thread: Red back spiders...

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Hork-Bajir Valley
    5,722

    Red back spiders...

    so over the last few weeks everytime I've gone to run the bath there have been some tiny little spiders in the bottom, easily killed and washed away, probably one or two 3 times a week...nothing for me to worry about...until today, when I saw a couple that were bigger, (still small, only a few mm big), but these ones were big enough for me to see their bums...and they are red backs.

    not really keen on them being in the bathroom... so where are they most likely coming from? where is 'the nest' so i can destroy it?? do they like wet areas?? (i thought they liked dark and dry?)... could they be in our spa jets?

    its a corner bath, with spa jets, shower on top. tiled wall (although there are bits of missing grout.)... there is a spider web right up in the top corner of the wall...

  2. #2

    Mar 2004
    Sparta
    12,662

    Quickest way to check if they are in your spa jets would be to run them.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    May 2012
    Where faith conquers fear
    559

    Red back spiders...

    That would freak me the hell out, I'd be calling ghostbusters or something!!

  4. #4
    BellyBelly Member

    Sep 2010
    North West Victoria, Australia
    3,003

    I've been bitten twice by a redback (once while pregnant with DS. I'm still waiting for him to get some spidey powers). They hurt like hell, but nowadays aren't fatal. That being said, I'm a healthy 20 year old (and 17 when I was first bitten). I'd hate for Spock to get bitten, I don't know how a baby would cope.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Hork-Bajir Valley
    5,722

    thats my concern Charlotte. plus we are atleast 20mins drive (speeding) to the nearest hospital

  6. #6
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Jul 2008
    Eastern Surburbs, Melbourne
    1,841

    Give the floor a sweep then spray around the under side of the bath. Also spray in the corner and where the grout is missing. Have a window open for ventilation.
    Do this when there are no children nearby and try and see if you can see where they are coming from.
    Do you have a ceiling fan as that may be another area they are coming from.

    Hope you find an answer quickly

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Hork-Bajir Valley
    5,722

    thanks.
    Onyx ~ ill test the jets tomorrow though i dont think they would be in there...i know DH had the jets going last week.
    Rivlas ~ we have fans, but not in that room...unless its the exhaust fan? I was hoping to avoid spraying everywhere..only when I knew where they were...but I might just have to do it.

    does anyone know how big a spot they need?

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Victoria
    7,260

    It will be most likely your exhaust fan, if there is no other place visible.

    They love to live in the guttering and under the lip of the roof. Inside hollow chair legs even, they don't need a lot of space. Get someone out to spray your house outside and inside the roofspace. Costs about $200 or so, but once they are in the house itself, you need to do it.
    We had hundreds of them in Perth, all around the house and things, never really bothered that much until I found them IN the house! That wasn't cool. But the spraying lasts a few months and works really well.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Apr 2006
    Perth
    4,203

    I killed at least a dozen last weekend. Like LS said, we get heaps here and usually get the outdoors of the house sprayed professionally when the annual termite inspection is done but for whatever reason we didn't organise it this year and boy can you tell. I hate killing spiders but for redbacks I make an exception. If I see one inside I say a silent apology to all the daddy long legs, grab the mortein surface spray - indoor and outdoor - and do all the window and door frames, under the fridge, exhaust fans and airconditioning vents etc. Definitely flush your spa jets out too