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General Climbing Discussion

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Redback spider under men's basin at Pines 2-Jan-2010 At 3:36:48 PM The Keeper

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Frankly, I recommend letting the critter live - simply relocate. I would be more concerned about a gnarly Queen'sland climbing vixen - the latter is a no hoper - brain goes to mush and your destination is subterranean neath ant hill in the ghastly blank.

Which all goes to sustain my perspective that there is method to winter climbing at Araps - all ( okay - minus the Boonah species of the opposite gender) of the gnarlies are lying low. Having visited the iconic Pines loo - I must admit I was seriously impressed by the depth and variety of dessicated carcasses ( absence of those related to shy, innocent Canuck lads was noteworthy) and other random body parts. I recall thinking this must be action central for some predators in season!

But the more time I spend down under, my perspective changes - it is more important to be thinking about what is higher in the food chain - what is taking down down the
red backs, white tips, brownies etc. That is what you want to be more worried about!!!!
This was vividly brought home to me on the Gold Coast where I bivied on the couch of a friend who had a nice piece of quasi-backyard jungle. After being rudely awakened by the local avian fuana at an ungodly hour, I parted the shades to review the jungle -only to spot something moving on the lawn. Away I went with camera to investigate - only to find one humongous spider wasp carting one next- to -dead large Huntsman. The gnarly dude carted its prey across the lawn, up a vertical wall, around a 90 degree corner and when I got close for the photo op - I was on the receiving end of some seriously loud hisses. I proclaimed my Canadian innocence - arguing that if it was taking down dudes like the Huntsman it was going to have no trouble with me!
This did up my sympathy for the poor Huntsmans though - can you imagine being the target for these spider-wasps 24-7. Yikes, too much like the predation pattern of Queen'sland climbing vixens!!! In any case, when another showed up on the bathroom wall of my friends place, it donned a Croc Hunter persona and with the help of a plastic container and sheet of paper - managed to corral the beast and relocate it to some adjacent property.
So if the Red Backs don't hassle me , they get good respect in return. But what about White tips? A Rotary guy in Perth told me at lunch about his wife lying in bed and a white tip dropping down fromt the ceiling and sinking its fangs into her. Her arm took a severe hit -semi -necrotizing etc. Now that is nasty!
East of Perth in a roadside motel on night, I came across some seriously large roaches - I did the green thing - recyle, relocate etc. Down the toilet into the Indian Ocean to provide sustenance for the Great Whites. Strategic thinking goes a long way - if the predators are well fed and satisfied then they are less likely to park you in the great hereafter or way beyond the black stump. Same applies to the Queen'sland climbing vixens - free passes to hair salons and Parisean designer clothes go a long way!

Not too many folks dying from the country cousins to the Red Backs over here - Black Widows of the insect kind - pretty much have their niche and do their thing. They have their place and control some other insect irritants to be sure.

Happy New Year from Up Over!