False Widow bites woman in bed!

[Venger]

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I'm guessing they're not reading that bit!
Can't help but feel and sudden decrease in spiders around people who read this 'newspaper' (even if it is online)

[Meta menardi]

Surely it must be time for them to resurrect the old one about giant alien spiders under Windsor Castle threatening the life of the Queen? I loved that one!

[No.9 Spider]

Originally Posted by Venger

Opinions expressed here are those of their writers and do not reflect those of the Sun. The Sun Online accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy or content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

I'm guessing they're not reading that bit!
Can't help but feel and sudden decrease in spiders around people who read this 'newspaper' (even if it is online)

Wel, I've emailed them and voiced my opinion of their article and the unprofessionalism of the journalist behind it
Not much point I know.


No.9 Spider

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by No.9 Spider

The Sun Newspaper


UTTER NONSENSE


No.9 Spider

When did this change happen?

[big bill]

Just had a look at this article on the news page on the internet ,have read the through your threads surely they all cannot have got it wrong and that there may be some truth in it .
I dont know zilch about spiders except that they have 8 legs and the wife and daughter hate them

Deadly Widow Weaves Web Across Britain - Yahoo! News UK

[Venger]

I'm sure that's been altered - it was word for word the same as The Sun's, now it's been altered and is full of contradictions (its still says deadly, but ends with not deadly?)

Steatoda bites (said false widows) have a medical classification as 'Steatodism'

The clinical presentation of Steatoda bites was characterised by moderate to severe regional pain (26%), with a mean duration of six hours, and systemic effects in 30%, notably nausea, headache, malaise, and lethargy. These investigators used the term "steatodism" to describe the clinical syndrome of Steatoda bites, with pain and systemic effects similar to, but milder than, Latrodectus bites, with the exception of the diaphoresis, which is pathognomonic of Latrodectus bites.

THE GLOBAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, SYNDROMIC CLASSIFICATION, MANAGEMENT, AND PREVENTION OF SPIDER BITES
JAMES H. DIAZ

Read the full Australian study here:
THE GLOBAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, SYNDROMIC CLASSIFICATION, MANAGEMENT, AND PREVENTION OF SPIDER BITES -- DIAZ 71 (2): 239 -- American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

While not pleasant it's not going to kill you (unless you suffer a reaction to the bite - the same way some people do with wasp and bees - it's not the bite/sting but your reaction to it)

Also read this as well:
The Ranger's Blog - Post details: The truth about Steatoda nobilis - is it the UK's most dangerous spider?

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/l...lse-widow.html

Spider bites are rare, and always in self defence.
They are good for your house and garden - keeping down insect pests.

Sadly this is poor journalism - unconfirmed facts and wild rumours pimped out as breaking news.

[Jason Green]

Surely the False Widow has been breeding here for decades? That story is shocking!! If it arrived here 140yrs ago, then it's been breeding here all along!

[naturegirl]

Well, all I can say is that I have both S.grossa (the culprit in this case) & S.nobilis here in South East Kent both in and around my bungalow and garden!

We (seem) to live in harmony together. I.E. THEY keep out of my place and I leave them alone.
However, I have had to banish several of said species (including about 30 young) from my bedroom where the window is open all year round.

I most certainly do NOT want to end up like that lady on life support from a bite!!

I react very badly to wasp and bee stings so can only speculate what reaction I may have to this spider and I have no intention of finding out either!!

Naturegirl