Snake bite? Or maybe something else...

lasjholl · #1 (**permalink**) 17-02-2012, 06:56 PM

My wife came back from a walk in the fields this morning saying she had been bitten on the finger by 'something'.
She had reached into undergrowth beneath a hedge and felt a sharp nip. She quickly withdrew her hand and saw two small puncture marks on the end of her index finger. The marks are approximately 5mm apart and each looks like it could have been made by the sharp end of a pin, so pretty small.
She said she did not see/hear anything moving amongst the vegetation.
Anyway, a short time later she started to feel a tingly sensation in part of the same hand.
By the way, we live on the Cheshire/Shropshire border, amongst lightly wooded farmland.

Any ideas?

fairplay · #2 (**permalink**) 18-02-2012, 08:27 AM

Welcome to WAB.

Although it is now warm enough for adders to start moving around, it is highly unlikely to be any type of snake.
I have been stabbed by an earwig even and it was enough for me to quickly move my hand and say ouch, and a bite from a ladybird hurt even more !

I don't think anyone is going to be able to give a more positive answer without seeing the 'wound' (if still visible) and more detail of the habitat.

The tingling was just imagined in my opinion as a result of not knowing what it was. Just put it down to 'one of those things'.

Neil.

Dogghound · #3 (**permalink**) 18-02-2012, 08:47 AM

Sounds more like a spider bite to me. If it had been an adder she would have more than a tingling sensation.

ViperaBerus · #4 (**permalink**) 18-02-2012, 06:12 PM

5mm is far too small a gap between fangs even for a neonate. And she would certainly feel more than a tingly sensation if envenomation had occurred. My money is on spider too.

Meta menardi · #5 (**permalink**) 18-02-2012, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViperaBerus

5mm is far too small a gap between fangs even for a neonate. And she would certainly feel more than a tingly sensation if envenomation had occurred. My money is on spider too.

Pretty meaty spider, around at a strange time of year and with a very short fuse. I'm going to blame something else... bank vole!

Chasing shadows, but I can't believe spider.

Please don't be offended, lasjholl, I don't want to doubt the facts as stated, just to point out that it is difficult to diagnose at a distance with not much information.

Hedgehoggy · #6 (**permalink**) 18-02-2012, 09:15 PM

I got bitten by a wood mouse last week and it actually drew blood! I retrieved it from next door’s cat then I accidentally dropped it into the snow, and as it tried to burrow into the snow I put my hand in to locate it and it bit me! First time I’ve ever been bitten by a mouse!

fairplay · #7 (**permalink**) 18-02-2012, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hedgehoggy

I got bitten by a wood mouse last week and it actually drew blood! I retrieved it from next door’s cat then I accidentally dropped it into the snow, and as it tried to burrow into the snow I put my hand in to locate it and it bit me! First time I’ve ever been bitten by a mouse!

"Why did I let it go ... because it bit my finger so"

Neil.

Meta menardi · #8 (**permalink**) 18-02-2012, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairplay

"Why did I let it go ... because it bit my finger so"

Neil.

The old truths are the wisest.

Dogghound · #9 (**permalink**) 19-02-2012, 07:48 AM

No rodent will leave two puncture marks due to their dental structure. So if not a spider then perhaps a shrew or large beetle like a devils coach horse.

ViperaBerus · #10 (**permalink**) 19-02-2012, 11:08 AM

There are plenty of spiders out and about around my survey areas at the moment, as well as other species of invertebrate. Orb webs are quite capable of giving a bite this big, as are most Tegenaria and Woodlouse spiders. In fact 5mm is the average bite size for those species within the UK capable of penetrating human skin. A mouse or vole would leave a much different bite pattern and size of hole. No rodent with the UK has incisors 5mm apart.