Spiders!!

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Spiders!!
Topic Started: Aug 27 2008, 02:53 PM (209 Views)
Tyke	Aug 27 2008, 02:53 PM Post #1
Happy in Onkaparinga Hills Posts: 237 Group: Members Member #228 Joined: April 25, 2008	This may help to desensitise newcomers with a spider phobia. Go on............have a play......just wiggle that mouse around..Thanks to Gil J http://www.onemotion.com/flash/spider/
	Quality furnished ,short term rentals.2 beautiful houses,in Woodcroft and Seaford. "Home from Home" Auseelife


Tallyho!	Aug 27 2008, 03:27 PM Post #2
Croc Posts: 254 Group: Members Member #221 Joined: April 25, 2008	If only I was that brave in real life!!! Believe me I'll be running a mile if I come across a huntsman - going to get me some of that spray that keeps them away!
	Kim, George, Emily and Grace Vetasses submitted 23.04.08 - passed 28.05.08 - practical done 21.07.08, passed 07.08.08 175 Visa submitted 11.08.08.


PC Pom	Aug 27 2008, 09:54 PM Post #3
Anyone for tennis? Posts: 654 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: March 23, 2006	Superb! Very clever stuff. Tuesday night I spotted a 'daddy long legs' type of spider hanging from the old camper. It was late and dark and I'd just put the bins out. The light from the strip lights just made it visible but fortunately I had a torch with me. Nothing special about that spider. Then I spotted a variation of 'white tail', crawling along the dusty roof of another old banger parked under the house. This was no bigger than the previous spider although maybe a little more venomous - who knows. Anyway, I was enjoying myself now, so I gave it a prod with the torch. Up here it's so much more fun playing with spiders than snakes... Fun over, I lent back from the car roof and gave myself a bit of a fright. I'd practically be leaning over a Huntsman. A baby, I would imagine, about 2.5 inches wide and enjoying the night air. No, I didn't prod him with the torch, but rather the handle end of a broom. He was quick! Spinning around to greet the broom he then slid through the gap between the top of the front wing and the front of the door. So now I know where he lives... The biggest huntsman spiders I have ever seen really did give me the sh*ts. I was visiting my brother in Caloundra, QLD, not too far away from me now, and he said 'you wanna see some BIG spiders?'. Always up for a challenge I was led by torch light to the back shed. What I'm about to tell you is absolutely true. I was frozen to the spot. The hairs on the back of my neck DID stand up. When he threw the light on the wall of the shed there were a number of BIG spiders, the biggest I have ever seen. Huntsman spread themselves flat and these guys were putting on an incredible show. The largest, and this is no joke, was sufficient to stretch across a dinner plate. That's all I can tell you. There was no way I was going to ask for a tape measure! I felt really, really uncomfortable and was pleased to be leaving that shed. Phew! We have redbacks too around here. But they're small... And to put all this into perspective, we had an eastern brown snake sunning itself against a rock wall a month or so ago, just at the front of the house. Not good! But, other than the beautifully coloured bird life, the latest creature to set foot in the garden was a hare. Quite a relief. There's a wallaby that occassionally makes an appearance early in the morning, and a goanna, python, reb bellied black, stick insects, big beetles... Australia is an amazing place.
	Koala Konnection UK to Australia and New Zealand. Migration Made Easy.


Tyke	Aug 27 2008, 11:34 PM Post #4
Happy in Onkaparinga Hills Posts: 237 Group: Members Member #228 Joined: April 25, 2008	Sounds like you have as many visitors as we do. Spiders are not a prob with me.I squished a huge Wolk spider yesterday that was hiding under some shade cloth I picked up.They always loose the argument with my boot. We had a Brownie in the house a few years ago,fortunately Mrs Tyke remembered to freeze and back off.
	Quality furnished ,short term rentals.2 beautiful houses,in Woodcroft and Seaford. "Home from Home" Auseelife


airconkid	Aug 28 2008, 09:40 AM Post #5
MODERATOR- Great White Posts: 639 Group: Members Member #25 Joined: November 14, 2006	Love it.....................and Pauls story. Aircon
	Grab the cane toad by the legs and go for it, life is too short to wander "What if...." or "If only...." Now LOVING *"A New Life Down Under"*


