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A dashing fellow!
Posted: 01 Dec 2014, 04:48
by Airspeed
Couldn't get a better shot, because the dunny bowl was in the way.
This is a huntsman spider, known to walk slowly at times, but move VERY quickly when they want to.
They don't use webs, they run and pounce.
I put him out the window just after this; I don't put the light on when I get up for a wee in the night, and I didn't fancy a surprise hug in the dark.

That's my fingers & thumb for a sense of scale BTW.
Re: A dashing fellow!
Posted: 01 Dec 2014, 08:23
by Garry Russell
Ah yes..does it bite
Reminds me of the Hunting spiders when we we growing up...can get very big and live 40+ years
Spiders and other creepy crawlies, just another reason why I don't like anywhere in a warm/hot climate

Re: A dashing fellow!
Posted: 01 Dec 2014, 11:34
by Airspeed
Hi Garry

They're not aggressive to humans, but would probably make a defensive bite. Their size and speed is what can take you by surprise.
I've had a number of spider bites over the years, in fact I still have a mark on my leg from one a couple of weeks back. (It wasn't a huntsman, though.)
Redbacks are from the black widow family, I think. Best to give them some space in the garden.
White tails, now they deliver some nasty bacteria, which can lead to ulcers and worse. If I find them in the house, they don't get gently shown the door, I cancel their next sunrise without hesitation.
Re: A dashing fellow!
Posted: 01 Dec 2014, 14:29
by FlyTexas
A spider that doesn't produce a web?

You definitely have some strange critters down under, Mike.
Brian
Re: A dashing fellow!
Posted: 01 Dec 2014, 16:23
by Garry Russell
Not just there
As I mentioned the UK has hunting spiders.
They don't have a web...they carry little bows and arrows or sometimes miniture spears.
Seriously though

...that's what hunting spider means..it hunts rather than trap.

Re: A dashing fellow!
Posted: 01 Dec 2014, 16:27
by Garry Russell
There you go
After a quick web

search
http://hubpages.com/hub/Spiders-That-Dont-Make-Webs
Most spiders don't spin webs. I guess the reason we think they all di is that the ones that do are obvious and the others are hidden.