So, how do you get a spider into a plastic container?

This stuff isn't rocket science - I've done it countless times, but I do NOT recommend you do this with dangerous types of spiders. Use a plastic container so it won't shatter. Also, don't try this if you have a phobia (irrational fear) of spiders.

This method works fine whether the spider's on the floor or on the wall. If the spider's on a wall then remember to have your piece of cardboard within easy reach, because the plastic container's not going to stay in place while you walk back to get the cardboard.

You have to be pretty quick to get a container over the top of a spider like a huntsman. I always use a transparent container so I can see what's going on. Take-away food containers are really handy for this.

Slide a sheet of stiff cardboard under the container, being careful to allow the spider to climb over the cardboard, and keeping the container held against the wall/floor. This is when you appreciate being able to see through the transparent container

With the cardboard held under the container you can lift it away

I prefer to flip it around so the the spider is sitting inside the container instead of standing on the cardboard

Once I've caught a spider and let it free outside I like to keep the container and cardboard handy for the next time.

Back to Huntsman spiders page

• So, what's with this 'Nature Stuff' then?

Birds

• Indian Mynahs - pushy and invasive
• Noisy Miners - aggression in the suburbs
• Starlings - Another feral pest, or not?
• Australian White Ibis - conservation takes a twist
• Common water birds around Sydney
• Pacific Black Ducks
• Geese teeth - do birds have teeth?
• Rainbow Lorikeets - raucous and colourful
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoos - beautiful birds with an awful call
• Glossy Black Cockatoos - casuarinas' seed crackers
• Are they Crows or Ravens in Sydney?
• Black Swans - bird emblem of Western Australia
• Brush Turkeys - Cool birds, huge nests
• Darters - comfortable on land, in the air and water
• Australian Pelicans

Trees

• A few big Australian trees
• Unusual and beautiful Australian trees
• Why Australia's giant trees might never return

Reptiles

• Lizard bite - getting more than you bargained for

Insects and spiders

• One of the longest insects in the world (photos)
• Some common Australian orb-weaving spiders
• Hunstman Spiders
• Fear of Huntsman Spiders
• Golden Orb Weaver Spiders
• How many eyes do spiders have?
• How many eyes do insects have?
• How I catch spiders (to take them outside)
• The amazing net-casting spiders
• Commensal spiders - eating the leftovers
• What is a spider? No, seriously, what makes a spider a spider?
• Jumping spiders

Other stuff

• Book review: Back from the Brink
• So what's a feral species, really?
• Camouflaged critters - blending in to a scene near you
• Critters in the city
• Fire and the Australian bush
• Cute stuff - critters sure can look cute when they're little
• Wildlife photography - an unhelpful guide
• Feeding wild animals - is it a good idea?
• Photo Sales - I might have that Australian nature pic you're looking for
• In pursuit of the waterskiing duck (blog)