Spiders

Spiders often find their way inside our homes and properties. Externally they tend to be around eves, window and door frames, gutters, fence cappings and all out buildings. Internally they hide behind furniture, clothing, toys and other personal items or furnishings.

Red Back Spider

Red-back spiders are common and found throughout Australia. They are seen mostly in disturbed areas and seem to like living near humans. They nest in dry, sheltered areas where they build messy tangled webs with sticky tracer leads going to the ground. The female is easily identified with her long delicate front legs and a red or orange stripe on her pea-shaped abdomen. She also has a red or orange hourglass shape on her underside. Only the female is considered dangerous but is generally a timid spider, biting only in defense or when disturbed. Although red-back spider bites are usually immediately painful, the venom (which contains neurotoxins) works very slowly. Bites can result in headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, hypertension and, in severe cases, paralysis. Untreated, the symptoms worsen over a 24-hour period and may take weeks or months to heal. Red-back spider bites are the most common of poisonous bites requiring treatment in Australia, particularly over the summer months. Anyone bitten by a red back spider should seek immediate medical attention.

Black house spiders

Black house spiders are also called window spiders because of their tendency to build their
webs around window frames. These untidy, zig zag threaded webs usually have one or two funnel-shaped entrances leading into a tubular retreat, and some people mistakenly think they may be funnel-web spiders. These robust, hairy spiders range from 9 mm (male) to 18 mm (female) in length, and are grey to black in colour. They are found Australia wide. Black house spiders are timid and bites to humans are rare but may be painful and can cause general symptoms such as nausea, sweating and vomiting. In a few cases necrotic skin lesions have been reported after multiple bites. These spiders catch a lot of flying insects around the home and garden, but are generally not tolerated well because of their messy webs around windows, eaves and even the mirrors of the family car! Enemies of these spiders include parasitic wasps, birds and the white tailed spider.

White-tailed spider

White-tailed spiders are common and widespread across Australia. They are not web builders but vagrant hunters and are often seen inside houses, especially on summer evenings, wandering in search of prey. They are medium sized spiders, with cylindrical abdomens, grey to black bodies with stout legs and a white patch at the tip of the abdomen. They feed mainly on other spiders, plucking at their webs to imitate the struggling of an ensnared insect and then seizing the unsuspecting spider when it comes out of its retreat. White-tailed spider bites typically cause initial burning pain followed by swelling and itchiness at the site. Occasionally, weals or cases of blistering ulceration have been reported and some medical studies suggest that this may be due to a secondary infection of the wound. If they are common in your house, it is a good idea to check bedding before going to bed. Also, check your shoes before putting them on and do not leave clothing on the floor, as these spiders are often found sheltering in such situations.

Huntsman spiders

Huntsman spiders are the large ‘hairy scary’ spiders that absolutely terrify people when they scuttle out from behind a curtain or the sun visor in the car. Many huntsman spiders live socially in large family groups with the mothers showing an extraordinary maternal instinct. These large, hairy grey-brown spiders have flattened bodies and are found throughout Australia, preferring to live outside under the bark of trees or under rocks and logs on the ground. They are typically long-legged (females can reach sizes up to 15cm across the legs) with forward facing legs, and are known for their scuttling sideways gait. These sure-footed and agile spiders are nocturnal and sometimes seen indoors at night, hunting for insects. They have keen eyesight and are good hunters, running down and pouncing on their prey. None of these spiders spin webs of any kind. Although some huntsman spiders can give a painful bite, they are not considered dangerous to humans.

Our spider treatments are safe, effective and environmentally friendly, you don’t even need to vacate the property during or after the treatment, which remains effective for many months.

What we offer

• Inspection: We inspect your property for spiders and identify any active areas.

• Dust: Should there be spider activity in your roof void we may apply a dust powder.

• Spray: We apply a registered chemical for spider control to the following areas: interior, exterior, outbuildings, fences and garage.

Our spider treatments are safe, effective and environmentally friendly with guaranteed results which are carried out to the Australian standards in a safe, professional manner.
You don’t even need to vacate the property during or after the treatment.