If you are not a fan of spiders, look away now because we have some horrible news for you.
Summer is set to see a booming influx of huntsman spiders in parts of Queensland.
While appearing on Channel 7’s Sunrise, reporter Bianca Stone warned Aussies there will be an ‘explosion’ of the eight-legged arachnids in the coming weeks.
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Thanks to the villainous La Niña, spiders from all over are banding together as they relish the nation’s weather conditions.
Stone said: “They are bigger and there’s more of them than ever before, and there’s good reason for it; they love the conditions - hot weather, the wet weather, there’s plenty of food around as well.”
Excuse me while I just give my floor a big fat sweep!
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However, do not fret, as these hairy insects are ‘rarely aggressive’ and are more likely to run away than chase you down.
Huntsmans are not deadly either, so you can stop booking your one-way ticket to Antarctica.
However, one positive for having arachnids resident in your home is that they typically eat smaller insects, such as termites, moths, cockroaches, beetles, crickets and other spiders.
The Courier Mail also reported that Queenslanders would be the most affected due to their high temperatures and humidity.
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Arachnologist at the Queensland Museum, Dr Jeremy Wilson, told the outlet that spiders love the weather in the Sunshine State.
He added: “Huntsman spiders don’t live very long, they live for one or two years, and they tend to mature around this time of year.”
He continued: “Having lots of adult huntsmans out at the moment reflects on a good breeding season, that means the last year or two has provided the perfect weather conditions for breeding and prey abundance.”
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Technical manager at Termitrust Pest Control, John Graham, shared that while things slowed down with the colder weather in October, Queenslanders can now expect more spiders to crawl in than experts previously thought.
“Our general inquiries over the last 10 days are up 20 per cent and we are expecting this to be a busy season, busier than we forecast,” he told the publication.
However, he warned people to act quickly, even if they spot one or two insects.
He continued: “These are the ultimate conditions for a growth spurt, lots of eggs will be hatching.”
Topics: News, Environment, Australia, Animals