PC Pom	Aug 28 2008, 10:30 PM Post #6
Anyone for tennis? Posts: 654 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: March 23, 2006	Tyke Aug 27 2008, 11:34 PM Sounds like you have as many visitors as we do. Spiders are not a prob with me.I squished a huge Wolk spider yesterday that was hiding under some shade cloth I picked up.They always loose the argument with my boot. We had a Brownie in the house a few years ago,fortunately Mrs Tyke remembered to freeze and back off. IN THE HOUSE! OMG! That must have been really shocking. Did she know what it was? I had to get the book out when I first set eyes on it - looking through a set of binoculars. To date that's 2 pythons (both on the deck, one face to face with the cat), 2 red bellied blacks (one on the road and one in the back garden), 1 green (on the deck), 1 yellow faced whip (asleep on the driveway after it slithered off the front steps) and 1 eastern brown (in the front garden). And a tiny snake - not its official name - but something so small I was playing with it with a cardboard kitchen roll tube. It was an agressive thing. Fun, until it disappeared up inside the tube I was holding... Apparently you'll rarely see a snake in this country. and it's good to have a red bellied black around as they're timid (the one I tried to shoo away with a broom handle wasn't and it kept coming back 'for more') because they keep the browns away - they eat the eggs of the browns. Give me spiders any day. And don't get me started on ants!
	Koala Konnection UK to Australia and New Zealand. Migration Made Easy.


PC Pom	Aug 28 2008, 10:49 PM Post #7
Anyone for tennis? Posts: 654 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: March 23, 2006	Right, ants! The first house we rented in Aus was surrounded by trees. Some were so close that they practically cuddled the house with their long twisty branches. This is not a good idea. It means there is a path for any creature that walks along branches directly to your roof and walls and some of these smaller creatures like to find small holes so they can get warm and cosy. Nearing the end of our tenancy the house was put on the market to sell. I was at home when the agent appeared with a couple to view the place. We'd been given warning so I spent 60 seconds cleaning the place, including cleaning a couple of high, small sliding windows that were above our bed in the main bedroom. Why I cleaned them I'll never know because they were covered in webs and dead leaves on the outside and had been since the day we moved in. Cleaning them on the inside did nothing to improve things anyway. The agent showed the couple around and I just entertained myself as best I could without trying to get in the way - difficult in an open plan house. Then I had the chance to talk to the agent whilst the couple took one more look around the house. If only they'd have said something... Well, off they went, the viewing was over and I can honestly say I never saw them again. I happened to walk into the bedroom just a couple of minutes later and the whole wall below the high windows appeared to be moving. Hundreds and hundreds of ants had invaded the house. It must have been me moving the sliding windows a bit that upset them. Ants, some alone and some carrying their eggs, now crawling over the pillows of the bed, over the carpet, on the duvet... Whether the couple saw the start of this invasion I don't know. My guess is they probably did, but decide not to say anything. Nothing at all, in fact. I think they were in shock. Hey, have you met my pets? Have you ever tried hoovering a moving mass of ants? Urghhh!
	Koala Konnection UK to Australia and New Zealand. Migration Made Easy.


Tyke	Aug 29 2008, 12:44 AM Post #8
Happy in Onkaparinga Hills Posts: 237 Group: Members Member #228 Joined: April 25, 2008	Admin Aug 28 2008, 10:30 PM Tyke Aug 27 2008, 11:34 PM Sounds like you have as many visitors as we do. Spiders are not a prob with me.I squished a huge Wolk spider yesterday that was hiding under some shade cloth I picked up.They always loose the argument with my boot. We had a Brownie in the house a few years ago,fortunately Mrs Tyke remembered to freeze and back off. IN THE HOUSE! OMG! That must have been really shocking. Did she know what it was? I had to get the book out when I first set eyes on it - looking through a set of binoculars. To date that's 2 pythons (both on the deck, one face to face with the cat), 2 red bellied blacks (one on the road and one in the back garden), 1 green (on the deck), 1 yellow faced whip (asleep on the driveway after it slithered off the front steps) and 1 eastern brown (in the front garden). And a tiny snake - not its official name - but something so small I was playing with it with a cardboard kitchen roll tube. It was an agressive thing. Fun, until it disappeared up inside the tube I was holding... Apparently you'll rarely see a snake in this country. and it's good to have a red bellied black around as they're timid (the one I tried to shoo away with a broom handle wasn't and it kept coming back 'for more') because they keep the browns away - they eat the eggs of the browns. Give me spiders any day. And don't get me started on ants! It really was frightening for Mrs Tyke. Very early on we found out we were in snake country.Our neighbours took some glee in warning and telling us. My mission then was to learn about them. I had lots of advice from country folk who were used to them,did my senior first aid certificate paying lots of attention to the bites and stings section.I also had the fortune to meet a snake mad bloke at a show and spent time with him ,including holding a Death Adder!!!!!! If you see a snake - freeze,do not flap your arms about or make loud noises.Try to let the snake make it's own escape,it is more frightened than you and will only bite if it feels threatened. Easy to say I know but Mrs Tyke put it into practice. I was not at home at the time - Mrs Tyke was just walking into a room and it was a young Brownie - it actually rose up to strike. She shut the door and phones me.I told her to grab the dog,leave all the doors open and go to our neighbours ,when I returned we searched thoroughly but Mr Brown had gone. I've had a few occasions similar as well but not in the house - I've actually trodden on one that had it's head under some leaves and must ave thought it was hidden.I had cramp in my legs as I veeeeerrryyy slowly backed away. If it's brown or black and snake shaped - treat with caution I don't think we have any pythons or non poisonous snakes here so all are treated with respect.
	Quality furnished ,short term rentals.2 beautiful houses,in Woodcroft and Seaford. "Home from Home" Auseelife


