If you see this spider DO NOT pick it up!

[Ixion]

Brace yourself. And meet the Avondale Spider ! This is quite a small one.

[motorbike.ventures]

Hahahahaha, that movie rocks, one of my favorites (I'm a horror movie freak)...


but wait, those exist?!?!?! Next you will be telling me that the spider from LOTR exists and is NZ as well!!!!!

[Ixion]

There was a reason why they filmed LOTR in New Zealand. Don't worry, tourists are never let near her, she's a maori cultural treasure.

And if you like spiders, wait until you meet a weta !

[yungatart]

What I want to know is, is there really anybody on here who would pick up a spider??
Squash 'em, yes, spray 'em, yes, but actually pick one up..HELL NO!!

[motorbike.ventures]

You guys have crazy spiders... If I lived there I would stomp on them too!

In Cali we have these spiders called daddy long leggs (yes, the technical name, lol) They are cool, they have super long thing legs and a little blob of a body. Not dangerous at all, all over the house, I loved picking them up and playing with them... Until I stepped on one with my bear feet... that was gross, I hate squished bugs, especially on me... eeeww!

[yungatart]

We have Daddy Long Legs here too. They are really toxic but their fangs aren't long enough to pierce the skin....

[motorbike.ventures]

We have Daddy Long Legs here too. They are really toxic but their fangs aren't long enough to pierce the skin....

I have heard that, but I guess no bite no harm... glad to hear all your spiders there aren't killers

[tri boy]

Wasn't it "Robert the Bruce" who defended the humble spyder, and said it would rain each time one was squashed??
Now I know why NZ is rainy. You buggars keep killing insy winsy spyder.

I think daddy Long Legs are still venomous, but their fangs can't penetrate human flesh.

[twotyred]

http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/brownrecluse.asp

My vote is for hoax.

unsurprisingly,it would appear so... well done

[Big Dave]

unsurprisingly,it would appear so... well done

Unfortunately the similarity to some white tail bite outcomes is real.

[twotyred]

I have heard that, but I guess no bite no harm... glad to hear all your spiders there aren't killers

except that the common theory about white-tails and the varied reaction to their bite is that IF they have recently devoured a Daddy long legs ( highly poisonous etc..) and then bite you then this may explain the SOMETIMES nasty reaction...

[motorbike.ventures]

except that the common theory about white-tails and the varied reaction to their bite is that IF they have recently devoured a Daddy long legs ( highly poisonous etc..) and then bite you then this may explain the SOMETIMES nasty reaction...

hmm, so daddy long legs is the bullet and the white tail is the gun?

Okay, you win, all NZ spiders are killers... really, if I go there I am not getting off my bike, ever! LOL

[Edbear]

hmm, so daddy long legs is the bullet and the white tail is the gun?

Okay, you win, all NZ spiders are killers... really, if I go there I am not getting off my bike, ever! LOL

Nah! Now if you want dangerous spiders, go visit Australia! My Bro-in-law was actually chased by a huge spider about the size of our Avondale. He killed it with his gumboot I think, but his wife and kids were up on the chairs by this stage...

And if you run over a snake, don't go back to see if it's dead, they get really angry...

[fliplid]

Re White Tails

Apparently they love pebble gardens - so put bark down if you don't want them around your place. Of course, with bark you get cockroaches .....

"Their preferred habitat is under dry bark..." What it says on the Landcare site...

[Ixion]

..
And if you run over a snake, don't go back to see if it's dead, they get really angry...

Shit mate, if you run over a snake, and then do a runner, they'll all go for you BIG time. Snakemobiles, snakemocycles, helicopters, they'll have the lot searching for you. , No matter how bad the ticket's going to be , running over the snake is over the top. Lucky Lou Giradin's not around these days.

And, as someone's bound to say, the snake's probably only doing his job.