Spider in South Australia?

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DollyMD

Relax!
South Australia has LESS poisoness spiders than the eastern states - there are no Sydney Funnel Webs or Trapdoor spiders in SA.

Red Back Spiders like to live in protected dark areas, like sheds, woodpiles, under fence capping and under houses, but as a rule, NOT inside domestic houses. They have a very distinct, messy web, and the females are larger than the males. While their venom is poisoness, and very painful, there have been very few recorded deaths. Only 20% of people bitten require medical intervention, although anyone bitten should seek medical advice at a hospital where the severity of the bite will be assessed.

Their behaviour is well documented. They are slow moving and predicable, and the majority of people who suffer a bite have done so because they have interfered with the spider, either by attempting to kill it or by entering areas which are favored by the spider without visually checking for spiders first. Pest Exterminators can eradicate all spiders by spraying annually.

While most people think that the Red Back is a native spider, the first recorded spiders were sighted in Queensland, and are believed to have arrived from the USA on ships bringing timber to Australia in the 1800's. They then migrated across the mainland, travelling with settlers in their belongings and in freight. Originally Black Widow Spiders, they have now developed into a separate sub-species, hence the different name.

Red Back Spiders have now been reported in Osaka, Japan, New Zealand, and even in Germany! They are believed to have travelled in cargo to these countries.

The other species of spiders located in SA are non venomous. None are aggressive. The best way to deal with them is to leave them alone unless they are in areas where interaction may occur. If they are a problem, have your property checked and sprayed each year. If leaving shoes or gardening gloves outside, check these before wearing them. If spiders are a problem, don't leave these items outside.

Invest in an Aussie "fly swat", which will enable you to easily kill any spiders that you do find in the house, from a safe distance. It's also very useful, as the name suggests, for flies, which are a much more annoying than spiders!

The_Mouse

Really... it is not as if you will be covered in spiders everywhere you go. You don't really see them much.
Deal with them? Why? They DO NOT crawl around waiting to attack you, you know.
Keep your house clean and you garden tidy and you will hardly ever see them.

Cheers

motzart

check out this youtube video i made on my last trip to australia! they are harmless .you will hardly ever see any ! move there now or be dissapointed ...
oz is GREAT!!!!

Ranjeeh D

Its fairly simple to keep them out of the house, annual spraying by a pest control company can do that. Spiders don't worry me as much as the spray chemicals do, so I don't spray.

You may find things like Redback spiders in the garden, but they are reclusive and won't worry you unless you happen to put your hand on one. So checking under garden furniture and such is a wise precaution. In years gone by undert the 'outhouse' seat was a popular hideaway for Redbacks. I think most of us have the dunny indoors these days.

We actually have a huge variety of interesting and colourful spiders, so maybe you could break your phobia by studying them?

mad_mick001

You're gonna find spiders, no matter where you go! Unless you want to settle in Antartica! Use fly spray on them or hit 'em with a rolled up newspaper or a shoe.

Yes there are spiders in Australia, but I've lived here all my life and the only ones you regularly encounter are the harmless daddy long legs and huntsman, and it is not a common event. If you are going to Adelaide or any other built up area in Australia, the chances of seeing a spider are very small. If there is one in your house, whack it with something or, put a jar over it, slide paper underneath, and let it go outside.

Spiders should be the least of your worries, it's the drop bears you've got to watch out for.

Avatar4

spiders like places like attics and under houses etc...

under logs and in bananplantations are a common sport.

They are very poisionous... dont handle them...

they can be active if falling into a swim pool... think land mine

dont sit aginst banks beside roads withotu looking for burrows.

trapdoor spiders hide in holes

dont walk through bushes

With snakes stay still, stay calm... snakes bite in self defence so dont try and hit one

If bitten leave the poision there and warp like mummyfying arm etc and get to hospital fast with little exertion

scruffycoin

always calmly. there are many poisonous nasties there, and they do kill....but more accidents are caused by people freaking out about spiders in cars...crashing when they see them in there, than are actually bitten. if you're calm when faced with them theres no real reason why you can't avoid them, or the dangerous aspect of them. i was the same with snakes when i lived there, but you get used to it, and they never really bother you, cautious, but not crazy with fear, is the key!

But Why??

yeah, if you get one on you its better you just let it finish, we have plenty of anti-venom allways in stock, the frothing at the mouth doesnt last too long.

jadethechemgeek

lol. i grew up in SA (now in Qld) and never had a problem with them. Redbacks are your only real problem (venonous and common). Huntsman spiders can get huuuge but their bite just stings like hell, doesn't kill you. Just be sensible, don't walk around in long grass without shoes, don't crawl under the house, and try not to walk through webs. We get them in our garage. If you're worried, get some surface spary, spray it around the doors and windows regularly, and check your sheets before you jump into bed at night.

Also, you're unlikely to die of a spider bite unless you're allergic, as the hospitals are well stocked with anti-venoms.

You'll be fine - its a great place

brown snakes, on the other hand.......
:)

Richard K

Study........they have some of the worst there.....

spook542

Don't go. They have really nasty vicious ones there.

rock_chick28

Run away from them, they can kill you
I want to go to Australia but the spiders actually put me off! :(

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