take such an unnecessary risk by letting it stay there.

gonedrinking

The_B_Man wrote: »

Check here to see which it was:
Aussie Spiders

I doubt you're in any danger. I say keep it as a pet like I did in Perth with a redback. Very little maintenance. Just throw a fly into them every once in a while.

After looking at the pictures I would say its almost certainly a redback, although it is hard to tell as its shrivelled up now. Shortly after I killed it a lot of other smaller spiders showed up at the scene, I'm glad I put an end to it before they multiplied even further.

Mellor

The Sweeper wrote: »

The Sydney funnel web spider does not reside in this state. That's why it's called the Sydney funnel web spider. It's also rather large.

lol Sweeper, epic fail.
The sydney funnel web is most dangerous, and most famous, but its one of prob 40 funnel webs in Oz, including the Victorian funnel web. Most are unnamed btw

gonedrinking wrote: »

After looking at the pictures I would say its almost certainly a redback, although it is hard to tell as its shrivelled up now.

Relax a little, if you can't tell then it wasn't a red back, they stand out a mile.
Seriously, I'd trust a boot over a spray. For those 30 sec its dying, it'll be pissed

davepatr07

Hi there,


Just out of curiosity was checking out the thread here. Bit uncomfortable reading about Adelaide/SA as I will be heading there next month to work outside the city. Any tips to watch out for when working on a farm or vineyard? (Apart from wearing sunblock a hat, insect repellent etc) Snakes are probably more of a concern than the 8 legged nasties.


Cheers

mandrake04

Just check your shoes before putting them on and you will be grand.

Jumpy

Traq wrote: »

As others have said, chances are it was neither as funnel webs don't exist here and there's really no way you can confuse a funnel web with a red back anyway, besides the distinctive red stripe there's a huge size difference too. My advice, along with most other posters, would be to grow a pair, the vast majority of spiders you see in the city here will do no harm to you at all.

Sydney funnel webs are not called that because they are only in Sydney, they are also found in VIC. The other funnel web species are found almost everywhere except the red centre.

Interesting funnel web fact is that the poison is only an irritant to other animals. Its mainly primates that are affected so badly. Thats why cats can play with them all the time and survive.

The big funnel webs are not the most dangerous. The ones with the bulbous backs are females and compared to the sleeker male, a lot less dangerous.

Look for the two prongs on its arse. If it doesnt have those you are most likely looking at a Mouse spider or a common house spider.

Jumpy

Oh and OP, redbacks and funnel webs are two completely different species of spider. One is your shiny orb style (redback) and the other looks like a teency tarantula. They are about as far apart in looks as a spider can get.

Jumpy

Mellor wrote: »

lol Sweeper, epic fail.
The sydney funnel web is most dangerous, and most famous, but its one of prob 40 funnel webs in Oz, including the Victorian funnel web. Most are unnamed btw


Relax a little, if you can't tell then it wasn't a red back, they stand out a mile.
Seriously, I'd trust a boot over a spray. For those 30 sec its dying, it'll be pissed

Agreed, they may be blind from the spray but they will bolt off somewhere and you wont know its dead.

A swift crunch from a book or boot is better.


Unless its in your boot.

Jumpy

davepatr07 wrote: »

Hi there,


Just out of curiosity was checking out the thread here. Bit uncomfortable reading about Adelaide/SA as I will be heading there next month to work outside the city. Any tips to watch out for when working on a farm or vineyard? (Apart from wearing sunblock a hat, insect repellent etc) Snakes are probably more of a concern than the 8 legged nasties.


Cheers

The only snakes that are agressive around Aus are the Tiger snake and Taipan. They can be rare but if you meet them you are ****ed anyway so dont worry.

CabanSail

This was one of the Gertrudes (my name for Huntsmen) that was in my kitchen a few years ago.



As said before ... they do a good job with Cockroaches.




Killing an individual spider will not have much of an effect as it just makes room for another one to move into the vacated space.

If it were a Redback then it's not really that much of a problem. They have very small fangs and need to bit you on quite soft skin to have an effect. Bites used to be more common when people had outside toilets and under the seat was a good home for them. Invaders to their homes used to present the required soft skin (sucking the poison out was once the advised First Aid ) In the unlikely event of a bit it may make you ill but you would need to be quite sick already to be fatal.

