Lauren Merritt, who lives in Darwin, found almost 20 venomous mouse spiders lying at the bottom of her swimming pool for several days last week. Authorities have warned Australians to keep an eye for any dangerous spiders over the warmer months.
Mouse spiders are a venomous type of spiders that usually falls into swimming pools but can still survive underwater for 24 hours. Experts advise people to stay away from them as they are likely still alive.
Mouse Spiders in the Swimming Pool
According to Julian Bracewell from Pest2Kill, a pest control company in the eastern suburb of Sydney, their busiest months of the year were always from September to May. These months have the highest reports of mouse spiders falling into swimming pools. But he cautions people not to approach these venomous spiders because they can usually survive underwater.
'They're not always dead, they can stay alive for quite some time - up to 24 hours,' Mr. Bracewell said.
He also said that there are steps to make sure that homes were safe from spiders, although it would be harmful to remove all of them alone. The pest control expert said that when gardening, it is important always to use proper gloves. Also, hose down children's toys as there are often Redback spiders present in the toys outside.
Besides, always keep garden maintenance up to a scratch, and ponds and stagnant can attract mosquitoes and flies, which are a staple in the diet of spiders. If the homeowner saw a burrow in the garden, it would be best to call an expert and avoid removing it alone without the help of any experts.
Approximately 1,000 Australians are sent to the hospital every year due to spider bites. But so far, there has just been one death from a spider recorded within the last 37 years. It was the 22-year-old Jayden Burleigh, who died in April 2016, who got bitten by a Redback spider while he was walking through the bushwalk on the north coast of NSW.
Mouse Spiders
Mouse spiders are venomous, and its bite can cause severe pain and illness. These spiders can grow from 10mm up to 35mm long and can survive up to 24 hours underwater. They are usually found during the warmer months as they prepare for mating.
They can also be found across Australia in areas with dense bushland. Some people would confuse mouse spiders with Funnel Webs, these are spiders that are not considered dangerous to people. They have long fangs and less aggressive than the Funnel Webs, but anyone who gets bitten should be immediately taken to the hospital.
Depending on the species, the abdomen of the mouse spiders are black or dark blue, or sometimes black with light grey to white patch on top. It has a very wide, shiny, and blackhead with bright red or orange-red jaws and eyes. Its legs are dark, long, and thin.
Generally, female mouse spiders are larger, stockier, and more solid than their male counterparts. The males are often encountered during mating season as they look for females and often fall into suburban swimming pools.
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