Crazy bravery? To picks spiders up in my hand to throw them out of door/ window?

[Dangermouse5]

My DCs think I am mad. Or super tough.

I stopped doing this for a few years when there was a spate of black widow 🕷 spiders riding into U.K. on bananas. But have started again. I grab them in my hand and throw them out nearest window or door. So much easier than the ' trap into a plastic cup with cardboard underneath'
method. When you actually might then drop them and have to spend at least half an hour trying to catch the flighty things or lie that you killed them (rarely kill a spider, I can't do it) .

Not beetles. Beetles are scary. ... But spiders ... meh.
Not big spiders mind. Just spiders without beetle sized bodies.

My cousin threatens to burn her house down (possibly regularly) when she finds a spider.

What crazy bravery parental (or other) do you MNers do?

@CorianderBee

Also my sister wasn't scared of spiders... until she woke up in a tent in rural Tanzania to a clicking sound. Turned on a lamp. Tarantula on her pillow about 2in from her face. Now she's worse than me 😂

Tarantulas click???

Ok, I was just talking ordinary U.K. spiders

This is MR Universe spider stories from the Superior Spider race that we don't get in U.K.

Was it a warning?
Was it spider call to arms?
What did she do???

Now I won't sleep at all.., eve if I could sleep...

One thing I always remind myself is that spiders are blind so they are vulnerable really.

Well, blind in the sense of having several eyes...

@EBearhug

One thing I always remind myself is that spiders are blind so they are vulnerable really.

Well, blind in the sense of having several eyes...

Lmao but also stop scaring me!!!

Not brave at all. Spiders are wonderful and smart, plus they rid your house of flies. Instead of flinging them to a likely painful and prolonged death, the brave thing would be to leave them alone and teach your kids to admire them. There’s no reason for anyone to be scared of them, kids included.

We have one of these

Katcha Battery Operated Vacuum Spider Catcher https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A7RAL2I/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcB1R526NRPDPYV6D1D5XC

Absolutely brilliant.

I’m definitely a glass over the top spider catcher, although I have worked my way up to leaving them be if they’re prepared to stay out of my way.

My one single brave parenting moment was when DSS, about 3 yo at the time, came running in from the garden screaming hysterically with one of the biggest house spiders I’ve seen on his arm. Seeing it stretched around his tiny little arm was such an abomination that I grabbed it with my bare hands. From some place of hidden strength I calmly carried it to the garden, released it, told DSS it was called Thomas and that he was sorry for frightening him.

I have never managed to repeat this level of bravery, but DSS is 17 now and doesn’t mind spiders so I like to think I helped with that!

Do you know which spiders have fangs capable of piercing human skin and which don’t? Which bites really hurt and itch for days? If you have no idea about the spider I think picking it up bare handed is a bit foolish and not a great example to set! At least research them first.

For example a nip from a steatoda female (false widow, of which there are 3 types, all easy to identify) can really hurt and many people are allergic. Picking one up is like picking up a wasp because you can’t tell the difference between a wasp and a hover fly!

Woodlouse spiders, nurseryweb spiders, wolf spiders and the green fanged one whose name I’ve forgotten also really hurt when they nip! Those spindly sticky web ones can’t bite as their fangs are too small, along with zebra jumping spiders and multiple other types.

Many spiders will nip defensively if you grab them in cupped hands! At least let them walk onto your palm to transport them out.

I like giant house spiders and mouse spiders as they keep bugs in check, so I just encourage them back under the furniture.

Like I said, DH has always handled the big poisonous ones, as verified by someone with appropriate PhD -- he's never had even a small nip.

Whereas me, I've been stung twice by bees in last 3 weeks & any encounter with insects usually results in painful/itchy spot somewhere. Earwigs, beetles, woodlice, lady birds, I react to them all giving me a simple pinch... Except mosquitos, weirdly enough, I don't react to their bites at all.

Anyone want to identify this one living rent free in my toddler room?

Google thinks he’s a mouse spider? He was too fast to catch or kill and I’ll never be able to go in her room without feeling cold and itchy ever again.