Best thing is to leave them alone and they will do the same to you.

Jumpy

No one has died from a spider bite in aus since 1984.

davepatr07

Ugly looking spider will always be thinking of that film if I see one. Having said that if they are good for keeping away roaches that's good enough for me.
Spent the other night on the web researching about Aussie spiders so much so I'll be a biologist by the time I land there.

I saw that Youtube clip with the SA/Dutch dude showing them creeping out from the car sun visor onto your lap. Nosy little buggers though can see why they would indirectly kill you!

If I see one on the roof or ceiling of the bedroom is it safe just to leave it there or will I end up waking up with it on my face?

I'm told there are White tailed spiders here in NZ but havn't seen any the past year.

CabanSail

davepatr07 wrote: »

If I see one on the roof or ceiling of the bedroom is it safe just to leave it there or will I end up waking up with it on my face?

Have Gertrudes all around my place. Have been living here since 1991 and am yet to have one fall on or contact me (or anyone else here) in any way.

Used to have another spider for a while that would cross the longe room each night sometime during the 7:30 Report.

brendansmith

gonedrinking wrote: »

Well since I'm not a complete moron, I'm not going to allow a dangerous spider to reside in the door frame of my apartment- its web was in the gap between the door and the wall. So everytime I opened the door and went out to my balcony I would be walking inches away from it. It had also trashed my balcony during the christmas break, I came back to find spiderwebs everywhere!

If I wanted AH responses I would of posted in AH!

Oh boo hoo, why dont you google it. Or try growing a pair.

The Sweeper

Mellor wrote: »

lol Sweeper, epic fail.
The sydney funnel web is most dangerous, and most famous, but its one of prob 40 funnel webs in Oz, including the Victorian funnel web. Most are unnamed btw

Dude, read up.

Sydney funnel web, Atrax robustus, is a specific variety of funnel web and no, it doesn't roam outside NSW. I never said there weren't other funnel webs outside NSW, but it's the most dangerous one and one that can deliver a dangerous bite.

Can you tell me where I said that there are no funnel webs in Victoria? Oh yeah - I didn't say that!

The only spiders you really need to worry about in Australia are the ones that come inside the house that can kill you - oh yeah, Sydney funnel web that's right...

Best of luck trying to kill one of those with a spray. It'll take it out of your hands and bash you with the can.

The bites from other funnel webs will make you feel pretty sick - the Sydney funnel web can kill you.

Fail back at ya, Mellor.

The Sweeper

Jumpy wrote: »

Sydney funnel webs are not called that because they are only in Sydney, they are also found in VIC.

Quick, Jumpy, email the Australian Museum and tell them they have their facts wrong.

http://australianmuseum.net.au/Funnel-web-Spiders-Group

Funnel-web spiders live in the moist forest regions of the east coast and highlands of Australia from Tasmania to north Queensland. They are also found in the drier open forests of the Western Slopes of the Great Dividing Range and South Australia's Gulf ranges. Funnel-webs of the genus Atrax have a much smaller distribution than do the more diverse members of the genus Hadronyche. The Sydney Funnel-web Spider, Atrax robustus, is found from Newcastle to Nowra and west as far as Lithgow in New South Wales.

gonedrinking

The Sweeper wrote: »

Dude, read up.

Sydney funnel web, Atrax robustus, is a specific variety of funnel web and no, it doesn't roam outside NSW. I never said there weren't other funnel webs outside NSW, but it's the most dangerous one and one that can deliver a dangerous bite.

Can you tell me where I said that there are no funnel webs in Victoria? Oh yeah - I didn't say that!

Haha sweeper you're embarrassed yourself once in this thread already, why do it to yourself again? When I said I thought the spider might be a funnel web spider you made the smart arsed reply:

The Sweeper wrote: »

Welcome to Melbourne.

The Sydney funnel web spider does not reside in this state. That's why it's called the Sydney funnel web spider. It's also rather large."

which proves you thought the Sydney funnel web spider was the only funnel web spider in Australia.

