Re: [Paddlewise] Funnel web spiders..

From: Shawn W. Baker <baker_at_montana.com>
Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2000 11:56:15 -0600
The exterminator told me that their venom has varying effects on people,
and it also depends how much you're injected with.  I've been bitten
10-15 times, and while it wasn't pleasant, I would rather have the
spider bite than the chainsaw (but preferably neither, thank you!)

I had a quarter-sized sore that just looked like any other bug bite, but
it didn't heal for about 10 days.  I understand that these bites can
actually kill your skin--the venom eats the flesh.  These spiders are a
close relative of the Brown Recluse or "Fiddleback" Spider.

Up close, these bad boys have big huge poison glands that are quite
visible, and quite nasty looking.  When you step on them, they squish
just like any other spider, though!

Shawn

SRI wrote:
> 
> Are the ones in AU also commonly called "Aggressive House Spiders" and
> "Hobo Spiders"?  I've had a few building their funnel webs around the
> foundation of my house--I hate using chemicals, but the exterminator
> took good care of them.
> 
> I was recently bitten by what appears to have been a "House Spider" or "Hobo
> Spider", and I can tell you for sure, I don't want that to happen again.  I
> was recently cut pretty badly by a chain saw (it has not been my year), and
> I can say with certainty I'd take the chain saw over the spider any day.
> Before, I would not allow anyone to kill an insect or spider in or around my
> house.  Now, I kill everything in sight.  And before you judge, ask
> yourself: have you ever been bitten by one of these things?  If not, well, .
> . . 'nuf said.
> Mark

-- 
Shawn W. Baker          0                                    46°53'N
© 2000            ____©/______                              114°06'W
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^\  ,/      /~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
baker_at_montana.com    0        http://www.geocities.com/shawnkayak/
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Received on Tue Sep 05 2000 - 10:56:40 PDT

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