OUCH AND OUCH AGAIN..YOU MAY NEED TO LOOK AWAY!!

35 comments

TO SET THE SCENE………JUST OUT OF THE SHOWER, CLEAN CLOTHES FROM DRAWER…….OFF UP THE ROAD FOR COFFEE WITH A NEIGHBOUR IN HER CONSERVATORY, ON RETURNING HOME 2 HOURS LATER……..

INTENSE ITCHING….NEIGHBOUR HAS CAT!! OH DEAR THE CAT MUST HAVE FLEAS……ITCHING SPREADING DOWN FROM UPPER ARM TO ELBOW, REMOVED FLEECE, OPEN JUMPER AT THE WRIST, OUT POPS FLEA!!………NO SUCH LUCK…..WAIT FOR IT, A SMALL BLACK SPIDER!! FOR SOMEONE WHO IS PETRIFIED OF THEM, NOT GOOD!!

THOUGHT NO MORE ABOUT IT (WELL, I TRIED HARD NOT TO) THAT EVENING SPENT A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE NIGHT, ITCHING LIKE A CRAZY PERSON…..

NEXT MORNING, VERY SWOLLEN ARM, 2 BITES, NOW THE WEEK BEFORE WE HAD SAT FOR OUR DAUGHTER AND REMEMBER GRANDSON RECOUNTING STORY ABOUT BLACK SPIDER BITING WOMAN WHILST IN BED, AND HER LEG SWELLING UP…..GREAT, DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE, LUCKILY THE SPIDER WAS STILL ON KITCHEN FLOOR (OH IS VERY GOOD LOOKING AFTER ME, BUT CLEANING UP THE FLOOR, NOT TOO HOT ON……

IT APPEARS TO BE A FALSE WIDOW SPIDER!!

Sorry but the next part is rather long…….

The species is not usually aggressive towards humans and that being bitten is rare. )OH YES!!

The species is becoming more common and more widespread, says John Tweddle from the life sciences department at the Natural History Museum, London.

He says that “it’s not an influx as such, rather that existing populations are expanding”.

And being bitten by one is not very common, explains Dr Tweddle. It’s much less common than a bee or a wasp sting.

‘Not aggressive’ OH DONT YOU BELIEVE IT!!

False widow spider
False widow spiders arrived in south-west England in the 1870s
It is Britain’s most venomous spider, although there are no reported deaths from its bite in the UK
The spider has distinctive cream markings on its bulbous body and is brown with reddish-orangey legs
It eats insects, invertebrates and even other spiders
It prefers warm, dark places
The UK has about 650 species of spider and of these only about a dozen are capable of biting humans
Source: Natural History Museum

What makes a species venomous?

“There have been very few confirmed incidences of bites from Steatoda nobilis, although adult female false widow spiders are certainly capable of biting humans if handled without due care – the smaller males are not known to cause bites.

“It is not an aggressive species towards humans and is most likely to bite when accidentally prodded or squashed, or trapped in clothing.”

The false widow is believed to have arrived in Britain in crates of fruit from the Canary Islands in the late 19th Century, with the first reported sighting in Torquay in 1879.

The species has most likely spread as a response to a changing climate, adds Dr Tweddle.

“We’re expecting the species to continue to increase its distribution within the UK. We tend to spot spiders most frequently during the Autumn as this is when many of the UK’s larger species reach maximum size, so are most visible.”

The symptoms of a bite range from feelings of numbness, severe swelling and discomfort, to various levels of burning or chest pains. The severity of the symptoms depends on the amount of venom that was injected.

There have been no reported deaths from its bite in the UK.

Although a bite is very uncomfortable, it’s no stronger than a wasp sting, says Mark Champion from the Wildlife Trust. There is also a greater chance of dying from a wasp or bee sting, he adds.

“The bite that it gives is mainly defensive, so it’s not coming out to get you, it’s not a horror movie,” he told BBC Breakfast..
I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT !!

“The swelling can become the size of a tennis ball. It can be something quite big but it’s not something we all need to panic about.” ALRIGHT FOR YOU TO SAY, IT DID NOT BITE YOU!!

‘Scaremongering’
A footballer was recently bitten by a false widow in his sleep had to undergo surgery to cut away the area around the bite. OH MARVELLOUS NEWS!!

