Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Don_1 on 20/05/2009 10:35:58
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A deadly spider related to the Black Widow is spreading across Britain because of climate change, experts have warned.
The False Widow, a purple and black creature with a body the size of a 1p piece, is said to carry enough venom to kill a human.
Since arriving in Devon from the Canary Islands, the spider has established colonies in Devon, Dorset and Cornwall.
The spiders do not usually survive in colder parts of the UK, but a series of mild winters have led them to migrate to other areas.
Spider recorder David Haigh, of Cheltenham, has reported sightings of the species in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
One was in a shed in Tewkesbury and the other was spotted in Longney, he said.
The False Widow is one of 12 arachnid species known to bite humans in the UK.
In January, Lyn Mitchell became critically ill after she was bitten by one of the creatures while in bed at her home in Egremont, west Cumbria.
Ms Mitchell, 52, suffered a serious allergic reaction to the bite and was rushed to hospital.
"I jumped out of bed, pulled the duvet and sheets back and saw a spider running over the other side," she said at the time.
"It was only tiny, black and shiny, and it ran so quickly.
"When I looked down I noticed two little pin marks on my chest."
The False Widow first started to arrive in banana shipments from the Spanish islands about 140 years ago.
Its bite is not deadly but can cause swelling and severe pain.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fd.yimg.com%2Fi%2Fng%2Fne%2Fskynews%2F20090519%2F15%2F3858845451-deadly-widow-weaves-web-across-britain.jpg&hash=3ad4489f70cff95871d342294f3f0a9a)
Source - SKY NEWS.
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What an unusual bit of writing.. first we have a spider that 'carries enough venom to kill a human' (not unusual, but the implication is that it will kill you in one bite.. that's more unusual) then we have a subset of spiders that 'are species known to bite humans in the UK.' (because spiders are aware of humans and will choose to bite them?) . Then we have a woman who was bitten and suffered because she has a 'serious allergic reaction' (would she not have had an allergic reaction to other venom.. or was the 'allergic' reaction caused by the spider?).. and finally the last sentence that contradicts other parts of the story.. 'Its bite is not deadly but can cause swelling and severe pain.'
oh sky news..
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Whoa, I feel dizzy: (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fsilly%2F17.gif&hash=25607159c1da4a056be466bfe3a56840)
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Feek%2F10.gif&hash=ad1d8ef5954b140e79fdd5bcc1d80d98) (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Feek%2F9.gif&hash=35c77a16087b21b15232074640344e17)
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Whoa, I feel dizzy: (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fsilly%2F17.gif&hash=25607159c1da4a056be466bfe3a56840)
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Feek%2F10.gif&hash=ad1d8ef5954b140e79fdd5bcc1d80d98) (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Feek%2F9.gif&hash=35c77a16087b21b15232074640344e17)
Oh? So you're allergic to sensationalist reporting?
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Only in my spare time.
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Whoa, I feel dizzy: (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fsilly%2F17.gif&hash=25607159c1da4a056be466bfe3a56840)
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Feek%2F10.gif&hash=ad1d8ef5954b140e79fdd5bcc1d80d98) (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Feek%2F9.gif&hash=35c77a16087b21b15232074640344e17)
check to see if you've been bitten by a maybe deadly spider that knows your name.