A distressing fact of life in Australia for many tourists and arachnophobes is that most Australian houses have a fair supply of spiders around the place. Fortunately, most of them are just there for the bugs, and the majority aren't that dangerous. Here are a few that you might come across in your travels.
Australia is well-known for its spiders, but the place isn't overrun with them. While we may have some of the world's most venomous species, you are unlikely to come across one unbless you go looking for one or happen to disturb one hiding away.
It is estimated that there are around 10,000 different spider species living across Australia. Australia is known for the large variety of venomous animals that live in the country and is also home to some of the most venomous spiders in the world.
“It's probably because of the urban heat-island effect and prey availability,” says Lowe. “Most invertebrates will grow to larger sizes if they are warmer. They are very sensitive to temperatures.” Urbanisation probably benefits these spiders in several ways, she says.
In Australia they are only found in the southeastern part of the country, from South Australia to Queensland via Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. You won't find them in the dry and arid zones.
Stay in the cities.
I went to Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns in October. I saw no spiders. I was concerned about Cairns. I saw no spiders in Cairns.
At any given time the average Australian property is home to six huntsmen spiders, according to experts.
An estimated 5 per cent of Australians have arachnophobia, but there are plenty of others happy to get close to the creepy crawlies.
There are 91 species of spider in Iceland—none of which are poisonous to humans— plus the occasional visitor or migrant. This is a small number, compared with 44,000 species known worldwide.
While it can sound like something out of a horror movie, in Australia the transition from late summer to fall can trigger what is known to the locals as spider season.
Many natural repellents can be used to deter spiders from sleeping areas. Let's take a look at a few: Essential oils such as peppermint, tea tree, and eucalyptus oil have been found to be effective in keeping spiders away. Citrus peels like those of oranges or lemons can also be used for this purpose.
Some spiders have life spans of less than a year, while others may live for up to twenty years. However, spiders face many dangers that reduce their chances of reaching a ripe old age. Spiders and their eggs and young are food for many animals.
Giant Huntsman – Heteropoda maxima (Laos)
This type of spider was discovered in Laos in 2001, hiding in a cave. Measuring by leg span, it's the biggest in the world—the creepy crawlers can reach up to a foot wide.
Golden orb weaving spiders do particularly well in Sydney city. They build huge webs that span across roads and between trees near the coast and the botanic gardens. They often choose highly populated areas to live, and research has shown that they grow larger when they live in the city.
Australian researchers have discovered a super-sized species of trapdoor spiders found only in Queensland. The females of this rare species can live for over 20 years in the wild and grow up to 5cm long - large in trapdoor spider terms.
Australia is warmer than NZ. It generally has more spiders.
How common is arachnophobia? About 3% to 15% of the population has arachnophobia.
In fact, Cambodia's Mecca for devouring spiders is as popular as ever. Skuon, a nondescript dusty town about 90 km north of Phnom Penh is the center of this extreme cuisine and continues to grow in popularity with more and more people visiting from the capital to dine on its arachnids.
The Amazon Rainforest is home to some amazing animals that cannot be found anywhere else. According to Rainforest Cruises, there are over 3,000 species of spider found in the Amazon alone, all of them spectacular in their own right.
The Sydney funnelweb spider Atrax robustus, is considered to be the world's most dangerous spider. It is found within a 100 km diameter circle around Sydney. No deaths have occurred since the advent of an antivenom in 1981. Males wander at night in spring and summer in search of females.
Because spiders smell and taste with their legs, spritzing natural oil (in particular, peppermint oil) on surfaces around your home can help deter spiders from sticking around. To do this, add about 20 drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle filled with water and spray it around your home's spider-affected areas.
Moving into your new apartment in Sydney.
If your apartment's been empty for a while, then you will undoubtedly come across some cockroaches and spiders when you first move in. This can be a bit of a shock to the system, but not to worry.
Researchers in Australia discovered a rare, giant species of trapdoor spider found only in Central Queensland. Its name, Euoplos dignitas, comes from the Latin word meaning dignity or greatness, "reflecting the impressive size and nature of the spider," the Queensland Museum said in a statement.
Australia is known for many things, including swathes of tropical beaches, marine reserves, Aboriginal culture, cute koalas, rolling wine country, and lush rainforests.
There have been no deaths in Australia from a confirmed spider bite since 1979.