Red back spiders
Jan 18, 2020 2:03:33 GMT
Post by questa on Jan 18, 2020 2:03:33 GMT
My front veranda was looking pretty grotty. Dust and ash from the fires covered the box seats so I planned a good hose down and brush These seats are timber cubes with tops that open. I store gardening tools in there, it is dark, undisturbed, dry and good timber to fix a web...in other words...Red back Heaven.
The first one was hanging in her web about 10cm from the seat opening. She was guarding the corpse of her mate which she had spun into a cocoon for a later meal. Disturbed by my stick she started to gyrate like crazy, spinning around like someone was stirring a coffee at 100 kph (This makes her difficult for her enemies to catch her) I trapped her in a hand broom and stepped on her.
Red backs are members of the Black Widow family. They are not native but arrived in a load of timber from Spain after WWI. They have round black bodies and a bright red Tail.
They are the second most venomous spider in Australia and in the past people have died from their bite...mainly kids and frail folk.
Well, the disturbance had sent # 2 spider into hiding in a corner, flattened out under the timber joint. I slowly pulled away an old web and a putty knife did the rest. They do not make pretty webs like orb spiders do, just a few threads that are very sticky attached to enclosed corners. They don't like gardens but out-houses, sheds and verandas are Home.
The last spider tried to make a run for it. I hit her with the hand broom and she got tangled in it, then broke free running towards me...They are FAST.I had a "Kodak Moment" getting away, then stamped on her.
There were no other spiders on my veranda.
The first one was hanging in her web about 10cm from the seat opening. She was guarding the corpse of her mate which she had spun into a cocoon for a later meal. Disturbed by my stick she started to gyrate like crazy, spinning around like someone was stirring a coffee at 100 kph (This makes her difficult for her enemies to catch her) I trapped her in a hand broom and stepped on her.
Red backs are members of the Black Widow family. They are not native but arrived in a load of timber from Spain after WWI. They have round black bodies and a bright red Tail.
They are the second most venomous spider in Australia and in the past people have died from their bite...mainly kids and frail folk.
Well, the disturbance had sent # 2 spider into hiding in a corner, flattened out under the timber joint. I slowly pulled away an old web and a putty knife did the rest. They do not make pretty webs like orb spiders do, just a few threads that are very sticky attached to enclosed corners. They don't like gardens but out-houses, sheds and verandas are Home.
The last spider tried to make a run for it. I hit her with the hand broom and she got tangled in it, then broke free running towards me...They are FAST.I had a "Kodak Moment" getting away, then stamped on her.
There were no other spiders on my veranda.
