Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Isn't a Huntsman (or Huntsperson) a lethally-bitey spider?

Suppose you must prefer the Election though, Caroline? At least it's unlikely that a politician would bite you to death.

Angela Woodford wrote:Isn't a Huntsman (or Huntsperson) a lethally-bitey spider?

Suppose you must prefer the Election though, Caroline? At least it's unlikely that a politician would bite you to death.

Huntsmen are non toxic, but most of us arachnophobes agree that this does not mean that they are not dangerous: the sight of them may induce death by shock at the sight of their large, hairy legs and bodies. I do believe that one of my cats was bitten on the nose by one: he had it bailed up in the corner of the kitchen, then backed off and sneezed a lot, as did Pom, our Staffy, when bitten on the nose by a blue tongue lizard that he found resting on the doorstep.

I've written elsewhere on the Forum about my bedroom air-cooling system, Convair Magicool. I've had it two years and not only did it start making a lot of gurgling noises but I spotted that the grilles at the back were full of fluff and dust. So I unearthed the manual and a friend undertook some maintenance for me this week. He found that the inside was absolutely infested with small spiders - thousands of them. He had to put the whole thing in the bath, take out the insides, and then wash them thoroughly with the power shower. Thank goodness I did not know beforehand - I'd have been sleeping in the garden.
Last night it started making funny noises again.....aarrgghh

Is this the year of the tiny spider?

Just checked on my front-garden sunflowers, and there they are! Thousands of them.

Angela Woodford wrote:Is this the year of the tiny spider?

Just checked on my front-garden sunflowers, and there they are! Thousands of them.

couple of millimetres across and red? could be "spider mites" which are a pest to most plants in warm conditions. So far as I know they are not actually arachnids

Don't get me started on spider mites. We thought we had got rid of all the little b*****s untilthey killed our grape vine.

How odd - only yesterday I was looking at the spider-catching gadget that I bought last year, and thinking that I have not actually encountered a live spider since I bought it. Apparently just having it sitting on the dressing table is sufficient deterrent. Famous last words? I shall probably now be invaded by ferocious arachnids!

sejintenej wrote:couple of millimetres across and red? could be "spider mites" which are a pest to most plants in warm conditions. So far as I know they are not actually arachnids

Nono, David! Tiny black spiders!

And there, on a sunflower bud, a huge fella with a small round furry body and incredibly long slender legs. <screams>

It is the time of year for spider re-generation.

I don't know if the weather conditions have been just right, but I have noticed an increase in the number of 'babes' this month.

On the subject, in the spring I sat and watched a spider build a huge web on our garden arch.

Absolutely fascinating. How do they know how to do it ?

Sorry-- all you "Shrinking Violets" --- but I am an Arachnophile" if there is such a word.
I think Spiders are great, in the work that they do, in eliminating nasty little pests, like Whitefly, Bliebottles etc.

The millions of little ones which you see, at this time of year, are the young, which are emerging from their webby cocoon, some spin a long thread and float away, on the wind, to a new location, these are also useful as food for young birds.

I rest my case --- which is getting heavy !

The story about the blocked filter reminded me that when I worked for the Atomic Energy, we had a Computer, which occupied two buildings (Now the size of a handbag ?) and the filter to the Air intake was getting blocked.
Since I was doing Fibre Analysis, I was asked to investigate, and had to take my samples from the end of the Typing Pool (Run by a Dragon !)

When I had found the problem (New carpets ) I returned, via the said Pool and was asked by the "Dragon" --- "Did you solve the problem Mr Evans ?"

Jokimgly --- I asked "Who wears red knickers ?" ------- and to my mortification, one girl put op her hand !!!!!!!!

I beat a hasty retreat, under a Dragon's glare !!!

J.R. wrote:On the subject, in the spring I sat and watched a spider build a huge web on our garden arch.Absolutely fascinating. How do they know how to do it ?

I've just been out to check on the progress of my prospective harvest of Oyster mushrooms - two beech logs impregnated with Oyster mushroom spawn; oh, I'm so excited! However there is the most beautiful spiders' web constructed from log to wall behind. The owner of this construction (small, fat, furry ) was sitting in the middle, brooding and twiddling a leg or two, but I'm with JR here. How did he/she build such a perfect thing?

Exquisite.

Angela Woodford wrote:The owner of this construction (small, fat, furry ) was sitting in the middle, brooding and twiddling a leg or two, but I'm with JR here. How did he/she build such a perfect thing?

Exquisite.

Angela; I have about 360 cu metres of spiders webs or so it seems - you are welcome to come and take every single one of them together with the multitude of web makers. They don't go above 1.5 inches across but go down to millimetres.

and whilst we are about it, on the drive is this "thing" of about 8 brown segments, 1/4 inch diameter, 4 inches long, no visible legs and with two huge great "eyes". It moves fast and I thought at first it was a caterpillar but with so few segments I don't know. Any flutterby experts out there?

I had to resurrect this Topic -----

We have numerous Rhodedendron bushes in our gardens, and I was looking out of the Dining Room window, watching some Coal Tits attacking the Bird Feeder.

I suddenly noticed that one of the Rhodedendrons, was ALIVE with Blue and Great Tits. getting under the leaves.

Upon investigation, as to what was more attractive than Bird Feeders ---- I discovered that the attraction was, or were, SPIDERS !

Question ---- did they expect to find them ? or did the "Word" get around ? --- why Rhodedendrons, and not Azaleas ???

I am also rescuing Ladybirds, from the cold, and putting them in the Greenhouse --- they will probably die,anyway ---- but in comfort !
Sorry ---- but I do like Bugs and Insects -- as well as Spiders !

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:I had to resurrect this Topic -----

We have numerous Rhodedendron bushes in our gardens, and I was looking out of the Dining Room window, watching some Coal Tits attacking the Bird Feeder.

I suddenly noticed that one of the Rhodedendrons, was ALIVE with Blue and Great Tits. getting under the leaves.

Upon investigation, as to what was more attractive than Bird Feeders ---- I discovered that the attraction was, or were, SPIDERS !

Question ---- did they expect to find them ? or did the "Word" get around ? --- why Rhodedendrons, and not Azaleas ???

I am also rescuing Ladybirds, from the cold, and putting them in the Greenhouse --- they will probably die,anyway ---- but in comfort !
Sorry ---- but I do like Bugs and Insects -- as well as Spiders !

Highly unlikely, Neill.

As long as they can find somewhere secluded, dry and frost free, they will happily hibernate til next year !

Well done !

It's been a great year for spiders in our garden too.