'Close your windows': Homeowner discovers eight deadly redback spiders after storm
Experts warn Victoria's wet summer is the ideal condition for spider activity, after a homeowner discovered eight deadly redbacks on their windowsill following the early-December storm.
A cluster of eight arachnids were photographed in regional Victoria, which appeared to have surfaced following the deluge that battered the state in recent days.
The highly venomous spiders were killed after being found on the windowsill of a Warrnambool home, in Victoria’s south west on Friday.
Sending chills down the spines of many, the image of the dead spiders was shared to Reddit on Saturday.
“When you live in Victoria and the first day of summer brings rain,” Reddit user lostintranslation01 wrote with the picture shared on Saturday.
“All these redbacks on one windowsill. Make sure your windows are all closed!”
The photographer said they live close to the beach and the bush, so the location often attracted creepy crawlies, particularly in damp weather.
“We have a lot of plants near our windows. They love it because every single window has a mosquito screen on it and the bugs after rain like to get stuck in there. These guys just want a feast!”
The person who took the photograph said they usually tried to remove spiders from their home, however this time they killed the arachnids with insect spray because they didn’t want to take any risks.
“I have been bitten before and it’s not fun and they love to hide!” they wrote.
The redback is one of the few spider species that can be seriously harmful to humans.
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The species has been known to live under roof eaves, floorboards, shelves, flower pots or in garden sheds. Given they like to live in homes and other built structures, the eight-legged critters have been responsible for many serious and potentially deadly bites across Australia.
Experts warned Victoria’s inclement weather was the ideal condition for redbacks to become more active.
“Some species of spiders are attracted to moist environments. Check your basements, walls, sheds and other damp locations,” pest controller Rentokill advised.
“They are attracted to warm, dark small spaces, like wall cracks, corners, air vents, and in the eaves of your home.”
As the temperature dipped following the state’s heatwave, spiders are expected to become more active, coming out of their hiding places in search of a mate.