And Mellor never said the Sydney funnel web spider strays outside NSW, so where are you getting that from? You're just making up stuff now.

This reminds me of that episode of the office where David Brent gets schooled on trivia by the temp, and so he goes off and googles a load of sh1te to try and get one up on the temp, only to end up getting schooled a second time. Learn when to give up eh.

The Sweeper

gonedrinking wrote: »

Haha sweeper you're embarrassed yourself once in this thread already, why do it to yourself again?

LOL like I assumed you'd know the difference between any of 40 generic species of funnel web. I was being nice in giving you the benefit of the doubt on the basis that the only spiders you need to be afraid of are the dangerous ones. Nice try.

Go buy a crate of baygon.

Jumpy

The Sweeper wrote: »

Quick, Jumpy, email the Australian Museum and tell them they have their facts wrong.

http://australianmuseum.net.au/Funnel-web-Spiders-Group

Area of distribution - the Sydney Funnel-Web Spider is a ground dweller in moist soil areas along much of the eastern coastal area of New South Wales and Victoria.

http://www.spiders.com.au/

Jumpy

Also pop up to the Australian Reptile Park. They have a Map where the Robustus species have been found. It covers to the edge of NSW/Queensland border and past the VIC border.

brendansmith

Oh sweeper :o:o
Im so embarrassed for you. You really are completely out of your depth here.
:o:o:o:o:o

Mellor

Sweeper, you were the first to mention Sydney Fws, not the OP. I imagine some of the other look quite similar.

The Sweeper wrote: »

Sydney funnel web, Atrax robustus, is a specific variety of funnel web and no, it doesn't roam outside NSW.

You sure?

The bites from other funnel webs will make you feel pretty sick - the Sydney funnel web can kill you.

It can't kill me, I'm a cat

The Sweeper

Jumpy wrote: »

Area of distribution - the Sydney Funnel-Web Spider is a ground dweller in moist soil areas along much of the eastern coastal area of New South Wales and Victoria.

http://www.spiders.com.au/

Okay I accept that, but there's no way I'm clicking on a link called spiders.com.au. :eek: Unless you can turn the graphics off first. :shudderysmiley:

However, conclusive information appears to be conflicting. The goverment-endorsed Better Health website states:

The Sydney funnel-web is not found in Victoria.

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Spiders

And the Museum Victoria website has the following comment:

Discovery Centre 30 Jan 2010 14:54
Thank you for your question. There are species of Funnel-web spider in Victoria as mentioned in the information shown in this sheet. However, the spiders are not the Sydney Funnel-web and do not have the same venom issues as the Sydney species.

People are welcome to send an image of their spider to discoverycentre@museum.vic.gov.au and we can try and identify it. If the spider has been found in the Coronet Bay area it is more likely to be a species of Trap-door spider than Funnel-web spider.

http://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/infosheets/spiders-found-in-victoria/victorian-funnel-web-spider/

I did shoo a funnel web of some variety out of my flower pots about two years ago in north central Victoria - it was about 1.5 inches long and shiny, shiny black, a real horror-movie image of a spider. I didn't realise there were any in Victoria at all so I looked it up, and at the time all I could come up with were that there are varieties in Victoria, they're not the same as the Sydney funnel web, from what I could find, a bite will make you nauseous and headachy - but they were supposed to be found mostly in the Dandenongs, which is a bit of a trek from my flowerpots.

brendansmith wrote:

Oh sweeper
Im so embarrassed for you. You really are completely out of your depth here.

This is really funny. Is this supposed to be the new argument-winning tactic on boards.ie? Seriously, how camp can one approach to discussion possibly be? I'll tell you what - I'll nominate you for the 'Misguided effort at being patronising' award. You'll probably win. On the misguided, possibly not on the patronising - though you'll get marks for effort. :pac:

brendansmith

Whoa whoa whoa. Sweeper you need to relax man.
Just because someone disagreed with you on the internet dosnt mean you should get your buddies from the museum involved and then lash out at me.

Take a deep breath and repeat this 'Its just the internet, if people want to be wrong about some stupid spiders....thats ok, because its just the internet'

No need to have a big strop about it. Jesus you are getting more embarrassing by the minute dude. I dont see how the 2 items you have quoted are conflicting tbh. Both say that sydney funnel web spiders are not found in VIC. Simple.