One newspaper has also reported that a man was left fighting for his life after a bite on his foot.

Sara Goodacre from the University of Nottingham’s Spider Lab, says there seems to be a “disproportionate worry” about the creatures and that such media reports are “scaremongering”.

False Widows are extremely prevalent in France and Spain, yet there are rarely reports of holiday makers being bitten, Dr Goodacre told BBC News.

Furthermore, she adds, some of the media reports of the bites are not consistent with the effect a neurotoxin – present in a false widow’s venom – would have.

Responding to the footballer surgery, Dr Goodacre says: "That’s what you would need to do with a venom that’s slowly breaking down the tissue, which some snake and spider venoms do – but not the false widow.

“People aren’t always reporting the same consistent symptoms. It’s important to work out if we are talking about the same thing, or whether it’s an allergy where the symptoms depends on the person that’s bitten.

THAT IS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE…….NOW ARE YOU HAVING THE SAME THOUGHTS THAT I AM HAVING? UMMMMM !!!! DID IT COME FROM MY DRAWER WHICH IS DARK AND WARM AND ARE THERE EGGS HATCHING IN THERE AS I TYPE THIS……….

MY ARM IS STILL ITCHING DESPITE TAKING ANTHISTAMINE AND CREAM FOR THE BITES……..I AM TRYING NOT TO PANIC!!

let this be a warning, look in your clothes before you put them on….oh and by the way……..guess what?
YES!! IT IS RAINING AGAIN……..

31 Jan, 2014
2 likes

Comments

Pamg

I really can't put "like" for obvious reasons.....
Poor you, awful experience!
I didn't think we had biting spiders in Britain. ........I'll be more careful in future......
are you washing your clothes and spraying the drawers?
do they make aracnicides?
hope you feel better soon x

31 Jan, 2014

Cottagekaren

Oooh! That's awful A! Poor you! I hope it doesn't keep you up tonight. Once again, I am glad to be living up north! Oh, but it's raining here too! ;)

31 Jan, 2014

Dottydaisy2

Karen, sorry but they are on the way up North, but with severe winters I would think they would soon die off!!
Pamg, have been bitten before by garden spiders, but nothing like this little blighter, wondering if it came on clothes dried outside in the Summer....
Will have to get OH to empty all the drawers, so I can put everything in the wash.....and then spray hey ho!!

31 Jan, 2014

Annella

Eeeeeeeeeek!!!!! I've put like Dotty but that is for the warning, I hate spiders. Reading this has made me itch!
.......Sleety rain here :o(

31 Jan, 2014

Gee19

Poor you, sounds very scary. We used to have spiders sent into the lab where I worked after people had been bitten (or thought they had in some cases) but they were always common or garden spiders, nothing exotic. I picked up a stray puppy in the woods a few weeks ago and after taking him home with me, and then taking him to be micro-chipped checked, and then returning him to his owners (new people in the village) I discovered I was covered in flea bites all down one arm, large lumps and swelling. Never had a reaction like that before! Needless to say I sprayed the whole house - thank goodness Millie has flea treatment on the first of each month :)
Hope you feel better and safe again very soon.

31 Jan, 2014

Dianebulley

Thanks for warning us all.

31 Jan, 2014

Terratoonie

OMG Dotty ...
I hope you feel better soon ..xxx

31 Jan, 2014

Oliveoil

Ouch, sorry you got that nasty bite, but glad you have put up a picture so we know what to look out for. I am not freaked out by spiders too much but do not want that variety in my house. Hope you are soon back to normal. Thanks for the HeadsUp.

31 Jan, 2014

Rose1949

Oh Dotty....Noooooo! I DO NOT LIKE SPIDERS ! I got the shivers just looking at the picture ! I would still be having nightmares if it had happened to me ! In early Autumn, and I don't care how hot it is in the house, no windows are opened until they have gone through this stage where there are cobwebs everywhere ! My friend and neighbour was woke up by a tickly feeling on her arm and this huge spider just casually walked down her arm and on to the bed ! She just got up and went for her fly catcher to trap it, but it was too big to fit in it, so she just left it and went back to sleep ! I could see me doing this ! My hubby tends to throw things at a spider which just makes them run faster and there is no way I would sleep until it had gone !
I hope you have put the incident out of your mind now, but I'm going to be more paranoid than ever now ! ! !
Thanks for showing the picture though !

