Finally the cold winter is starting to disappear with some warmer spring weather in the hills, flowers starting to bloom and all those new little animals being born. Along with this abundance of growth comes the life giving pollinating minuture communitys of a variety of crawling and flying creatures, hexapod invertebrate and arthropods. Warm weather and insects equal the appearance in houses and cars of the long legged, fast and furry Huntsman.

The other day the weather was just beautiful, very warm and just how I like it, but low and behold the moment I opened my bedroom window to enjoy the pleasant warmth and spring breeze, in crawled Mr Huntsman (or Mrs) looking to cuddle up for the night.

Now I’m generally more than a little arachnophobic, I don’t really like any spider or bug, or crawley thing for that matter, but partiulary the native and harmless Huntsman freak me the hell out. I have been known to let out a blood curdling high pitched scream on any surprise encounter, however they are actually a good thing to have around. Huntsman Spiders eat other bugs and smaller spiders and don’t make anything as mundane as a web, but do exactly what the name suggests, they hunt. Most of these creatures are actually uniquely beautiful with their long legs, colorful and individual markings and cute little eight eyed faces. But no matter how irrational my fear is, I just can’t help but be creeped out. God forbid one should get in my car or home. So I surface spray everything and systematically check my car each time for passengers, door frame, visors, a full visual survey of my vehicle.

I just can not avoid them, they seem to be terribly attracted to me and can appear anywhere at anytime. I blame growing up in a house where these guys were considered pets, or my creative and slightly evil son who liked to blue tack fake Huntsman’s next to a light switch in the dark or under a toilet seat.

Despite all this I don’t advocate killing them, and are trying really hard to surpass my fear, I’m getting better at dealing with them but I doubt my natural guttural reaction will disappear anytime soon. Ah, the mysteries of phobias and our strange human brains.