UK Spider Bites

[Tallus]

I'll post (by snail mail) the actual corpse to any arachnid geek who reckons they can ID it FOC


Tallus

[Tallus]

Originally Posted by tameblackbirds

An old story told by my mum 84. During and air raid my mum and sisters spot a spider in the shelter, more scared of spider than the thought of bomb dropping on them, scream. My Grandma grabbed the spider saying "They won't hurt you" at which point she screamed dropping the spider because it bit her. Mum says her mother never went near spiders again and the next air raid was spent under the kitchen table! Luckily they were never bombed

That is a really nice story which, as well as being interesting, amusing and nostalgic, also places you firmly in to an historical framework

[No.9 Spider]

Hi Tallus, any spider described as having orange legs would usually say Dysdera species to me, ie; Woodlouse spider, and one of the few British species able to inflict a bite upon humans. Have a google on Dysdera crocata.
Much of the reaction from spider bites can be caused by secondary infection of the wound from germs around the spiders fangs rather than envenomation - after all you never know what the spiders last meal was walking on .
Any chance of a better photo, it doesn't come close to helping with i.d. at the moment.


No.9 Spider


P.S. Check your PM's.

[demicav]

I was once bitten by an Amaurobius similis (lace web Spider), a female. It had crawled into some washing up gloves overnight and clearly objected to being squashed by my hand in the morning as well as the heat from the hot water which must have been very frightening for it. It felt like sharp glass and when I peeled back my glove due to the pain it popped out, a little soggy and angry but otherwise ok. I had it identified and then let it go outside on the window frame where I've since discovered we have quite a few living. I do give the females a wide berth but I know that it was only self defence and is unlikely to happen again.

[Estwing]

Hi, I have been bitten twice by spiders.
The first was a small garden type spider which had crawled up my shirt. I felt something and scratched the area through my shirt which must have driven the spiders fangs through the skin. I could see two tiny red dots in the center of my chest and felt a sensation like that of sunburn which subsided a few minutes later.
The second time was from a v.large Tube Web Spider that I trod on with bare feet. I felt a pinch then pain and then the same burning sensation in the arch of my foot. The burning went away after an hour or so.
It didn't half make me jump!
Also, a friend's father was bitten on the earlobe, as he slept, by a House Spider. His earlobe swelled up and turned a deep purple colour. I assume there was some pain involved.

Cheers
Al

[Maiden]

Originally Posted by Entorien_Scriber

My Mother handed me a copy of the Guardian today with a bit of a wince. She hates spiders and there was a huge picture of a False Widow on one page! What interested me was the list of 14 spiders in the UK said to bite.

Tube web spider
False widow spider
Woodlouse spider
Walnut orb-weaver spider
False widow or cellar spider
Lace weaver spider
Black lace weaver spider
Mouse spider
Rustic wolf spider
Bark sac spider
Stone spider
Cross or garden spider
Bruennichi's Argiope
Money spider


Some of these I already knew about, but I've never heard of a Money Spider being able to bite someone! Anyone know if this is true? What classifies as a biting spider? I mean, does it need to be venomous, or just be able to go through human skin?

Plus there are two on here that definately are not native, the False Widow and the Argiope. My Mother's response was to state that now she would squash any spider she sees, which she does already no matter how many times I ask her not to. I just hope this doesn't lead to even more people being far too paranoid about spiders.

I have placed an image of a spider`s web,(identification not known) in the insect gellery. I was told it was a Funnel Web??? I thought ,the species came from Australia, and its web is woven over a hole on the ground? This was over a hole in a slate arch... any ideas?

[Estwing]

Originally Posted by Maiden

I have placed an image of a spider`s web,(identification not known) in the insect gellery. I was told it was a Funnel Web??? I thought ,the species came from Australia, and its web is woven over a hole on the ground? This was over a hole in a slate arch... any ideas?

Hi, There's lots of spiders the world over that make a funnel or tube shaped web leading to a hidy-hole. The Australian species are large and highly venomous, particularly the Sydney Funnel Web, which is the infamous one.
HTH
Al

[Maiden]

Thank you for your reply

[Maiden]

Originally Posted by Tallus

Hi
I just joined this forum a couple of days ago as a result of my wife was bitten on the finger by a spider, which resulted in the finger quickly becoming red and swollen and very painful, as previous posts will verify. Dickybird you are vindicated.

I have since scrolled back and read the other posts on this topic by M M and others, and I am amazed that such a seemingly neutral topic can raise such powerful reactions.

FACT: we live in Hampshire
FACT: she was bitten
FACT: it was a spider (I have the corpse on my desk right here)
FACT: she reacted very quickly
FACT: she is a tough cookie who is very comfortable with arachnids
FACT: we don't use hallucinogenic drugs

get over it :O) Peace guys

Hope your wife is ok?
I have been bitten by a spider(as well as snake) I had left a bunch of chives in the greenhouse to dry. I gathered them up ,felt a pain in my finger and out scuttled a spider. Hurt like anything but no bad reaction.

[Tallus]

I should say, as a matter of closure, that my wife's finger was painful, red and swollen for about twelve hours. It is now fine and returned to normal. Thanks for asking