Lots of people are terrified of the poisonous spiders in Australia. And it's not just the venomous spiders in Australia that have a bad rep – even spiders like the giant Australian
An estimated 5 per cent of Australians have arachnophobia, but there are plenty of others happy to get close to the creepy crawlies.
Sydney Funnel Web Spider
Found nearly exclusively in Sydney, this spider is often considered the most deadly in the world. With fangs that can pierce through fingernails, and one specimen reaching 10cm stretched out, this spider is serious business. A single bite can kill a human in 15 minutes.
Australia is home to some of the world's most poisonous and dangerous spiders. The Sydney funnel-web spider, for example, is a highly venomous species that is found in and around Sydney, and its venom can be lethal to humans if left untreated.
Many years ago we signed a treaty with the spiders of Australia. Spiders agreed not to come inside our houses. If they do, they get whacked with a thong (rubber footwear) or a rolled up newspaper. Squish marks are left on the walls as a warning to other spiders that venture inside.
Find out what to do if you're bitten and how to identify a spider. 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.
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. On the other hand, huntsman and wolf-spiders are found all over the country.
As common as spiders are in Australia and how essential it is for the environment, no one still likes to see them in their home. With over 2400 different species in Australia, you are most likely to see any one of these eight-legged creatures in your lifetime.
A town is now covered in webs. An Australian region has been caught in webs of thousands of spiders after severe floods that have forced people — and arachnids — to find drier land.
“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.
The Australian funnel-web spiders are among the deadliest spiders in the world in the effect their bites have on humans and our primate relations (although the bite has little effect on dogs and cats). There are many species of funnel-web spiders in Australia but only male Sydney Funnel-webs have caused human deaths.
According to All About Cats, agoraphobia is Australia and the world's most common phobia, with 61.67 per cent of people identifying it as. Agoraphobia is a social phobia commonly understood as the fear of public spaces and crowds.
Commonly found underneath bark, rocks, leaf litter and logs in the bush and around the home and garden. They eat other spiders including daddy-long-legs, redbacks and black house spiders, and as such are most active at night when their prey is out hunting.
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.
People aren't usually overjoyed to see a spider crawling around inside their home. But Matt Bertone, an entomologist at North Carolina State University, says spiders are an important part of our indoor ecosystem and rarely a danger to humans — so it's best to just leave them alone.
Are spiders in the house normal? Yes, having spiders in your house is expected, assuming it is not an infestation. Spiders are drawn to moisture and dampness and are often found in dark areas of a basement or attic.
When does spider season start in Australia? According to Mr Milledge, spider "season" starts in spring in southern Australia, while northern Australia is a bit less clear as temperatures are warmer year-round – but, populations likely increase during the wet season from November to April.
Spiders love to hide in the dark, debris-filled cracks away from humans. Be sure to give the space under your bed a lot of attention while you're cleaning. Since it tends to be dark and dusty under beds, they're an ideal place for spiders to hide away.
The color that spiders tend to hate is light blue. People don't just paint their porches light blue for the aesthetic. Painting your porch ceiling in this shade is a pretty effective way of keeping spiders away. The color is also known to repel wasps.
Like most animals, spiders have circadian rhythms. These internal clocks tell the spider when to rest. Just like other animals, some spiders rest at night while others rest during the day. “They all go through some type of lower activity period.
Australia has about 2,000 species of spider, but most are relatively harmless to humans. Venomous spiders in Australia include funnel-web, mouse, redback and white-tailed spiders. Since the introduction of antivenom, there have been no recorded deaths in Australia from a confirmed spider bite.
Black house spiders are generally small, with females growing up to 12 – 18 mm in length, and males growing up to 9 – 15 mm in length. Short grey hairs are usually visible on their carapace, while their abdomen is typically grey and covered in variegated patterns of white markings.