PC Pom	Aug 29 2008, 04:49 AM Post #9
Anyone for tennis? Posts: 654 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: March 23, 2006	"it is more frightened than you" That's not the first thought that's going around in my head...
	Koala Konnection UK to Australia and New Zealand. Migration Made Easy.


Tallyho!	Aug 29 2008, 09:12 AM Post #10
Croc Posts: 254 Group: Members Member #221 Joined: April 25, 2008	Oh my god - are you trying to put me off???!!! Snakes I'm ok with - will keep my distance - have held a few (obviously not poisonous ones). Hate ants with a passion - we had a really bad ant problem last summer - all over my kitchen in my washing basket etc etc - aargh So not looking forward to seeing the Oz ones. I do have a major phobia about spiders - got bitten by a spider when I was 8 when living in Germany - all started from there! So thanks guys. This is where I'll end up.
	Kim, George, Emily and Grace Vetasses submitted 23.04.08 - passed 28.05.08 - practical done 21.07.08, passed 07.08.08 175 Visa submitted 11.08.08.


Tyke	Aug 29 2008, 10:58 AM Post #11
Happy in Onkaparinga Hills Posts: 237 Group: Members Member #228 Joined: April 25, 2008	PC Pom Aug 29 2008, 04:49 AM "it is more frightened than you" That's not the first thought that's going around in my head... Trust me - they are. Just wish the possums were as scared - the bu##ers are eyeing up my veggie patch I've noticed tonight. Add some current to the fencing methinks................wonder what cooked possum taste like
	Quality furnished ,short term rentals.2 beautiful houses,in Woodcroft and Seaford. "Home from Home" Auseelife


Tyke	Aug 29 2008, 11:01 AM Post #12
Happy in Onkaparinga Hills Posts: 237 Group: Members Member #228 Joined: April 25, 2008	Tallyho! Aug 29 2008, 09:12 AM Oh my god - are you trying to put me off???!!! Snakes I'm ok with - will keep my distance - have held a few (obviously not poisonous ones). Hate ants with a passion - we had a really bad ant problem last summer - all over my kitchen in my washing basket etc etc - aargh So not looking forward to seeing the Oz ones. I do have a major phobia about spiders - got bitten by a spider when I was 8 when living in Germany - all started from there! So thanks guys. This is where I'll end up. I too hate ants with a passion,they are just so flipping persistent!!!! Is this the time to tell newbies about Inch Ants??? Yup as the name suggests they are an inch long - increased size = increased pain of sting.Oh boy I mean eye wateringly bad!!! They have more aggression than Ghengis Khan and Adolf rolled into one - some as I see a nest out comes the two stroke for a burn off - they go off like popcorn. Fortunately they don't nest in houses.
	Quality furnished ,short term rentals.2 beautiful houses,in Woodcroft and Seaford. "Home from Home" Auseelife


Tallyho!	Aug 29 2008, 10:13 PM Post #13
Croc Posts: 254 Group: Members Member #221 Joined: April 25, 2008	Unfortunately I've already heard about inch ants! Think I'm dreading these more than the spiders.
	Kim, George, Emily and Grace Vetasses submitted 23.04.08 - passed 28.05.08 - practical done 21.07.08, passed 07.08.08 175 Visa submitted 11.08.08.


dantor 3000	Oct 1 2008, 12:10 PM Post #14
Redback Posts: 1 Group: Members Member #373 Joined: September 29, 2008	i think ive just chnged my mind about moving to OZ!



Tyke	Oct 2 2008, 11:29 PM Post #15
Happy in Onkaparinga Hills Posts: 237 Group: Members Member #228 Joined: April 25, 2008	dantor 3000 Oct 1 2008, 12:10 PM i think ive just chnged my mind about moving to OZ! It's not as bad as you think. The main suburbs are fairly bug and beastie free. ........................ the snakes have eaten em' all..... Worse up in Darwin,they have 5 metre crocs as well!!!!!
	Quality furnished ,short term rentals.2 beautiful houses,in Woodcroft and Seaford. "Home from Home" Auseelife


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