It's Raining Spiders! Three Points You Need To Know When Arachnids Attack!
Social media websites have been having a field day with a story about a spider infestation in Goulburn, New South Wales. When the perfect weather conditions occur, hatching spiderlings travel through the air on their white web threads, and settle in areas where food supplies are vast. As an arachnophobe this story no doubt has you hiding under the bed in fear, but spiders setting up home in your house is not all bad news. Here is more information about those eight-legged creatures lurking on your property.
Not All Spiders Are Dangerous
Spiders in Australia have a bit of a bad reputation thanks to the actions of a few grumpy arachnids. But, not all spiders are bad, and it does pay to remember that there has not been a spider bite fatality in Australia since 1979. Knowing which spiders are dangerous is one way that you can be sure you don't get a bite that is going to make you ill. Keep an eye open for the following spiders around your property, because you're going to need pest control help if you see these guys:
- Sydney Funnel-Web. This spider likes to hide in sheltered, humid spots in your back yard, and will become aggressive if it feels threatened by your encroaching hands. This spider had a black body, and a brown abdomen. It grows up to 3.5 cm, and has fangs that rival those of a brown snake.
- Redback Spider. This spider is quite easy to identify due to the bright red stripe shaped like an hourglass on the back of its jet black body. Redbacks make messy webs, and you will often find these behind the toilet in your bathroom. The female gives the most serious bite, so look first before you stick your fingers into her web.
Of course, there are some benefits to having spiders around the home.
Positive Benefits Of Spiders
While you may not be happy to see those cobwebs in the corner of your home, there are actually some benefits to having a couple of spiders around the place. These include:
- Natural pest control. Creatures such as mosquitoes and cockroaches are common prey of your household spider. Seeing them tangled in the spider web may not look pleasant, but it's better than slapping away buzzing mozzies at 3 am when you're trying to sleep.
- Natural disease control. Mosquitoes are known to carry diseases such as malaria and Ross River virus. When they caught up in a cobweb, it is going to lessen your chance of getting a disease-laden bite from a not-so-friendly mosquito.
In some countries, such as Thailand, natives think that eating a spider will bring you good luck, although good luck with trying to convince an Australian arachnophobe of that! However, there may come a time when the negative effects of spiders outweigh the positives.
When To Call In Professional Help
Overall, spiders are a harmless nuisance, but there are a couple of situations when you should consider getting professional pest controllers in to keep your creepy friends from getting out of control. These include:
- The presence of venomous spiders such as the funnel-web or redback. While antivenom is available to effectively treat these bites, the bites will still make you quite ill.
- The presence of cobwebs inside your air conditioning unit. The sticky residue attached to the spider's web can lead to your air conditioner not working property if the web gets trapped within moving parts.
A professional pest controller knows how to get into every nook and cranny of your home to eradicate any spider infestation that you have going on. Make sure you let them know if you have any pets or young children in the house so that they can choose a family-friendly remedy.
While it may be tempting to carry an umbrella in Goulburn just in case any more flying spiders appear, as you can see it's not all bad news when it comes to spider invasions. With the information you now have to hand, you may even be able to get past your fears and adopt a tarantula as a pet. Or, at the very least, you can come out from underneath the bed now.