Katipo Not Dangerous

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 16, 3 February 1937, Page 7

Katipo Not Dangerous

W. D.

FITZGERALD.

(To the Editor.) Sir, — lt would appear that there exists a certain amount of popular misconception regarding the katipo epider, and that the etfects of a bite from one of these spiders are feared to an unnecessary degree. The katipo is no stranger to any of our beaches. It is surprising that the botal bag of the gentleman who was so active at Gcean Beach on a recent Sunday was only 10. During the Inonth of Eebruary and Marck the katipo is to be found in hundreds, not onlj- on our local beaches, but as far south as New Brighton and in places suoh as Lyall Bay and Island Bay, in Wellington. 80 far as mn be discovered, there tias never been a proven case of death t'rom a bite of a katipo spider in New Zealand. It is prooable that certain deaths that have been attributed to tha katipo spider during the last 70 Or 80 years have more than likely been due to blood poisoning such as can arise trom the bite of a mosquito or the ubiquitous sand-fly, rather than from any poisonous property in a bite of 'the insect itself. lt must not be forgotten that death has arisen in certain susceptible individuals froui the common bee sting. The katipo lurks in the crannies of driftwood and under logs, and, unlike the mosquito, does not saily forth seeking its prey. It will only bite if teased or disturbed in any way. The writer has been visiting Ocean Beach for many years and he has yet to hear of any individual ever havmg been bitten by a katipo. To his personal knowledge during the whole of this period, the katipo has been present in large numbers fevery summer. This letter is prompted by the fact that this beach is frequently by large numbers of children, and it is hoped that publication of the few facts mentioned dbove will enable anxious parents to gain a true perspective of the alleged dangers of the katipo. To sum up, the bear in the pit at the 200 is harmless until some foolish individual prods him with a stick —

Your g, etc..

Napier, Eebruary 2, 1937.