The Sweeper

Conflicting with the links Jumpy posted.

All appear to be valid sources of information, yet they conflict.

Keep up, good lad.

(I'd tell you I'm embarrased for you, but I think that's a bit stupid.)

Mellor

The Sweeper wrote: »

Conflicting with the links Jumpy posted.

All appear to be valid sources of information, yet they conflict.

Keep up, good lad.

(I'd tell you I'm embarrased for you, but I think that's a bit stupid.)

I think its safe to say that the Sydney Funnel web is found throughout a lot of NSW, and is unlikely to acknowledge state borders. so may occasionally be found in some parts of Victoria, but never as far into the state as Melbourne.
Besides, there are other funnel web spiders that are almsot are bad found elewhere. The blue mountains had its one name for the area too.

The Sweeper

Mellor wrote: »

I think its safe to say that the Sydney Funnel web is found throughout a lot of NSW, and is unlikely to acknowledge state borders.

We need passport control.

I've got orb spiders in my back yard. They frighten the life out of some of my friends - head out through the laundry door in the evening for a smoke, and there's a large web with a cream-coloured, two-inch spider in the middle of it at head height. They take down their webs in the day, perhaps leaving one or two guide strands that reach from gutter to ground (over nine feet), and rebuild the next evening. I have motion-triggered spots out there so the light usually comes on just as visitors are about to get a spider in the face. I have taken to warning people, I just forget sometimes.

Orbs, redbacks, huntsmen, are about the limit of what I can deal with. If Sydney funnel webs decide to migrate further south and inland I'm leaving. (Though it's mostly heavy clay soil out here in northern and north central Victoria, and I believe they have a preference for sandy soil so perhaps that'll keep 'em out.) Australia does cure your arachnaphobia though, through sheer exposure to lots of great big spiders.

brendansmith

The Sweeper wrote: »

Conflicting with the links Jumpy posted.

All appear to be valid sources of information, yet they conflict.

Keep up, good lad.

(I'd tell you I'm embarrased for you, but I think that's a bit stupid.)

This is really funny. Is this supposed to be the new argument-winning tactic on boards.ie? Seriously, how camp can one approach to discussion possibly be? I'll tell you what - I'll nominate you for the 'Misguided effort at being patronising' award. You'll probably win. On the misguided, possibly not on the patronising - though you'll get marks for effort.

The Sweeper

brendansmith wrote: »

This is really funny. Is this supposed to be the new argument-winning tactic on boards.ie? Seriously, how camp can one approach to discussion possibly be? I'll tell you what - I'll nominate you for the 'Misguided effort at being patronising' award. You'll probably win. On the misguided, possibly not on the patronising - though you'll get marks for effort.

:stalkerpac:

brendansmith

The Sweeper wrote: »

:stalkerpac:

Frenz?:)

Mellor

The Sweeper wrote: »

We need passport control.


... If Sydney funnel webs decide to migrate further south and inland I'm leaving. (Though it's mostly heavy clay soil out here in northern and north central Victoria, and I believe they have a preference for sandy soil so perhaps that'll keep 'em out.)

I should probably mention, Nearly two years in Sydney, I haven't seen a Sydney Funnel Web. They aren't really common in built areas imo. Anyone I know that seen one was out, on site, it a bushy/grassy/greeny area

The Sweeper

brendansmith wrote: »

Frenz?:)

Frenzy! :pac::pac::pac:

Zambia

There is a Golf Glub past Double Bay near Rose Bay.

Its the Royal Sydney Golf Club.

Try in there if you go into the rough in the trees ....you will find them

Mahatma coat

I've been tryin to find that Monty Python skit about Australian Animals,
You cant go in the Water cos of the Sharks
and you cant go on land cos of the funnelwebs
So the safest place is off the Ground

So the solution is to stay suspended in the air??

well you Could do that
But, A better idea would be



Teach the Funnelwebs to SWIM

:D:D:D:D:D

ciagr297

oh jebus, as someone with arachnaphobia, do i need to get hypnosis before going to Australia:eek: