Shorty
Paul Adey
Still here for Private Messages
Posts: 6,636
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Post by Shorty on May 3, 2007 16:01:47 GMT
Coming to a garden near you: Global warming is helping a poisonous spider brought to the UK from the Canary Islands to thrive in our back gardens, it has emerged. The false widow spiderThe false widow spider is growing in numbers after it first started to arrive in banana shipments from the Spanish islands around 1870. This is being put down to the increased temperatures in the UK. Michael and Pam Willis recently found one of the spiders - often confused with the deadly black widow - in the garden of their home in Verwood, Dorset. Mrs Willis, 62, said: "It was black and shiny, not like a normal, hairy spider. "It's terrifying if numbers are rising. I'm worried about our grandchildren." Stuart Hine, of London's Natural History Museum, said: "There has been a dramatic increase over the past seven to 10 years, no doubt due to global warming. They survive winters to mate. "There are probably tens of thousands, and in a few years they will be in every garden in the south of England and more will be spotted higher up the country." The museum's web site says the frequency of Steatoda nobilis bite reports is increasing as the species spreads in the south and east of England. The spider's bite is not deadly but can cause swelling and severe pain. Courtesy of Sky News
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Post by Fraggle on May 3, 2007 16:57:40 GMT
Eugh - why did I even look at this thread? Scary stuff. Now I won't sleep tonight! Good enough reason to postpone gardening for a bit though - just in case...
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Post by Carnell on May 3, 2007 21:54:04 GMT
From the look of that Picture, the spider in in someones hand (could be wrong tho')
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MP
Paul Adey
Hail hurts and rain is cold. Summer in the mountains
Posts: 6,811
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Post by MP on May 3, 2007 22:45:46 GMT
Good enough reason to postpone gardening for a bit though - just in case... Just splatter on sight anything with eight legs - that should do the trick! Oh, and best not wear flip-flops in the garden I guess...... not as i do I hasten to add!
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Post by pantherskatie on May 4, 2007 9:57:00 GMT
Im sure we had one of them in the garden of the nursery im doing my school based training in...!! Having said that..it may not have been as i do tend to exxagerate and didn't stay around long enough to have a proper look!!! ;D
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Rhino#13
Jim Keyes
South Notts Outlaws Rule
Posts: 906
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Post by Rhino#13 on May 4, 2007 11:46:54 GMT
Or alternatively you can buy one as a pet from www.centralpets.com ! "The False Widow Spider by Jon Fouskaris False Widow Spider - (Steotoda paykullii)*Information provided by Frank Somma The False Widow Spider is a great pet spider. It is gentle, calm, and works as a good substitute for a Black Widow Spider (Lactrodectus mactans). People who do not want to keep a Black Widow Spider because it has strong venom will be glad to hear that nature has made another species just for them. Resembling Black Widow Spiders in coloration, the smaller False Widow Spiders have fooled people in the past, but the truth is that they belong to a whole different genus! They are not venomous towards people, and they aren't aggressive at all. "False Widow Spiders, as you can see from the picture to the left, are usually a little under an inch in length. Don't let their smaller size discourage you though, adults will feed on crickets and other large insects just like any of the true widow spiders, and False Widow Spiders are just as rewarding. The False Widow Spider builds a tangle web. They require a very small and simple living area, and overall, these alternative Black Widow Spiders are interesting little pets for a hobbyist of any age or experience level." An alternative to keeping a Black Widow as a pet ? Do people actually consider keeping Black Widows as pets ??! Mentalists !
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Post by heja on May 4, 2007 12:33:06 GMT
so really nothing to worry about at all if it can't kill ya
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loonypeter
Robert Lachowicz
The Elburry
Posts: 421
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Post by loonypeter on May 4, 2007 14:47:50 GMT
Id rather have those than chuffin wasps!
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Post by NickThePanther44 on May 6, 2007 7:25:27 GMT
as a landscaper wasps are the main of my life, the main reason i love winter so much!!
Nick
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