31 Jan, 2014

Gralew

Oh Dotty.... What a nightmare for you.I hope all your symptoms go away quickly and your not in too much discomfort too long.I hate the things. Thanks for letting us know....I'll be extra vigilant.

31 Jan, 2014

Sheilabub

Ooooh Dotty, I'm shuddering for you :(( WHAT a ghastly experience, but thank you so much for the warning and the picture. Eeuugh!!

31 Jan, 2014

Lincslass

I would be a nervous wreck if that had happened to me, I'm absolutely petrified of them, if I spot one in the house I hoover them up as I cannot knowingly stay in the same room as one.
I hope your symptons clear up quickly Dd, it sounds quite nasty, thankyou for the warning....

31 Jan, 2014

Pamg

Red ants have me jumping about.....even been known to strip off in the garden their bite is so very painful too....I think they inject you with some sort of acid ugh!

I think when we're all gone it will be the insects that take over the world.........

31 Jan, 2014

Louisa15

That sounds terrifying, I can't bear spiders at the best of times, hope we don't get any of these near me!!

31 Jan, 2014

Snoopy

is the spider ok :):):)

31 Jan, 2014

Petaltracey

Oh dear me DD this is just awful... and it's the sort of thing that would happen to me! When I was 16 I was walking back to school with friends. When one of them started to scream 'eeekkk what's that crawling on your shoulder???!!!' It was a big fat hairy caterpillar that had fallen out of a tree... I expect you can guess what happened next? Yes - I had a mega allergic reaction, and was covered in the most awful itchy hives all over my body, arms, neck. Of course I was just so embrassed about it. Had to go to see the Doctor, who wasn't much help, saying "you shouldn't walk under trees with poisonous catapillar's"...! Well if I'd known the tree was covered in poisonous caterpillar's I wouldn't have gone anywhere near it - Daft thing to say...
Hope the itching eases up for you very soon!

31 Jan, 2014

Grandmage

Dd.....think you must spring clean your drawers more regularly. Lol, poor you. ;)

31 Jan, 2014

Hywel

I'm sorry to read this, and I hope your arm is better now. It must have been frightening for you. I would have panicked ! I hope it didn't come from your drawer.

1 Feb, 2014

Waddy

Oh no, I hope you're better really soon. OH has just informed me he saw a big spider in the bedroom last night. He said he tried to catch it, but it ran under the chest of drawers. Now I wish he hadn't told me!!
I shall keep a sharp eye open for this particular spider, if nothing else because of my Granddaughter, who is just discovering 'gardening.'

1 Feb, 2014

Shirley_tulip

How awful for you Dotty ... I am like Rose when it comes to Spiders and actually felt ill when I saw the photo on this blog ... pathetic really but I can't help it! I hope you are feeling ok after that experience .. :o)

1 Feb, 2014

Feverfew

I didn't like the picture either but thanks for telling us about these spiders. Hope the reaction goes away soon. My cat loves to eat spiders , so perhaps she'll keep me safe:-)

1 Feb, 2014

Floribunda

Oh Dd, what an awful experience!!! Ugh! I just shiver at the thought..Thanks for the warning though. Hope the arm heals quickly..
I am no lover of spiders either, though will deal with them if I have to.. A healing hug is on its way to you my friend..\0/xxx

1 Feb, 2014

Klahanie

I always thought that the spiders (in the Northern Hemisphere)are "good" guys...but not this one. Mean looking too. Sorry for the awful experience.

1 Feb, 2014

Wildrose

That is scary and I don't like to think of you suffering in such a way but thanks for the warnings!!!

Perhaps they won't like all this damp weather?

1 Feb, 2014

Lindak

Hope the swelling goes down soon for you Dottie. Many years ago when we lived down the road we had an Ali baba type pottery container outside and it had a lavender in it. I was weeding around the plant and got bitten on my hand and it swelled right up. It turned out to be a spider. I had to go to the Doctors and get antihistamines and creams. It took ages to go. I looked at the pot and there were several little holes in the soil. I replaced the soil and planted the plant into the garden. I searched through but never found anything else.

