I've gained an affection for English spiders after 9 years of living with a vegetarian
who is terrified of spiders but insists they be removed from the premises safely and with no harm to any of their ridiculously breakable legs. But that is an absolute beast. I am never moving to Australia.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Fri 8 Jul 2011, 9:25, 1 reply, 15 years ago)

Must say I'm waiting to see Noel's reaction to his first encounter with a hunstman.
Or a redback. Or a Wolf Spider. Or a White tail. etc.
(Poppet some assembly required., Fri 8 Jul 2011, 9:28, Reply)

I am NOT Googling those

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Fri 8 Jul 2011, 9:32, Reply)

redbacks look like "normal" spiders.
as do wolf spiders. White tails look a little freaky.

funnel webs and redbacks, I don't suggest you fuck with, though.

I rememeber being "introduced" to an Orb weaver at my mate's place in north Sydney, and he showed me how aggresive it was by poking its web, then told me it was harmless. I looked it up at the Sydney Botanics a couple of weeks later. "Considered harmless. Side effects of bite include local pain, redness, and blisters that normally disappear within a 24-hour interval. In some cases, it might trigger allergic reactions and result in respiratory problems or fast-acting involuntary muscle cramps, very occasionally resulting in death"

Now that's what I call harmless 27.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 8 Jul 2011, 9:48, Reply)