spiders

[2nosey]

does anyone know anything about red back and funnel web spiders? anything! thank you in advance

[FP]

One for New Forester here, Miss. I expect you will agree. All I know is that they are in Australia and dangerous and people tell you not to leave your clothes and shoes on the floor in case the spiders get into them -ugh! Actually, I did go to a zoo near Sydney where there was a demonstration on 'how to milk a poisonous spider'. By milking, I assume they meant extracting the venom. Anyway, I couldn't bring myself to watch! Where are you New Forester?

[2nosey]

hey that's wot i was thinking new forester. i need to know for my college work! help oh and fakeplastic thanks! i don't think i could watch that demo either! i hate spiders! ugh!

[SteveD]

He will be here shortly - he's busy dropping ants from a great height at the moment in order to provide a full answer to the question above!

[Kit]

Red backs: famous for living in outside toilets. That's about all I know about them. Funnelwebs: females spend most of their life near their funnel - they live for a considerable number of years. Males have quite a short life - the female eats them after mating. The danger with funnel webs is that they move about at night and dehydrate very quickly in sunshine, so are always on the lookout for dark holes in which to hide, eg shoes, kids toys etc left outside. If you find one, don't kill it - it's needed for its venom, to make antivenom with. Trap it under a glass, slide a card under the glass, do not hold the card underneath the glass or you may be bitten through the card. Flip the glass the other way up (funnelwebs can't jump) and take it to your nearest hospital.

[Wraith]

Hi miss, try this link. If you click here, it will take you to the Arachnology website.

[2nosey]

thanks everyone i'm a little puzzled with what new forester's doing!

[mikeybiznitt]

yeah they give a nasty bite!