Tips to get rid of Huntsman spiders

[haydensydney]

We live in a built up area in Crows Nest/St Leonards NSW, and every summer we seem to continually get frequent visits by Huntsman spiders. We live in a top floor apartment, away from trees and bushland, so i'm continually surprised [read: horrified] when I see these massive things running on walls and glass. We probably see one every day or two. I'm assuming the roof of the complex is a perfect breeding spot. Lovely .

Does anyone have any suggestions for how we can control these spiders?

I remember getting pest control in one year, but it did jack to control them. We have two cats, but when I see them stalking a huntsman I get paranoid that the spider could be harmful to them, so I make sure they don't get close. Perhaps I should let them go for it (or not?).

Further, does anyone know if this should be managed by the strata, or if it would be up to an individual unit owner to control?

 

[tuapekastar]

I don't know how to control them nut if they're out of the way (up high on wall for example I'll leave them alone and next day they'll be gone (but where do they go?) :shock:

That said, years ago late at night my cat was sitting under and eyeing off a huntsman high on the wall. Without warning the huntsman 'detached' from the wall and floated down onto the cat. Cat gave a loud yowl and bolted and I screamed The cat was fine and I have no recollection of what happened to the spider.

 

[The Rok]

If it were me I'd make sure everyone was out and burn the apartment down. I'm petrified of spiders.

 

[Vinny]

Try using the natural enemy of the huntsman spider.


A rolled up newspaper.

 

[Febs]

It's un-Australian to kill a Hunstman! You have to at least try to move it outside without killing it (if it makes life difficult while trying to move it though - oh well, it's fair game).

Huntsmans look horrible, but they're generally pretty harmless to humans and they actually eat a lot of other bugs. Of all the spiders we've had over the years (originally opposite bush in the Shire, now in LoNoSho), I prefer Hunstmans. Freaky, yes, but give me a Hunstman over a Whitetail any day!

Just my $0.02.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[mannej]

Huntsmen are harmless. Much worse creepy crawlies out there that can do much more damage then them.

 

[simongr]

How coincidental - three times I tried to get a huntsman to nick off outside last night. Sadly he chose death over going outside.

 

[medhead]

They have a painful bite, IME. But it does no lasting damage. *head tick*


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[straitman]

They have a painful bite, IME. But it does no lasting damage. *head tick*


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

Though you would be VERY unlucky to get bitten :!:

 

[haydensydney]

I've considered buying and training a falcon which would become my personal Huntsman slayer

Though from reading the above + researching online - this may be my only option :mrgreen:

 

[amaroo]

How coincidental - three times I tried to get a huntsman to nick off outside last night. Sadly he chose death over going outside.

Ditto at my place last night - the kids & wife go nuts but they are harmless big things.

 

[straitman]

We live in a built up area in Crows Nest/St Leonards NSW, and every summer we seem to continually get frequent visits by Huntsman spiders. We live in a top floor apartment, away from trees and bushland, so i'm continually surprised [read: horrified] when I see these massive things running on walls and glass. We probably see one every day or two. I'm assuming the roof of the complex is a perfect breeding spot. Lovely .Does anyone have any suggestions for how we can control these spiders?I remember getting pest control in one year, but it did jack to control them. We have two cats, but when I see them stalking a huntsman I get paranoid that the spider could be harmful to them, so I make sure they don't get close. Perhaps I should let them go for it (or not?).Further, does anyone know if this should be managed by the strata, or if it would be up to an individual unit owner to control?

Get a newspaper. Lay it out flat and encourage the spider to get on board, walk out side and then flick it off.

If all else fails then roll up the newspaper and go to plan 'B' as stated by simongr in post #7.

 

[medhead]

Though you would be VERY unlucky to get bitten :!:

Just takes being about the 15th kid to stick you're hand into the spider's tree stump on a treasure hunt and then to whack at it when it runs up your arm and onto you're back.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[straitman]

Just takes being about the 15th kid to stick you're hand into the spider's tree stump on a treasure hunt and then to whack at it when it runs up your arm and onto you're back.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

Yep.

