the lowdown on the bugs
 

I'm afraid i've got to ask as it is something hubby keeps bringing up. His main concern with emigrating to Oz is the spiders and snakes. I actually can't believe this is the only thing he is concerned abut cos I'm the one who hates spiders. I think he thiks we will get off the plane and have to walk over a carpet of spiders and snakes who are all going to kill us:rofl:

I understand Oz does have the most species of poisonous snakes and spiders in the world and the most deadly but honestly it can't be that bad or else no-one would live there.

Please warn me if you are going to add huge piccies please :blink:

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

I felt the same until we visited:o
We didnt see any snakes (except for in the zoo) and only one spider which turned out to be a harmless Orb weaver and it wasnt that big, we just freaked cos it was a spider:o
My friend who lived in Oz all her childhood recollects seeing one spider in the house, she lived close to the bush and spent hours playing in there. I don't think they are as common as we think, especially in the city areas.
Now watch, everyone will come on with their horror stories and scare the s**t out of us both:rofl:

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Been here 22 months, never seen a snake but do see spiders a bit. We get Huntsmen which ARE big (size of a CD is the biggest) but they're your friends as they take care of cockroaches ... ;) ... and currently have a nest of Redbacks (smaller than a 10p) somewhere as have seen a few recently, yes indoors! ... :eek:

Saying that, last time someone died from a Redback is 1821 ... :D

More chance of getting run over by a hoon than dying from a spider!

That's it for us!

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

I have REAL life pics if you want?

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

I live near the beach in Sydney. Been here for 29 years. We wouldn't even get one huntsman a year. I've never seen a whitetail or a funnelweb. I have seen a couple of redbacks but never indoors. There haven't been snakes around here for about 100 years (since the first houses were built).

Of course if you want to live in sub-tropical Brisbane, or in Perth amongst the sanddunes, or in the furthest reaches of suburbia anywhere that backs onto bushland then the chances are you'd get rather more wildlife than I do. ;)

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

oh yeah, another thing, whilst over there we saw spider spray in the supermarkets, i'm planning on spraying all the kids outdoor toys and furniture with it just to be on the safe side:)

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

the size of a CD :blink::blink::blink:

i have a cd here on my desk now and it's hard to imagine a spider that big.

you see stupidly i really fancy living in far north QLD, so I'm probably just lining myself up for some scary beasts aren't I????

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

go on then! desensitisation and all that

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

nest of redbacks:eek:
we were told whilst we were there not to worry about huntsmen aswell but i still wouldnt fancy meeting one, they look soooo scary:o

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

I wouldn't bother, the Huntsmen laugh at me when I get out the spray! ... :eek:

(WARNING! ... PICS TO FOLLOW!!!)




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A Redback in my house recently:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...1220071092.jpg

And a small Huntsman:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...titled-2-1.jpg

Can you see how he's winking at me? ... :lol:

Seriously, it's all part of the package and NO ONE in this household likes em but ARE getting used to seeing the odd one here and there.

They aint that bad ... :)

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

This aint a hairnet !!!!!

Every bloody tree here is covered with webs.....and what lives in webs ? :eek:

Well, perhaps I exagerate a little.....this was in a zoo ;)

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Yeah seen 4 or 5 in the last few weeks. Phoned rental agent and they said they've had a few complaints and put it down to the rain, they apparently come inside to get out of it!

To be honest the Redbacks just sit in corners up in the ceiling, don't move till you spray them or whatever, but the Huntsmen move bloody quick and the spray don't seem to do much. they DO say they'll look after all the other little nasties, and to leave em alone ... :rolleyes: ... but sorry to all nature lovers but they get it!

ALTHO! ... the one next to the ciggies I threw out the door rather than giving the foot treatment ... :thumbup:

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

I'm sure Ena Sharples used to wear one of them!

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

This little chap made it's home right outside my donger.
Had to remember he was there when I got back in the evening in the dark.

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

A visit to Lake Barrine on the Tablelands and what was in the public loo ?

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Next thing you'll tell me you see a Huntsman sitting on the toilet reading a newspaper!

(wait for it!)

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

I did once ... honest!

