to have put this spider in a jar?

[thumbwitch]

Sitting here minding my own business, late night MNing in Australia, feel something tickle my leg. Brush it off, feel it scuttle. So I switch the side lamp on, and then see a shadow on my sofa. Tis a spider! but which one?

So I get more light, directly on it - can't decide if it's a grey house spider or a white tail - so now it's in a jar with the lid on so it can't escape.

I still can't work out whether or not it's a white tail, and despite all the reassuring research that says their venom isn't really all that dangerous and you are unlikely to get an infected bite, I still don't want to take the chance.

I'm not into bashing spiders of dubious reputation (although I'll happily kill a redback) - so what shall I do with it? I'm not releasing it in the house, it's the middle of the night here, will it be all right in the jar until the morning and then I can take it down the garden and chuck it out for the birds.

Camel spiders are not actually spiders.

no I read that too but it seemed less relevant than the fact that they can run faster than me, and they bite and they are horrible! some kind of scorpioid thingy, not a spider.

The Camel spider picture is a perspective trick. Look at the sleeve in the right bottom corner for a size check. They're still bigger than I'd like but not that big.

jaffa - sadly conkers are in short supply in Australia and yes, it is an old wives' tale.

I had a huntsman spider in my car that was the size of DS's hand (he's 3) - that was about as big as I can take for random wild spiders. Those camel jobs are just too big, even if it is a trick shot.

True! and forget the jar yo would probably need a suitcase!

you

middle right

Camel spiders can give you a nasty nip. We had a couple when we lived in Oman. They do lay millions of eggs that seem to hatch out singly. So once you think you've got rid of them, another comes along, then another, then another and they can bit from birth.

wtf are they then?

x `post

Any spider that enters this house has a death wish

I clicked the link, I clicked the link, I want my mummy sob shudder

well you were warned, wifey!

< whimpers >

spider still alive this morning. Still can't tell exactly what it is but I'll put it down the bottom of the garden, give it the benefit of the doubt

Does anyone know approx how far away from your house do you have to throw put a spider to confuse it enough to stop it coming straight back in?

I suspect DH doesn't bother taking them far enough (I think he just slings them into the hedge!) as I am sure the same ones come back. I even find them in the same rooms as before.

I never had this problem when my Dad was chief spider remover!

I don't know exactly but mine will be going at least 15m away and there will be plenty of other stuff for it to play with out there, so hopefully it won't feel the need to return :)

My good god! Now, I quite like spiders and have no problem with the UK ones but bloody hell you have some weird things out there.

The Huntsman looks okay, I just Googled him and large as a child's hand he might be I understand that they aren't particularly nasty or dangerous. I can cope with that, that's pick-upable.

You can keep your biters and your bloody cockroaches though!

no you wouldn't want to pick up a huntsman - they might not be venomous but they can still bite and it's bloody painful if they do!

Afaik we don't have camel spiders in Australia, thank God!

I clicked the link too! a few mins ago... still ......

Okaaaaay... no Huntsmen then. Thanks for the warning. :)

I'll stick to the tarantulas at the college DD1 is hopefully soon to attend.

Now if I recall, you don't like dogs thunbwitch. Call me a coward but I'd rather my German Shepherds to your bitey Aussie arachnids any day.

I guess that koalas and kangaroos might make up for the other creatures. Those and the big rat like rodents whose name escapes me atm.

oh and if you read down on the link I so kindly provided you'll see that even though that pic is a trick shot, they still get to be 8" wide (including legs). That's still too fucking big!

Bilby? Numbat?

See, i don't mind tarantulas in controlled conditions.. not sure I'd want to meet one in the wild though.

At least I can beat most arachnids to death with a shoe, unlike an angry German Shepherd dog! (yes, you remembered correctly ).
But not a funnel-web - never attack a funnel-web, they fight back. They do need to be trapped and disposed of carefully - I recently found out that the best thing is to take them to the hospital, they extract the venom or something to make anti-venom. I also found out that they can live in water (i.e. swimming pools) for some time...

My Sheps don't do angry, you're quite safe!

The thing I was thinking of was a kangaroo rat (d'oh!). I remember seeing a TV documentary where all of a sudden this bloody great rodent hopped past the presenter. Scared the shit out of him AND of me, on the other side of the world! :o

I've just seen a Giant Rabbit Rat - most bizaare, really looks like a hybrid bunny/rat. I'll give that and your spiders a miss, I want a Numbat. :)