We get plenty of creepies here we're just used to them (and they can't kill you)
I've seen at least 20 adders in my 40 years in the UK (hill walking) and find them beautiful and fascinating, they totaly freak out my Aussie husband though ,even though he knows they are harmless-ish.
We get mouse spiders here, which probably a lot of people don't realise, loads in my garage and an occasional one in the house, they are the big fat black ones that look like a house spider on steroids. They get bigger in Oz though.
We even have a variety of huntsman or crab spider but they are teeny here and we just don't notice them.
The European house spider, the one we see the most and that gives us all arachnaphobia can be almost as big as a huntsman. I am scared s***less of them but guess what....none in Oz Hurray!!! Unless of course somebody knows better ....
I don't think you get woodlouse spiders out there either, I hate those too, had one sauntering accross my computer keyboard the other day . Hate them!!!! They are the funny looking sort of elongated brown ones. They can bite, the only UK one that can aparently. But thats not the issue its just that they are UGLY!
But taking small children out there is very, very scary for me, a toddler isn't going to know what to stay away from.
But we'll get used to it and we'll cope. That's what I'm telling myself at the moment anyway. And knowledge is power! Along with a well aimed flip flop.
A x
Hi Alyson, I too am freaked out by spiders, not too bothered about anything else. I have my sister-in-law waiting to get a house set up for us when we get a date (thinking positive!!) and one of my must-haves is fumigation. She says that the company she uses costs $120 for the whole house. This will last for 12 months or they will come and re-do if you get anything in before that for free....we thought this was a great deal. The family are all laughing at me cos I want them to do my car as well! Apparently you have to be out of the house for a few hours but after that it's fine. It WONT get rid of redbacks though (but they are mostly outside and like brick from what i'm told...sure some residents on here will correct me if I'm wrong). They have some oily stuff on them which stops it working on them or something. Even as I write, I just know that every big hairy spider is marching towards my rented house with an evil laugh......sigh.
We will get used to it though, we will (chanting vigorously).
Re house spraying: you can buy the stuff yourself cheaply from the local DIY shop. I've used it and it works well (our house is cedar board, on a bush block, and would be very attractive otherwise).
Being on a bush block, we seen red backs, white tails, huntsmen etc [spiders], and they are really not a big deal. Usually I see them expiring on the floor outside after walking on the treated boards (see above!)
We've also had scorpions and snakes, but honestly, it isn't a big deal. They are out there, but don't want to come anywhere near you either. Even better, we've never had a cockroach yet!
Don't focus on this as an issue, it is so rare to hear of anyone actually having any problem with them.
There is more chance of getting bitten by a dog or getting knocked down by a car than anything else happening, I have lived in Oz for 37 years & only seen about 6 snakes in all that time, they were in the bush, not the suburbs, they are more scared of humans than we are of them.
As far as spiders go, wear gloves when working in the garden, a can of Mortein from Woolies kills all creepy crawlies that may enter your home, humans are capable of doing a lot more to us than any wildlife, but it doesn't stop us going out & enjoying life.
ok so im slowly coming to terms that bugs are there and i will have to deal with it - loving the house spraying will get them to do the car for extra tho!!!.. one thing - once house is sprayed how do you prevent entry via those darn plug holes!!?!
Seen 3 snakes in 3 years 2 alive and 1 dead. Keep seeing cockroaches and they are big and fast, had to bash one yesterday but it is still alive in our wheelie bin! Must be made of tuff stuff.
Seen redbacks mostly outside and the odd whitetail inside which I get rid of. Can't imaging trying to pick up a huntsman with tissue though.
I used to get scared but try to think they are more scared of us.
Hi ya all..
Im not scared of spiders or snakes etc..but I have two questions...I really hate frogs (stoopid I know) my garden at the mo..is heaving with them...please tell me its too hot for them in oz (heading for Perth), secondly this cockroach thing...where am I likely to find them..someone earlier mentioned baiting near your furniture..so er...am i going to find them in my sofa!!! and how do you kill them..cant see myself squashing it with my shoe!! yuk!!!
oh yeah..I forgot..is there a book or web site which shows you what is dangerous and what is not..cos how am I going to tell my daughter what to avoid if I dont know what they look like myself...??
I spent my first few weeks here petrified I was going to be bitten by a funnel web - shaking out my shoes every morning etc. I still haven't seen one ten years on! I think you're more likely to be killed by a close relative than die of a spider bite here. Same for snakes. Probably only a worry if you go bushwalking or live in the boonies.
The OH did get stung by a bluebottle [jellyfish] at Bondi though and that wasn't nice.
