False widow spider outside of window...should I kill it with fire?

[Hidinginthelootoo]

Complete arachnaphobe...taken all my strength to Google what one looks like...it's there, big shiny and menacing...im scared...should i kill it with fire?

Nods head vigorously at twatty
And hopes op hasn't got a false suspended ceiling

Picture please, or I’m going to assume it’s actually just a tiny money spider and your being a wimp 😄

Nuke it sounds a great idea... I tried standing outside and taking a picture but as I'm an arachnaphobic I couldn't get close enough without shaking and wanting to vomit to take a picture(I blame older siblings putting spiders on my face whilst I slept).. husband has looked and said it is definitely one...looks like one and the web is right...
I'm worried as it has access to the old attic above dining room (converted coal shed) am I going to have millions of baby death eaters drop through my lights..🙄

Absolutely giant spider in my bathroom last night and DH was at work, I responded like an adult and ran away.

False widow bites can be really nasty

Any bite, from any insect (including ticks and mosquitos) can be really nasty. What you describe is a very typical response whenever It could skin is broken and infection is introducted (usually by prodding and scratching the wound).

It's incredibly rare for these spiders to bite. They prefer to keep themselves to themselves. Most suspected bites happen (very few are positively attributed to false widows because bites are so rare) when people inadvertently put clothes or shoes that contain one..

Op are you sure it's a false widow? You say it's big, but they're not big spiders.

We have loads where I live. Leave it outside, leave it alone and it won't harm you. And this is from someone who cannot sleep knowing a spider is in the room!

Definitely. Brown black shiny globular back end.. mishmash strands web super sticky.. I'm taking my husband's word for it as I can't go near... it would be a perfect hiding place for gifts/chocolate as I won't go within 2m radius without walking in a stoop with many a furtive look ...think Gollum...

Does it have markings on its back that look a bit like a skull?

I wish there were warnings that a thread will contain reference to washing being darked on. [santa]

Leave him alone. He's only going about his life whilst ignoring yours.

Leave it alone, it won't hurt you if you don't hurt it. I got bitten a couple of weeks back by one that got caught in my hair, I flicked it out and it bit my arm, was quite painful, worse than a wasp or bee sting for me, not worth getting bitten just to move it when it's fine where it is.

DS had one in his bedroom. He left it for a while then put it in a tank and fed it tiny crickets. It lived for several months. He called it Veronica

I love this

Yep. Kill it. I leave 'normal' spiders well alone but always kill the false widows. Horrible horrible things.

I'm currently trying to 'be brave with spiders around my 4yr old ds... playgroup ruined that by the screaming and flapping when they see a spider method of teaching..
But the false widows seem so much worse as you say

Yes you should kill it. Anyone who says otherwise is an ignorant brit. Is a spider is safe leave it be-it will help keep away unpleasant bugs. If a spider could harm you kill it. It won't bring down the ecosystem but may bring down you. If you leave them they multiply. I would also reccomend burning any outside toys (widows love crawling into plastic toys and living there) and avoid having plant pots, sheds etc. In your garden. Where there is one there will most likely be more. Always wear gloves when you garden from now on.

www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2017/december/how-dangerous-are-false-widow-spiders.html

Leave it alone and stop creating dramas.

And for the love of all that is good don't put a lav at the bottom of your garden (I know-when would this ever happen?). Just wherever you do, of you renovate, your toilet breaks down, whatever, don't put a portaloo in your garden. They love living in those and it invariably ends badly.

Bring it to my house. I rather like spiders and I need as many as possible to get rid of the massive influx of bastard flies every time we open a door or window at the moment.

False widows are very passive and non aggressive by nature. They won't bite unless you try to squash them or sit on them. I was bitten by one last year when I put my hand on it, the bite was less painful than a wasp sting and went away after a few days.

The ones you need to watch for are wolf spiders, tube-webs and woodlouse spiders!

Log it with 101 - quickly!

Racecardriver I do hope I've read your post correctly as a touch sarcastic/ tongue in cheek. Otherwise you are being massively over dramatic. The spiders are very passive and, in most cases, bites are less painful and rarer than a wasp sting. Wasps are utter bastards too.

Set fire to the house!! It's the only way.

Do people really burn little animals alive? :(

OP you could check out the friendly spider course at London zoo, life changing.

Oh come on people. The op is clearly 'lighthearted'!

www.zsl.org/experiences/friendly-spider-programme (no photos of spiders, obviously!)

Frankiesknuckles - I had to look, didn't I? It has GREEN fangs!!!!!