Not when you've got a two year old that likes to pick them up.

Why would this be a bigger problem for your child than any Aussie kid ?

Your over reacting thats why the estate agent reacted that way, tin of baygon surface spray 6 bucks at coles, mate.

Two years time you will wonder what the fuss was about. You never hear of Aussies carrying on this way honestly


Red backs are probably the most overrated threat in Aussie, beleive me that is true. Be more worried about bees.

Really. every Aussie that we mentioned it too was horrified and recommended that we insist the landlord gets it sprayed.

In fact that's what probally freaked us the most.

I really don't think I'm overreacting when there's something in reach of my boy which can potentially kill him.

It's probably one level up from having ants all over your house, some people would act horrified over that as well.

Baygon surface spray will do the trick. Maybe your talking to heaps of anchrophobes or something.

Put it this way, If i were to suddenly land in the UK, from Japan say, and started freaking out about wasps, or red ants, talking about suing etc etc you would possibly raise an eyebrow as well.

I'd put red backs on the same threat level as red ants.

You are almost certainly bound to have white tails as well, and they are a real threat, so the surface spray will do the trick as well.

personally speaking I would only spray where I've seen the threat, as these kind of strong insectesids are possibly more dangerous especially to youngsters long term, than the insect, causing long term respitory problems in some people, especially if exposed when ones immune system is developing.

So if my two yr old picked up a red ant, would it kill him or cause him to be in agony, I think not.

You're the first person who hasn't warned us to keep our kids away from them.

I find it very unlikely that every Aussie we spoke to was an arachnaphobe.

I'm not saying dont keep your kids away from them, just go and buy a can of Baygon thats all.

People probably get bitten by red backs on a weekly basis, and half of them wouldn't even know it.

Yeah, but we'd be in the other half, trust me

It's a bit hard to keep them away from them when they're in reach all over the garden, even the pest guy said we were right not to let the kids out.

About 18 years ago, maybe more, whilst doing my Gas Meter round, I got bitten by an unspecified insect, I totally freaked out, raced back to my car, drove down the doctors, entered said doctors office in an almost panicked state. The reaction from all, besides my panicked state, was mild amusement, especially from the patients in the waiting room. It did hurt a bit, it was almost certainly a red back bite, and it hurt about the same as a wasp sting.

I'm just giving you another aussie perspective.

People usually only die to Bees because of an alergic reaction. When it says seek medical attention when bitten by a Red Back I know where I'd put it on a list of severity.

Maybe, but there's no way if there's even a 1% chance of my boy getting bit I'm going to risk it, it can kill him end of story.

Where?

Thought it was implied. Much higher than a Bee

Sorry, just read it again

You'll find that the reaction to the Redbacks comparitively mild venom in the vast majority of people is nowhere near as bad as the far more common and very deadly reaction to the bees acid. Plus how would you know if your two year old is allergic to a bee until it has happened.

Somehow though I think I'm talking to people that don't want to asborb these facts.


Fact is though it's true.

For a red back bite go to the doctors, for a white tail bite straight down the hospital.

Porch ceiling, and redbacks also dont go together so had a close look at the picture, that particular spider may not be a red back, the legs do not look right.

Redbacks generally live on the ground, under rocks or between bits of timber etc etc generally dont climb, mostly outdoors and are timid and small.

Although if were on a porch and the metal got hot maybe.

Will try and ID this spider for alternatives now.