That's a fairly good reason why they would bite :!:

 

[casanovawa]

I don't know why people insist on stepping on bugs/spiders or whacking them with papers and leaving entrails/stains and all everywhere...

Isn't it much cleaner and simpler just to give them a spray with some mortein (or similar product) and let them expire at their own rate???

If feeling magnanimous (and brave) you can always put a bowl of some description over them and once you have them trapped, slide in a bit of paper underneath the bowl and carry them outside and launch them into the wild, much better to me than having them sit on a newspaper and suddenly run up your arm when you try to move it, much prefer having them enclosed...

PS i think the falcon would create more problems than it would solve, especially if you have any other small, furry pets around the place...

 

[Princess Fiona]

When we moved here from the UK in 1998 we had a memorable first encounter with one in our rental house. Thought it was a tarantula and we both started screaming when the door knocked and the Pool Cleaner guy came to our rescue

 

[dfcatch]

I don't know why people insist on stepping on bugs/spiders or whacking them with papers and leaving entrails/stains and all everywhere...

Isn't it much cleaner and simpler just to give them a spray with some mortein (or similar product) and let them expire at their own rate???

If feeling magnanimous (and brave) you can always put a bowl of some description over them and once you have them trapped, slide in a bit of paper underneath the bowl and carry them outside and launch them into the wild, much better to me than having them sit on a newspaper and suddenly run up your arm when you try to move it, much prefer having them enclosed...

PS i think the falcon would create more problems than it would solve, especially if you have any other small, furry pets around the place...

Gees - picked up SWMBO from the airport one night, coming out of the CNS airport rd - this massive thing dropped out of the vent and across the dash - what was worse than the screaming (from her) and the swearing (from me) was that it was dark and I had no idea where he went but he was freaking huge!!

So there we were, hastily pulled over on the dirt, car evacuated, all doors open with a flashlight trying to find him.

No success so drove to the nearest NightOwl (SWMBO refused to get back in the car).

A can of Mortein later (the entire can) with the car closed up.....

He was gassed to death. Found him under her seat.

Spent the next week driving with all windows fully open

 

[casanovawa]

Yes, i was driving back to work one night and something ran across the windscreen, think it was hiding above the fold down shade (worth checking there from time to time) and after jumping a bit yes it was a dicey last one or two km's till i reached the work car park and could rapidly exit out of the car and open all the doors... The security guard came out and we tried to find the thing, can't remember if we eventually found and chased it out of the car???

It also reminds me the other day i hopped in the car and there was a single strand of spider web coming from the front passenger seat up to near the glove box, i thought to myself "hmmm, have to get the can of mortein out and give it a good dosing in that general area!"... I hadn't gotten around to it, but this thread has reminded me... It could be just a piddly little thing, a red back or one of those hairy monsters (and who wants one of those running up the trouser leg mid peak hour traffic!!!!) :shock:

 

[blackcat20]

Yes, i was driving back to work one night and something ran across the windscreen, think it was hiding above the fold down shade (worth checking there from time to time) and after jumping a bit yes it was a dicey last one or two km's till i reached the work car park and could rapidly exit out of the car and open all the doors... The security guard came out and we tried to find the thing, can't remember if we eventually found and chased it out of the car???

It also reminds me the other day i hopped in the car and there was a single strand of spider web coming from the front passenger seat up to near the glove box, i thought to myself "hmmm, have to get the can of mortein out and give it a good dosing in that general area!"... I hadn't gotten around to it, but this thread has reminded me... It could be just a piddly little thing, a red back or one of those hairy monsters (and who wants one of those running up the trouser leg mid peak hour traffic!!!!) :shock:

My mum had an unfortunate encounter with a huntsman once; it dropped on her while she was in the shower and ran down her front. I heard a lot of squealing and thudding as she tried to drown it :shock:

Normally in our house they are trapped and released outside, unless they insist on sitting above my bed at bedtime....then they meet my friend mortein!

 

[Archphoto]

Though you would be VERY unlucky to get bitten :!:

Been bitten 2x from one that had decided to take refuge in my car - guess I was really unlucky! :mrgreen: (And yeah, they hurt.)