False Widow Spiders

[Bob Hobden]

Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being erected
next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is there something
that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even if it is "only" like
a bee sting.

-- Regards
Bob Hobden
Posting to this Newsgroup
from the W.of London. UK

[Mike]

Post by Bob Hobden
Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being
erected next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is
there something that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even
if it is "only" like a bee sting.
-- Regards Bob Hobden Posting to this Newsgroup from the W.of London. UK

A kitten from Christina's rat-eating cat?

Mike.

[Bob Hobden]

Post by Mike

Post by Bob Hobden
Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being
erected next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is
there something that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even
if it is "only" like a bee sting.

A kitten from Christina's rat-eating cat?

We already have one of those, he's brought two rats in through the catflap
to show us, both alive, just!

[Christina Websell]

Post by Mike

Post by Bob Hobden
Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being
erected next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is
there something that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even
if it is "only" like a bee sting.
-- Regards Bob Hobden Posting to this Newsgroup from the W.of London. UK

A kitten from Christina's rat-eating cat?
Mike.

Actually, you are not far from the truth. He also eats spiders than run
over the floor before I even see them. He did so today. Jumps down from
the chair, paw out, hard pat. Chomp.
Unfortunately, I cannot offer a kitten bred from him. He's had the snip..
I was never a cat fan until he arrived. He has no temper in him and would
not dream of biting or scratching me, even when he got badly injured in
January. He came home with his intestines hanging out having fallen foul of
some broken glass
He's totally changed my mind about cats.
Yes, he is a bit of a wuss about big rats, but hey, that's what the terriers
are for. He's good with small ones. He has been known to present me with 4
deceased youngsters in a few hours.
I didn't want him when he came as a stray, tbh. but I am really glad I kept
him.

[Michael J Davis]

Post by Bob Hobden
Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being
erected next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is
there something that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even
if it is "only" like a bee sting.

Today's Times has a report of a woman who died after a bite from one.

Mike

[Bob Hobden]

Bob Hobden was inspired to say

Post by Bob Hobden
Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being
erected next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is
there something that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even
if it is "only" like a bee sting.

Today's Times has a report of a woman who died after a bite from one.

How comforting is that news.

[Malcolm]

Post by Bob Hobden

Bob Hobden was inspired to say

Post by Bob Hobden
Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being
erected next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is
there something that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even
if it is "only" like a bee sting.

Today's Times has a report of a woman who died after a bite from one.

How comforting is that news.

Well, obviously not very!

However, the article does say that investigations are continuing to see
whether it was actually the spider bite which killed her and whether she
received appropriate treatment. This would be the first proven case in
Britain.

[Bob Hobden]

Bob Hobden writes

Post by Bob Hobden

Bob Hobden was inspired to say

Post by Bob Hobden
Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being
erected next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is
there something that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even
if it is "only" like a bee sting.

Today's Times has a report of a woman who died after a bite from one.

How comforting is that news.

Well, obviously not very!
However, the article does say that investigations are continuing to see
whether it was actually the spider bite which killed her and whether she
received appropriate treatment. This would be the first proven case in
Britain.

But most would not usually seek treatment for a bee/wasp sting, so did this
person go into anaphylactic shock.

[Malcolm]

Post by Bob Hobden

Bob Hobden writes

Post by Bob Hobden

Bob Hobden was inspired to say

Post by Bob Hobden
Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being
erected next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is
there something that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even
if it is "only" like a bee sting.

Today's Times has a report of a woman who died after a bite from one.

How comforting is that news.

Well, obviously not very!
However, the article does say that investigations are continuing to
see whether it was actually the spider bite which killed her and
whether she received appropriate treatment. This would be the first
proven case in Britain.

But most would not usually seek treatment for a bee/wasp sting, so did
this person go into anaphylactic shock.

No, because she died after what were described as "weeks of agony" and
shortly after having the tip of her finger amputated.
Presumably there will have to be inquest into her death though whether
the national papers will report it is anybody's guess.

[Bob Hobden]

Bob Hobden writes

Post by Bob Hobden

Bob Hobden writes

Post by Bob Hobden

Bob Hobden was inspired to say

Post by Bob Hobden
Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being
erected next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is
there something that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even
if it is "only" like a bee sting.

Today's Times has a report of a woman who died after a bite from one.

How comforting is that news.

Well, obviously not very!
However, the article does say that investigations are continuing to see
whether it was actually the spider bite which killed her and whether she
received appropriate treatment. This would be the first proven case in
Britain.

But most would not usually seek treatment for a bee/wasp sting, so did
this person go into anaphylactic shock.

No, because she died after what were described as "weeks of agony" and
shortly after having the tip of her finger amputated.
Presumably there will have to be inquest into her death though whether the
national papers will report it is anybody's guess.

"weeks of agony" sounds strange, usually a bite/sting causes almost
immediate response in the person concerned and it dies down over a few
hours. Having to have her finger tip removed suggests a circulation problem
perhaps leading to gangrene, maybe the poor lady had other health problems.
Not seen anything in the national press about this case so do please keep us
informed Malcolm.

The builders putting my new greenhouse up at the moment said, after I warned
them about the spiders, that a relative did get bitten by one and it was
just like a bee sting, quite painful but died down after a few hours.

[Stephen Wolstenholme]

Post by Bob Hobden
The builders putting my new greenhouse up at the moment said, after I warned
them about the spiders, that a relative did get bitten by one and it was
just like a bee sting, quite painful but died down after a few hours.

