False Widow Spiders

[GG.]

Found this friendly little fellow dangling 5 inches in front of my face when I cracked open the Velux window above the bed last night:



Funny how instinctively the shape of its abdomen triggers your memories of looking at pictures of black widow spiders as a kid (although the missing sector orb weaver also looks very similar) and for that I'm quite thankful... I appreciate that their bites only sometimes lead to necrotising fasciitis or pustulous sores but I'm glad I wasn't sharing a bed with him either

[mik]

Missed spiderman opportunity.

[GG.]

I wonder if they do those kids fancy dress costumes in an adult size

[scotta]

I found a little money spier crawling across my neck lat night. picked it off and showed the littlest one. "look what was on my neck". His response - cool. Can you climb walls yet?

[ZedLeg]

I seem to have become the designated bug catcher at work as well as home now. A wasp landed on me the other day and people were apparently blown away by the fact I didn't instantly turn into a screaming mess .

[unzippy]

Not seen any spiders of note yet. It's also pissed it down over the last week, Aus isn't quite what I expected

[GG.]

Unless you're forced to battle your way down the street fending off attacks from Huntsman spiders whilst being pursued by that bodybuilding kangaroo that was in the news a few months ago, I'd ask for a transfer back to Blighty

ETA: here's that monstrous 'roo:



I hear he's a company director and drives an Audi FWIW.

[GG.]

Seems like the attack of the killer (for which read "moderately venomous") spiders is not over. Came home last night to find this larger, female false widow lurking ominously having built one of the typically haphazard webs that they're known for.



Following a bit of research I now know that the male I caught previously doesn't bite, however, this female does (well, did, before it was summarily exterminated). Slightly concerned now as to whether she's laid eggs which are going to then hatch over the next few days/weeks...

[GG.]

Urgh - turns out that the couple I saw were only the tip of the iceberg. There are loads of the fuckers so looks like we need to get pest control round to spray them

[Swervin_Mervin]

John Goodman is out of work I hear

[GG.]

Excellent. We can go bowling together when he's finished.