Thread: An Average Law Enforcement Week In New South Wales

The only spider which has scared me a little is the Black Widow. I was more afraid of the web than the spider. Anyone who has encountered a web knows what I am talking about.

Australia seems to have a lot of poisonous stuff. Why?

Evolution I suppose?

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

What makes that story worse is that it is northern Sydney. Living in Australia and being afraid of spiders....you are in for a rough life.

James.

Yeah funnel web spiders were pretty ubiquitous here in the upper north shore. Haven't seen one in ages tho. Possibly all the housing & population increase here. I think the cockroaches that come with people's belongings ate all spiders.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

What makes that story worse is that it is northern Sydney. Living in Australia and being afraid of spiders....you are in for a rough life.

James.

We needed someone to go up in the attic at my church. It is a tight space so we asked a young fellow who is diminutive in stature. He said he was afraid of spiders and couldn't do it. I was surprised. I've never been afraid of them. Black widows are around here but mostly in the woods so not a problem. The only one I'm really shy of is the brown recluse. Dangerous and by their nature you can run afoul of them.

Dangerous critters in Australia: Why?

1) Environmental something particular about the continent itself, either the hostile conditions (arid, disaster prone), or its insularity.
2) Biological either owing the the unique ecosystem structure (dominance of reptilian predators) or driven by arms races (e.g. snake vs. marsupial).
3) Coincidental Australia just happens to be the center of diversity for a few very dangerous clades.
From Neil Kelley, an Aussie
There is more, now I'm interested.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

We needed someone to go up in the attic at my church. It is a tight space so we asked a young fellow who is diminutive in stature. He said he was afraid of spiders and couldn't do it. I was surprised. I've never been afraid of them. Black widows are around here but mostly in the woods so not a problem. The only one I'm really shy of is the brown recluse. Dangerous and by their nature you can run afoul of them.

I'm not afraid of cleaning spiders out of the attic either, but if it's 20 floors up & walking across a steel beam,,, it can stay there.

Originally Posted by WW243

Australia seems to have a lot of poisonous stuff. Why?

Cause its a wild & crazy place,,,40' Salties, snakes longer than a fire hose, roaming packs of Dingos that haven't eaten in months & more sharks than goldfish,,

This thread reminds me of the movie Sirens. Set in Australia, an English vicar and his wife visit a painter and his family. The vicar's wife is in horror as every day she hears, or reads, a new case of someone being killed by the wildlife. Nice scenery too.

Originally Posted by WW243

I tried to intimidate a wolf spider once. It went on the attack and I picked up my skirt and jumped up onto a chair.
Attachment 220027
Wolf Spider: Actual size is determined by the aggressiveness of the wolf spider facing you.

Now wait! Wolf spiders (what we call them) are some peaceful buggers.
They square off the mosquitoes and roaches. Good spiders. I have come to know what is what with spiders and snakes in my locale. Spiders here are told by their webs. Soft and breezy, a good mate. Tight and tough as an e-sting? A bad boy!
Hunt 'em down and kill them!

I have one(wolf spider) in my shave den, name of Bob. Comes out and watches me shave. Little fellow, about 1/2 inch and growing.
His eyes are crazy, flitting around. I actually talk to him. Seems he listens!
My little dog Foxie frequently snags and snarfs one, the coughing and wheezing proceeds!