Poisonous spiders invade Britain

[mawilson 2,133]

A Natural History Museum expert has warned that global warming is giving

invasive poisonous spiders the chance to thrive in Britain.

The false widow spider, Steatoda nobilis, was first recorded in the UK in 1897,

according to the museum.

The female's bite can hospitalise an adult man. One victim reported: "Bitten

on the shoulder. Initially the top of my arm ached, then felt itchy. Ten minutes

later my armpit became numb. The skin was hot and sticky and looked wrinkled.

The tenderness and itchiness lasted for some days (later said to be infected)."

Other effects include flu-like symptoms, stiffness, a burning sensation, and pain

"more severe than a bee or wasp sting".

Until recently, the false widow's spread had been stymied by harsh weather.

It was not fully established until the 1980s, but is now spreading rapidly east

and north from its Dorset stronghold, and bite incidents are increasing.

Entomologist Stuart Hine told Thisislondon.co.uk: "There is no doubt in my mind

that this is due to the milder winters caused by global warming.

"They are all surviving the winter and are crawling out of hibernation earlier to

mate. The numbers have just rocketed into the hundreds of thousands."

Hine warned gardeners to be on the lookout for the new menace.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Just one poisonous insect. I'm sure other countries have more poisonous insects.

[almaty 19]

i am certain great britian has allot of posionous insects and this article was on..one new one

[Ban Hammer 12,835]

just send them some of them australian cane toads, that will solve the problem

[Robor007 0]

This arachnophobic person does not like spiders - poisonous or not. Oh and cockroaches freak me out too. Ugly bastages!

[Mags 112]

I dropped a vacuum on a cockroach once. That was in between my running up and down the hallway frantically looking for something heavy to drop on it's twitchy little head. I can happily confirm that a vacuum really does do the trick.

I hate spiders. I used to put them all outside back in the UK as they actually do the environment some good (eat all the little annoying aphids etc). But since moving to the USA I am scared if I let it go it will be a poisonous one that will eat my face whilst I am sleeping.

So, splat.

[Ban Hammer 12,835]

This arachnophobic person does not like spiders - poisonous or not. Oh and cockroaches freak me out too. Ugly bastages!

get a cat!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I entertain the idea that somewhere under our old apt building there is an SUV sized - Cockroach queen. Saw so many of the things crawling around the building - disgusting.

[Robor007 0]

This arachnophobic person does not like spiders - poisonous or not. Oh and cockroaches freak me out too. Ugly bastages!

get a cat!

I've got one but I don't want him playing around with them. I'd be afraid the spider could bite him or the cockroach could make him sick. I'll try to walk small spiders outside when I find them but the big ugly ones - they get the same thing a cockroach gets - a shoe.

[Fandango 1,439]

Florida's Recluse can kick a UK False Widow's azz any day, lol

Edit: I thought it was just a brown recluse, but it seems there are three different types here now! :/

Edited May 3, 2007 by LisaD

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

I just found a great big honking spider in my kitchen here in North London about an hour ago while I was cooking dinner. I ran out to get the vacuum cleaner and by the time I returned...yes, no spider. It is crawling around somewhere and as I am a 'phobe of every sort of insect/arachnid, I am freaked beyond measure. And now I read this???

It would be the ultimate irony if I were to die of a spiderbite before we got the Packet 4!!!

[Ban Hammer 12,835]

This arachnophobic person does not like spiders - poisonous or not. Oh and cockroaches freak me out too. Ugly bastages!

get a cat!

I've got one but I don't want him playing around with them. I'd be afraid the spider could bite him or the cockroach could make him sick. I'll try to walk small spiders outside when I find them but the big ugly ones - they get the same thing a cockroach gets - a shoe.

he'll play with them anyways when you're not watching. i've found a few my cat has killed, one was about 3" wide from the best i could tell, it was in about 30 pieces

ooo a new toy bat bat bat bat squash

Florida's Brown Recluse can kick a UK False Widow's azz any day, lol

lisa, when did you go blonde?

[Fandango 1,439]

Florida's Brown Recluse can kick a UK False Widow's azz any day, lol

lisa, when did you go blonde?

I was blonde, now considering going back.

D HATES it, so that's a big mark against it. Even Shele was all 'meh'

But I wanna see if it grows on me again, lol....gettin bored with my hair.

[Ban Hammer 12,835]

Florida's Brown Recluse can kick a UK False Widow's azz any day, lol

lisa, when did you go blonde?

I was blonde, now considering going back.

D HATES it, so that's a big mark against it. Even Shele was all 'meh'

But I wanna see if it grows on me again, lol....gettin bored with my hair.

um don't. that pic looks just like a g/f from years ago.

talk about some bad memories

[Mags 112]

I spent the majority of my twenties blonde. I'd regularly change my hair. Then I went brown for a while (too boring for me!) and now I'm red. Have been for a few years now. Much prefer it. A change is as good as a rest as my old Nan used to say.