Another builder, my friend, got bit by a spider on his ankle. After a
few hours his lower leg was about twice it's usual size. We took him
to hospital where they diagnosed Cellulitis. He was kept in for a week
and was off work for two weeks. The doctor told us they get a lot of
people with spider bites in Autumn every year. Most aren't so bad but
can become infected.

Steve

[Malcolm]

Post by Bob Hobden

Bob Hobden writes

Post by Bob Hobden

Bob Hobden writes

Post by Bob Hobden

Bob Hobden was inspired to say

Post by Bob Hobden
Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being
erected next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is
there something that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even
if it is "only" like a bee sting.

Today's Times has a report of a woman who died after a bite from one.

How comforting is that news.

Well, obviously not very!
However, the article does say that investigations are continuing to
see whether it was actually the spider bite which killed her and
whether she received appropriate treatment. This would be the first
proven case in Britain.

But most would not usually seek treatment for a bee/wasp sting, so
did this person go into anaphylactic shock.

No, because she died after what were described as "weeks of agony" and
shortly after having the tip of her finger amputated.
Presumably there will have to be inquest into her death though whether
the national papers will report it is anybody's guess.

"weeks of agony" sounds strange, usually a bite/sting causes almost
immediate response in the person concerned and it dies down over a few
hours. Having to have her finger tip removed suggests a circulation
problem perhaps leading to gangrene, maybe the poor lady had other
health problems.

There is mention in the article of another lady bitten by a false widow
spider who had to have the bitten finger amputated because "after six
weeks in hospital she was diagnoted with necrotising fasciitis, known as
flesh-eating disease, which can be caused by an infected wound."

Post by Bob Hobden
Not seen anything in the national press about this case so do please
keep us informed Malcolm.

I read it in the Times. As the poor lady lived in Surrey, I am unlikely
to see anything about it other than in the national press!

Post by Bob Hobden
The builders putting my new greenhouse up at the moment said, after I
warned them about the spiders, that a relative did get bitten by one
and it was just like a bee sting, quite painful but died down after a
few hours.

As with all venom-injecting reptiles and invertebrates in this country,
there can be a huge individual reaction to a particular venom, ranging
from a small irritating lump to full-blown anaphylactic shock.

[Bob Hobden]

"Malcolm" wrote ...

Bob Hobden writes

Post by Bob Hobden

Bob Hobden writes

Post by Bob Hobden

Bob Hobden writes

Post by Bob Hobden

Bob Hobden was inspired to say

Post by Bob Hobden
Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being
erected next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is
there something that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even
if it is "only" like a bee sting.

Today's Times has a report of a woman who died after a bite from one.

How comforting is that news.

Well, obviously not very!
However, the article does say that investigations are continuing to see
whether it was actually the spider bite which killed her and whether
she received appropriate treatment. This would be the first proven case
in Britain.

But most would not usually seek treatment for a bee/wasp sting, so did
this person go into anaphylactic shock.

No, because she died after what were described as "weeks of agony" and
shortly after having the tip of her finger amputated.
Presumably there will have to be inquest into her death though whether
the national papers will report it is anybody's guess.

"weeks of agony" sounds strange, usually a bite/sting causes almost
immediate response in the person concerned and it dies down over a few
hours. Having to have her finger tip removed suggests a circulation
problem perhaps leading to gangrene, maybe the poor lady had other health
problems.

There is mention in the article of another lady bitten by a false widow
spider who had to have the bitten finger amputated because "after six weeks
in hospital she was diagnoted with necrotising fasciitis, known as
flesh-eating disease, which can be caused by an infected wound."

Post by Bob Hobden
Not seen anything in the national press about this case so do please keep
us informed Malcolm.

I read it in the Times. As the poor lady lived in Surrey, I am unlikely to
see anything about it other than in the national press!

The Times seem to want me to subscribe, but I have found this...
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/grandmother-dies-weeks-after-being-4605944.

It's a wonder BBC South East haven't picked up on it seeing as the spiders
are here and they do love to frighten people.

[Mike]

Post by Bob Hobden
It's a wonder BBC South East haven't picked up on it seeing as the
spiders are here and they do love to frighten people.

That's a "love" by the BBC sitting down beside you, not the spiders, I
presume?

Mike.

[Christina Websell]

Post by Malcolm

Post by Bob Hobden

Bob Hobden was inspired to say

Post by Bob Hobden
Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being
erected next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is
there something that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even
if it is "only" like a bee sting.

Today's Times has a report of a woman who died after a bite from one.

How comforting is that news.

Well, obviously not very!
However, the article does say that investigations are continuing to see
whether it was actually the spider bite which killed her and whether she
received appropriate treatment. This would be the first proven case in
Britain.
--
Malcolm

Well, let's count ourselves lucky that we don't have the brown recluse
spider that they have in America. An American friend of mine got bitten by
one and was in hospital for weeks, she lost a lot of her buttock muscles
because of a bite from a brown recluse.
Apparently they hide in your loft, but don't quote me on that.
I am not fond of spiders but I always get them in a towel and put them
outside unless my cat sees them first.

[Christina Websell]

Post by Bob Hobden
Whilst clearing out my old greenhouse, made to measure new one being
erected next week, I came across three large false widow spiders. Is there
something that deters them, I'm none to keen on being bitten even if it is
"only" like a bee sting.

I've heard that any sort of spiders don't like chestnut oil, but given that
it's an old greenhouse and you weren't likely to be going into there to
anoint it on a regular basis the best thing to do is..
go into any old shed and greenhouse you have and sweep all webs away with a
brush once a month at least.
Spiders like to take up home in an undisturbed place so the best thing to do
is interfere with their chosen site on a regular basis. It really ticks
them off and they will move.
I know you don't like spiders, so I hope this helps.