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...tos/spider.jpg

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...c/DSCF1521.jpg

Our holiday Orb Weaver......ok i know it's a bit pathetic compared to all your beasties but it scared the bejeesus outta me:rofl:

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

This one is a resident at Hartleys Crocodile Farm.
He lives between a double set of doors leading into an aviary enclosure.

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

:lol::lol::lol:

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

I remember a thread years ago about spiders and someone said about seeing one on the toilet reading a newspaper so had to! ... :lol:

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

and lastly the ole classic ...

Beware when goin to the toilet!

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u...Z279_F2649.jpg

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

This seems pretty harmless doesn't it ?

Well all those specs on the tile are baby spiders that shot outta the bugga after we sprayed it.

Spider is top left.

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

This one visited me for a beer one night.

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

This one got his cummupance from whatever that bug is.

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Didn't want to get any closer to this one.
A fine Huntsman specimen I think.

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Curiosity, what beer did he / she drink?

Oh and see how one of his / her eyes is closed. Do they wink at you too?

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Hey Bix do you hear the bones go when you step on them?

I remember the first I see (and the biggest) on the hallway wall when we came back from taking the dog for a walk one eve. I showed the dog it, he wasn't bothered! ... :rolleyes: ... so Nic ran for the Mortein. I gave it a good ole spray and it just flew along the wall. I chased it again spraying it and it ended up in the garage and before it could run under the car, he got the foot!

I heard bones break and it wasn't mine! ... :eek:

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

okay suitably freaked by the one on the bog roll. Is it true that they live under the toilet seat and bite you on the bum when you go for a pee in the night?????

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

I don't generally kill them any more Paul.
Missus thinks I do but I just chase them off if I can.

Worse one I've had though was this horrid looking black humpback thing.
I sprayed that bugga and it's defense mechanism kicked in.
It's back opened up and released loads of baby spiders.
I lost count at 65 :ohmy:

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Yeah the bog roll one has done it's rounds. If you check the one on the toilet seat with newspaper it's the same spider, it's not actually a real pic ... really??? ... :lol:

Yeah I've lifted the toilet seat to see 3 once ...

No I didn't, just teasing! ... :D ... but I DO check to be on the safe side!

100% honest, apart from the few Redbacks recently (and until a few weeks ago not seen one!) I've seen prob 4 or 5 Hunstsmen in 22 months. We have a couple of little spiders floating about, but they're almost cute. Probably turn out to be the deadliest of em all! ... :lol:

Bix is further north than me so all his are prob real.

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Yeah, they are all real life experiences.

Spiders aren't a big problem though and I've not seen a snake yet in over 3 years in the tropics.

I had a bit of a phobia about insects before coming here but have now learnt to live with them.

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Yeah the one next to the ciggies was the first I've let loose, the rest got the foot as I say. Altho thinking about it now I remember throwing it out the door and it ran back to the house so I gave it one spray of Mortein and it ran in the opposite direction ... laughing at me admittedly ... :lol:

I'll try to do the same with any in the future! ... :thumbsup:

I think you have to! My daughter is terrified of them but she'll come round in the long run I reckon.

Either that or keep bloody screaming when she see's one! ... and the scream is worse than the spider ... :lol:

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Don't worry! Spiders don't have bones! You probably heard the legs and body popping, a bit like balloons!

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

I think he / she was more worried! ... :D ... but cheers for the explanation.

I've had to use the foot on a couple of bigger ones and I KNOW I heard sommit break, or pop as you put it.

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

I hope use see this pic not to sure how to upload :) We found this guy in are bedroom one nyt i ain`t afraid of spiders but i was that nyt A nice big hairy huntsman :mad:

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Bah! ... that's a Daddy Long Legs!


:lol:

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Not quite the size of a CD but heres one. We have had a bigger hairier one in the lounge but didnt get to take a photo as our puppy wanted to play with it. I wouldnt worry too much about spiders as you get used to them I had a massive phobia about any spider no metter how small in the UK and was so scared Iwould panic and really freak out, coming here has made me overcome my fear.

Marie....Ps I still wont touch them mind, hubbie does the catching part

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Snapped this one in New Farm park, Brisbane, while walking home a wee bit tipsy on Boxing Day.....think it's a pretty impressive example of a Golden Orb - probably wouldn't have been able to get quite this close without the Dutch courage!

Re: the lowdown on the bugs
 

Nice pics! ... :thumbsup: