asprilla

Well I'm no expert but the simplest thing to say is "just don't touch spiders". Especially if they are big.

Identifying spiders isn't easy for adults, let alone kids.

The funnelweb is the only really dangerous spider here. There are others that are poisonous but not deadly.

Funnelwebs are big and black*. So steer clear of big chunky black spiders and you should be ok.







*except for the babies. Which are small.

pomikev

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

herrchook

We had a massive funnel web in our pool a few weeks ago.....at the same time as the kids. I've never seen them swim so fast to get out ever. We live in St Ives which neighbours Pymble and apparently that is the home of the funnel web. VERY nasty looking spider and when I tried to remove it from the pool it reared up at me

Jon77

Good to see Funnel webs like the posher end of the market if they frequent and are at home somewhere like Snives, they are far too posh to frequent where I am

herrchook

Believe me, we ain't posh lol

Chortlepuss

I think with spiders, like snakes - it's the ones that you can't see which hurt you - good advice about not poking fingers in dodgy places - we have loads of redbacks in our back yard, and I don't always remember to wear gloves which is so stupid - tempting to think 'ah, i'll just pull out that weed' Worst spider situation we have ever encountered is that hubby discovered a huge huntsman under the loo seat (after, ahem, the toilet had been used).

pomikev

Best advice I ever got here about snakes was when walking through the bush never step over a log or fallen tree, step up onto it first and have a good look on the other side before you commit.

BadgeIsBack

I do both with impunity, and stick my hand anywhere it will fit. It will bite me in the arse one day.

canadaeh

Gloves are good.... Except when a spider is in the gloves in one of the finger bits.

lesleys

I wouldn't think of gardening without gloves. You can get nasty stings from ants - not just spider bites. And I don't want scratches and cuts getting infected, so gloves just prevent any mishaps. Just strolling round the garden or a walk in the rainforest I'm not going to resort to gloves and boots.

Timmo84

i've been living in Sydney for 20+ years but yet to come across a funnel web. Seen a few red backs and giant huntsmans, but not much else. My best advice is to check your shoes before putting them on, particularly if the shoes are outside.

Japonica

How about doing laundry without gloves? This happened this morning:

I was about the hang the wash on the line and thought I'd give the clothes peg basket a rinse out (hey, it's a dustbowl out here) and I noticed a bit of a web stuck to my hand (oh well, loads of webs around here, no biggie).

So, I'm carrying the basket back to the laundry room to rinse it under the tap and out crawls an indignant redback, ticked that I disturbed its repose by soaking it with water and Morning Fresh. It climbed out from amongst the clothes pegs, skittered along the edge of the basket, just missed my fingers, and then I tipped it into the sink and down the drain, complete with a couple of "OMG holy crap" yelps for good measure.

First time in 3.5 years that I've been that close to being bitten...or that I've found one in with my clothes pegs. Great. Gloves while hanging laundry now.

lesleys

Yesterday I drew back the bedroom curtains and found a redback running across the centre of the white window frame in full sun. I turned to pick up the nearest can of Mortein (never too far away) and when I turned back the redback had disappeared. Now I'm worried. Why are there so many around at the moment?

GunnersCandy

Oh god, I don't even have a fear of spiders but now I have been having nightmares (literally) about them. I don't know if it's because I'm worried about the children or just the fact that they bight and are deadly!!!

I will be so paranoid!! do people check the bed before they get in? how about the car at night? what if you sat on one!!! or what if you get up in the night to go the toilet, I will have to put all the lights on

What is happening to me !!!!!

Japonica

I've never had any inside the house (yet). *Knock on wood* I don't know what I'd do if I found one in the bedroom.

I don't know why there's so many this year either. Maybe they have upswing cycles or something.