DEADLY SPIDERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5259, 2 April 1928, Page 3

DEADLY SPIDERS.

KATIPO AND TBAISDOOB SPECIES. SEVERAL DEATHS FROM BITES. The recent death' of a Well-known Melbourne citizen as the result of a bite from a poisonous red-backed spider has aroused considerable discussion as to the venomous nature of G- these insects (says a Melbourne, jour! “ nal). The Government entomologist (Mr French) states that this species of spider—the red-backed katipo—is the most deadly in Victoria, that it has T caused several deaths in recent years, and that in other cases thei victims were dangerously ill for months. • The late Mr W. J. Rainbow, foiimerly of the Australian Museum, Sydfney, who wap also an authority on the subject, wrote the following:— “The Theridiidae is a family which includes the dreaded satiny-black spider with thet red stripe, Latrodec-tus-Hasselti. Stories as to the potency of its venom are often exaggerated; the bite is painful, but there are no instances, in official records, of death supervening. With the human subject fear often aggravates the effect. In New Zealand L. Hasselti is known as the katipo. As to the effects of its bite, according to Castalllani and the symptoms begin in y about thirty minutes with the, formation of a white vesicle surrounded by a red halo, and severe pain at the site 'of the bite. The general symptoms include, first, stiffness of the muscles about the mouth and jaw, so that it is difficult to® open the mouth or to speak, and impossible to swajlow.” Another spider, common enough in Australia, which is poisonous, is the species, which should hot be handled carelessly, ais it is armed with long and more or.' less venomous fangs, capable of inflicting painful wounds. Mr Rainbow says also of the trap-door spider that so far as is known the bite is not fatal. When a person is bitte.ii the wounded part .should be sucked, and afterwards rubbed with hartshorn. In Sydney in December last there was an, epidemic of spider bites. Eight people in the Banlistown and Padstow Park districts were treated during that month for bites from the poisonous trap-d'oon spider. Aiderman Newey did not recover from his being bitten for over a fortnight.