2 Feb, 2014

Scottish

Oh dear! What an awful way to find out about these spiders. I've read some of those scaremongering stories in the press.
I do hope it clears up soon - everyone in my house, except me, has a phobia about spiders and I'm usually called for to do the deed! I usually pretend to have dealt with them, maybe time I did now!

2 Feb, 2014

Dottydaisy2

Thank you, lovely people so much for all your concern, I am very pleased I am not on my own, when it comes to being terrified of spiders, and reading about some of your experiences, has helped to put it into perspective. I do try to be brave when confronted, the only way I can deal with them is to put my cleaner on, with it fully extended and then hoover them up, it makes me physically sick if it is a large one, so to have one next to my skin, was not good!!
It has taken over 4 days for the swelling to go down, and my arm still feels tender, considering how small the spider was, it packs a mighty punch..
My neighbour found another in her conservatory, so I am hoping that is where it came from, and not my clothes drawer!! which has been turned out and all the clothes washed......although I shall be checking all my clothing from now on!!

2 Feb, 2014

Dottydaisy2

Snoopy, No it is not ok it is very far from it.....

2 Feb, 2014

Helenium

I've just seen this blog. Gee Whizz..that is horrendous! I hope it gets better soon!

Although not with spiders, I know exactly what that panic fear is like, its waaaaaay beyond nervous!!! :(

16 Feb, 2014

Dottydaisy2

Helenium, it did take a good four days for the swelling and itching to go.....panic fear is a horrid thing to deal with, I am inspecting all my clothing before it goes over my head lol

16 Feb, 2014

Helenium

I can understand 100% why you would check your clothes - panic is not a nice feeling at all - makes some things in life a dread - I call it the sniper!

16 Feb, 2014

Franl155

Awk! what a thing! Hope you're feeling better, DD. Fingers crossed for a really cold spell - short but intense, enough to kill off nasties and their eggs.

20 Feb, 2014

Balcony

Sorry to read about your terrible experience with that spider. :-(( But also glad that you are much recovered - I hope!

I wouldn't say I'm phobic about spiders but I've never liked them - on the other hand I find them fascinating creatures - on the other side of the window or in a TV DOCUMENTARY! LOL!

When we lived in Spain my WIFE had to deal with the spiders! I clearly remember once, only a few weeks after we were married, when we were staying in another person's house, how I discovered a really enormous black spider in the bath tub! I'd never seen such a big spider before! My wife came in & dealt with it, I don't remember now what she did but it was gone later.

As a small boy in London we had an outside toilet & there would often be spiders in the toilet. I was never comfortable in there & I spent any time in there looking around for these creatures. If there happened to be one on the door I couldn't go in! I'd go away & come back later hoping it had gone! As there were many of us using the toilet someone else would probably frighten it away & I could go!

Nowadays I can even sleep with a spider on the bedroom ceiling - even with it above my head! I've even gone to sleep with one on the wall not a foot from my face! Even so I wouldn't want them crawling on me - except what we call "Money spiders". I can spend a while watching one crawling up & down the hairs on my arm - & they are very short!

My wife can pick them up by a leg & put them out on the balcony - but not me! Perhaps in the long handled dust pan we have but that's as close as I'll get to them!

Our grandchildren are pathologically scared to death of spiders! Most especially our granddaughter. I think her brother has developed the fear of spiders from her! I don't think either of their parents are that afraid of spiders so why she is I've no idea!

20 Feb, 2014

Franl155

When I was a kid we lived in a NIssen hut (temporary accomodation: we were there eleven years) and it had running hot-and-cold spiders - if you wanted to lie on the floor you had to check first.

It had an outside toilet and coal shed. I was leaning up against the coal shed for no particular reason when a spider fell down inside my shirt. Mum said i yelled loud enough to alert the whole street! they took my layers of clothing off and found it right next to my skin.

Funny, but i've never been fond of spiders ever since! with household spiders, if i i know they're there, I'll sweep round them, but if one moves unexpectedly I instinctively stamp on it - and then apologise to it!

21 Feb, 2014

Amy

Oh Angela , I'm shaking inching and crawling just thinking about these nasty creatures , thanks for showing us what they look like I didn't like the part where they are more common in France we are holidaying there again this year ! I'm glad to hear you are feeling better ....

28 Feb, 2014

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