Oh dear he's quite a big spider!!! MyMabel

From some place of hidden strength I calmly carried it to the garden, released it, told DSS it was called Thomas and that he was sorry for frightening him.

I have never managed to repeat this level of bravery, but DSS is 17 now and doesn’t mind spiders so I like to think I helped with that!

Strangetosee

Ok that's a bit scary... I get pretty strong allergic reactions to horsefly and mosquito bites.... Never had a spider bite me yet, but .... eeek!

I do like the tube hoover spider catcher that a PP suggested earlier. Put it into my DDs Amazon wish list. I bet my older DCs could use that so I could stand myself down on spiderduty .... MNs is a mine of information...

I appreciate every funny person keeping me company last night. It was a good distraction

Spiders aside, what little mundane things have you good folks been brave at dealing with ? I find it hard to take purchases back for a refund- my heart starts pounding. My Dfriend is wonderful (& polite) at that.. I secretly imagine her with a cape on

God you’re brave! I can’t go anywhere near them, my milks dislike of them has morphed into some bizarre phobia over the last few years. I’m really not sure why. The last one I came across terrified me so badly I vomited, my knees were literally knocking! I’m dreading September.

@Lachimolala

God you’re brave! I can’t go anywhere near them, my milks dislike of them has morphed into some bizarre phobia over the last few years. I’m really not sure why. The last one I came across terrified me so badly I vomited, my knees were literally knocking! I’m dreading September.

Hehe You are not alone. My youngest DD shakes in tears when a spider or daddy long legs is seen in the house ... no talking to her about them, their names and backstory (or all of the normal things I tried before! ) will calm her until spider is outside or d-e-a-d.. I won't kill spiders nor daddy long legs. Beetles 🪲 shudder- I would want to use a rocket launcher on if one was available (totally irrational)!! So is September month Spidergedden in U.K.?

Lahimolalah
I didn't mean Hehe. I meant to say Hugs but it autocorrected (I use Hehe too much) . As that's proper fear / phobia . I can't laugh with you at that distress. I shall ask any spider I see to leave you be. If you want you could talk to the beetles for me - deal?

A couple of years ago as I was getting into bed I saw a huge spider, similar to the one MyMabel posted above, scuttle across the bed. It was on DH's side and he was away for the night so I just turned out the light and went to sleep.

@TheIncredibleBookEatingManchot

A couple of years ago as I was getting into bed I saw a huge spider, similar to the one MyMabel posted above, scuttle across the bed. It was on DH's side and he was away for the night so I just turned out the light and went to sleep.

OML that is brave

I would at least want to know where spider was. They're not allowed on my bed. Nor in my washing I occasionally leave out in the line overnight.

I leave them alone unless they get stuck in the bath or come in my bed. I watched one those skinny long legged ones attack a wasp that landed on the floor near it! I've been bitten a couple of times so I'd never pick one up.

I've also caught poo in my hand!

I'll happily take all your UK based arachnids.

We've been plagued by flies for the last three weeks. No decomposing mice or food behind the appliances or furniture (had it all out), nothing's died behind the shed, no missing neighbours, no problems with the bin collections, but there are at least ten to fifteen of the filthy bastards lurking on walls and furniture, waiting for a chance to land on us every single bloody day. There are fly paper strips that look like they're polka dotted each morning, no food is left out. But it's the worst it has ever been, so much so, I check the elderly cat at least twice a day to make sure she doesn't become a victim of flystrike. I despise flyspray - who wants to be continually breathing in neurotoxins - and it would be constant due to the amount of the bastards every day?

Send me your spiders. Send them all to me.

Hahaaaa @Dangermouse5 don’t worry!! It is pathetically funny that at my ripe old age I’m still so terrified of something so much smaller than me 😅 I don’t even know why either? I think it’s got something to do with the way they move, they move too fast! September is when all the HUGE females come out to find a male spider to mate with, some of them are like the size of mice. I’ll trade you my spiders for your beetles any day! I quite like a beetle!