My epic battle with a black widow spider

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Dec 2, 2011 5:06:26 GMT -5 El Cokehead del Knife Fight said:

Dec 2, 2011 4:56:47 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

And their fangs are like hypodermic needles, if I remember correctly.

I'm not sure of that. The only things that I know about the SFWS is that they are highly aggressive and are the only breed of spider that will chase people down and bite them again.

They can also survive for a day on the bottom of a pool and will bite as soon as they are taken out.

but let's face it, Australia is f***ed.



That's one of the most venomous critters in Australia, the Ikurandjii Jellyfish. Apparently the venom is the most painful thing that you could ever experience.

Australia really is f***ed. I mean jeez.....

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EverythingTryingToKillYou

You know Australia is f***ed when the TV Tropes article for this page has a section just for the damn island/continent.

[El Cokehead del Knife Fight]

Dec 2, 2011 5:13:43 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

Dec 2, 2011 5:06:26 GMT -5 El Cokehead del Knife Fight said:

I'm not sure of that. The only things that I know about the SFWS is that they are highly aggressive and are the only breed of spider that will chase people down and bite them again.

They can also survive for a day on the bottom of a pool and will bite as soon as they are taken out.

but let's face it, Australia is f***ed.



That's one of the most venomous critters in Australia, the Ikurandjii Jellyfish. Apparently the venom is the most painful thing that you could ever experience.

Australia really is f***ed. I mean jeez.....

I can't say that I've noticed although Victoria only has three of the top ten venomous snakes native to it.

[aka Cthulhu]

Dec 2, 2011 1:02:13 GMT -5 @moneyman20 said:

Dec 1, 2011 22:51:32 GMT -5 Starshine said:

I'm okay with the ones who live in webs because chances are I'll always know where they are.

Now when it comes to the ones that live on walls, ceilings, floor etc. I have a big problems. Especially when they can get so big. We had this gigantic Huntsman in our house a week aho. It was very similar to this beast:


*Shudders*

We had something like that in our house before. Smaller, and probably not venomous.

My sister still ordered me to kill it. Halfheartedly threw a slipper at it. It hit, but it lived and had a couple of legs torn out. It stayed alive for months - after the first attempt I gave it a chance to live - and so it lived in our house for months.

Spiders don't bother me that much. Now, frogs on the other hand... show me a live frog and I'll scream like a girl. And then I'll tear your arm off with a shoe for trying to scare me.

[biafra]

Dec 2, 2011 1:22:08 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Dec 2, 2011 0:10:55 GMT -5 Starshine said:

So how big can these Black Widows get?

We get Red Backs here which appear similar, and are also deadly, but they tend to be pretty small.

They are pretty damn small, and generally won't bite you. I think part of the reason people are afraid of them is that they have such a memorable name and look.

Sure, they are very dangerous, but it's not as bad as getting a snake in your house or something. A snake can strike, while you pretty much have to let the spider bite you.

I know several people who have been bitten; they are common here; and none of them let the spider bite them.

[Hit Girl]

Zap it with a laser pointer.

[Deleted]

I hate spiders.

[Mozenrath]

Dec 2, 2011 14:22:46 GMT -5 biafra said:

Dec 2, 2011 1:22:08 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

They are pretty damn small, and generally won't bite you. I think part of the reason people are afraid of them is that they have such a memorable name and look.

Sure, they are very dangerous, but it's not as bad as getting a snake in your house or something. A snake can strike, while you pretty much have to let the spider bite you.

I know several people who have been bitten; they are common here; and none of them let the spider bite them.

I don't mean like, literally sticking your hand out and offering it to them to bite.

I just mean that spiders don't go out of their way to mess with you. Venom is very precious to them, as it taxes their body to make and they HAVE to use it to eat, so they are very rarely going to bite you unless you're messing with their web. It's not going to jump on you or drop down your shirt for giggles or something.

[biafra]

Dec 2, 2011 16:55:35 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Dec 2, 2011 14:22:46 GMT -5 biafra said:

I know several people who have been bitten; they are common here; and none of them let the spider bite them.

I don't mean like, literally sticking your hand out and offering it to them to bite.

I just mean that spiders don't go out of their way to mess with you. Venom is very precious to them, as it taxes their body to make and they HAVE to use it to eat, so they are very rarely going to bite you unless you're messing with their web. It's not going to jump on you or drop down your shirt for giggles or something.

No, but their lack of size make them more dangerous. Anytime down here when you move cinderblocks, trash cans, tools etc you have to be careful. A buddy of mine got bit by one just picking up a cinderblock. Most of our posts seem to have a " oh you guys are silly" vibe too them. Which is fine; but I find being afraid of something that can hurt you pretty rational.

[Mozenrath]

Dec 2, 2011 18:05:30 GMT -5 biafra said:

Dec 2, 2011 16:55:35 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I don't mean like, literally sticking your hand out and offering it to them to bite.

I just mean that spiders don't go out of their way to mess with you. Venom is very precious to them, as it taxes their body to make and they HAVE to use it to eat, so they are very rarely going to bite you unless you're messing with their web. It's not going to jump on you or drop down your shirt for giggles or something.

No, but their lack of size make them more dangerous. Anytime down here when you move cinderblocks, trash cans, tools etc you have to be careful. A buddy of mine got bit by one just picking up a cinderblock. Most of our posts seem to have a " oh you guys are silly" vibe too them. Which is fine; but I find being afraid of something that can hurt you pretty rational.

I'll grant you that, that is a situation where you can get bug stings or bites, broken glass or nails, etc.

I just think the scenario initially set forth by you was an overreaction, though I get that people can be a little over the top when it's a phobia concerned. Hell, I'm pretty skittish with heights and fire, so I can be the same way.

[biafra]

The spider was over the bathroom door. It really could have been possible for her to get jostled enough to fall on me or my kids. I'd survive anti venom or not; my 8 month old could be trouble though. There is a touch of phobia; even though most spiders don't bother me. However, when I was small a BIG one crawled up my moms arm while doing laundry...since then they make me skittish.

[ashcampbell]

Check THIS mo-fo out...found her in a box of bananas a few years back.

A Brazilian Wandering Spider....in Indiana.




This was the same week we found a black widow in a box of grapes on each of our deliveries that week. LOL. So that was like, 4 black widows in a week. Then that dude up there. Weird.

[Throwback]

I'm glad I live here. The worse thing you got to worry about when getting bit by anything is rabies.

[Malcolm]

I swear if I have any nightmares about spiders tonight, I'm holding this thread and you guys who posted and quoted pictures and facts responsible.

[Optimax]

Dec 1, 2011 22:55:49 GMT -5 biafra said:

Seriously? There is no way I live in australia and remain sane. MOVE AWAY YOU CRAZY f***S!

Oh you get used too it.

Some red backs Seem to enjoy getting sprayed with big spray which is a little bloody annoying though.

I get golden orb weavers in my new place now though, timid but mammoth things, had on in my front yard last summer for 3 or so months got as big as my palm before my mum I all ordered me to kill it.