How bad are the insects in Phoenix? (Scottsdale: travel, house)

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by jlzpo1

Have you seen a giant crab spider while in Arizona? I was talking to a guy here at work about the thread, and decided to freak me out some more just because he's jealous about my move.

Those are properly known as Huntsman spiders. They can get decently big, but are completely harmless and rather docile. Theyre VERY fast though, one of the fastest spiders out there. They used those in the movie Arachnophobia.

The real crab spiders are pretty little things that sit on flowers and ambush prey that come to land. Some crab spiders can change colors to imitate whatever flower they may be sitting on, truly amazing little beasts.

[Synergy38]

Wow, that think is just GIANT! Just over the size of a QUARTER! EGADS!!! :| lol

[Steve-o]

Here is a Huntsman I found on my FIL's house one night while herping in his yard. Pretty big fella! Harmless, but big.

Next to cigarette pack for size comparo:


I put him in the yard and took one more pic:

[amatrine]

Yeah. People mistake them out here for brown recloose, when they look nothing like them. I just killed one yesterday that got in my plant. First time I had seen one in years.
I usually see more of the wolf spiders in my windows. I leave them be because they eat other bugs and they are not dangerous. I have had them wolf spiders in NM too. At least out here I have never seen those centipedes . In NM they would charge at you, and they have a poison in their legs that really hurts and will make you swell and get sick. Not sure if they exist here. If you look up bugs for each state, you can see they all have their own gory bugs. Its just some you do not see often enough to freak you out. LIke I said. I Am a bugaphobe, but still live here without worry . I am just careful. Check your linines when you take them out of the closet. Wash guest bed linens once in a while when they are not being used, just common sense stuff. Shoes left outside, before you put them on, just look inside em. Oh, and dont do what I did to get stung, do not walk around gravel barefoot,lol

Ama

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by amatrine

Yeah. People mistake them out here for brown recloose, when they look nothing like them. I just killed one yesterday that got in my plant. First time I had seen one in years.
I usually see more of the wolf spiders in my windows. I leave them be because they eat other bugs and they are not dangerous. I have had them wolf spiders in NM too. At least out here I have never seen those centipedes . In NM they would charge at you, and they have a poison in their legs that really hurts and will make you swell and get sick. Not sure if they exist here. If you look up bugs for each state, you can see they all have their own gory bugs. Its just some you do not see often enough to freak you out. LIke I said. I Am a bugaphobe, but still live here without worry . I am just careful. Check your linines when you take them out of the closet. Wash guest bed linens once in a while when they are not being used, just common sense stuff. Shoes left outside, before you put them on, just look inside em. Oh, and dont do what I did to get stung, do not walk around gravel barefoot,lol

Ama

Yes, the recluse and Huntsmen spiders dont look anything alike. Alot of people dont know a dang thing about spiders and automatically think the worst. Leave em alone, they kill and eat cockroaches and other pests.

As for the centipedes, some species do have a little venom-like substance in their claws, which can cause mild irritation when they walk on you. Their venom is injected through their focipules, which are the hook-like appendages under their "heads", if you will. They can bite extremely hard and inflict serious pain. And yes, theyre in Arizona as well, even bigger species than the ones in NM. Some AZ specimens have reached 10"! Google Scolopendra heros heros and Scolopendra heros arizonensis if youre interested.

[Plin]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Here is a Huntsman I found on my FIL's house one night while herping in his yard. Pretty big fella! Harmless, but big.

Okay, I must remind myself that when I lived in Australia, I got used to huntsman spiders that would hide behind posters on my wall and come out when it cooled off at night. I didn't like it, but I got used to it. And there were funnel-web spiders there, too, which were very dangerous and yet I never noticed them even though I knew they lived in the gutters of our house.

So I can get used to the creepy-crawlies in Arizona. It will be fine. Deep breath.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Plin

Okay, I must remind myself that when I lived in Australia, I got used to huntsman spiders that would hide behind posters on my wall and come out when it cooled off at night. I didn't like it, but I got used to it. And there were funnel-web spiders there, too, which were very dangerous and yet I never noticed them even though I knew they lived in the gutters of our house.

So I can get used to the creepy-crawlies in Arizona. It will be fine. Deep breath.

If you lived in Australia, youll will certainly feel comfortable in AZ. AZ has many venomous snakes, but none are as potent as those found Down Under. AZ has alot of black widows (your "red back" spiders), which are very dangerous, but you just need to look out for them. One thing that will differ are the scorpion populations. AZ is home to many species, but only one is considered medically significant (Centruroides exilicauda--AZ bark scorpion). Their venom is considered dangerous to the elderly, infants, and those with weakened immune systems. A sting to a normal, healthy adult will feel horrible, but wont necessarily harm you, unless youre very allergic to their neurotoxic venom.

[amatrine]

I have been bit by a black widow, and I survived. Made me throw up for a bit, and cramp up, but it did pass. Also stepped on scorps and got stung. Not a bark scorpion though. One was black, one was tan . It hurt, but kidney stones hurt worse .

I do remember years ago, when I was a late teen, taking a bath in my old apartment, and one was crawling on my stomach,... a bark scorpion. UGHHH forgot about that.
That place used to have a pool they boarded up with pom trees rite next to it. It was infested really bad. Did not get stung though, though I took showers after that in that place.lol ...

Yeah, if you can handle Australia , you will be fine here. Millions live here, and its not scaring them away

Ama

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by amatrine

I have been bit by a black widow, and I survived. Made me throw up for a bit, and cramp up, but it did pass. Also stepped on scorps and got stung. Not a bark scorpion though. One was black, one was tan . It hurt, but kidney stones hurt worse

NOTHING hurts more than a kidney stone. Ive had 3 now and I wouldnt wish that on my worst enemy.

[Synergy38]

3? Good lord... time to change your diet perhaps?