As the mercury skyrockets across Australia’s east-coast, many will be flocking to backyard pools in a bid to beat the beat.

But as this frightening footage shows, it’s not just heat-stricken swimmers looking for a dip – venomous spiders are taking the plunge too.

The vision, from somewhere in Australia, shows a man opening the filter of his pool to uncover the creepy crawly lurking on the thermometer.

The spider traps air bubbles in the hairs around their bodies, allowing them to breathe beneath the water’s surface.

A mix of sweltering temperatures, wet weather, humidity and high pollen levels drive the arachnids out in the open during the warmer months to seek food or a mate. 

Wolf spider bites can cause include swelling, prolonged pain, dizziness, rapid pulse and nausea, according to the Australian Museum. 

The spiders are found from woodlands to wet coastal forests, and as in the case of this footage, suburban backyards, which are ideal habitats for their prey. 

The arachnids also breed more in heat and humidity, with the climate creating the perfect conditions for procreating. 

Encounters like as this are bound to be more common in the warmer months - and pool owners should be wary of assuming spiders underwater are dead.