Katipo Numerous

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 27, 2 February 1937, Page 2

Katipo Numerous

AIANY FOUND AT OCEAN BEACH. HASTINGS, February 2. A novel, if dangerous sport, was indulged in by a Hastings resident and his son at Ocean Beaen yesterday afternoon when they went katipo hunting and their “bag” was an astounding one, revealing an alarming prevalence of New Zealand's only poisonous spider in this district. It was shortly after luncheon that Mr. C. G. Wilkinson’s attention was drawn by his 12-year-old son to a katipo, they being keenly interested iu entomology. A ten-minute search revealed ten of tho spiders, which were found under stones and washed-up pieces of rotting wood in the rough vegetatioa between the pastures and tho beach itself. Mr. Wilkinson, had no difficulty in identifying tho spiders as katipo, for ho was acquainted with the species, having first seen one about 20 years ago. Aloro recently, some two or three years ago, a friend in. Christchurch sent one to his

son for inclusion in the private collection. Upon coming across yesterday’s find Air. Wilkinson and his family immediately issued a warning to tho many people that were visiting tho beach, there being a number of children running about in bare feet. It is evident that frequenters of Ocean Beach would be well advised to take every precaution as to the selection of the site or their picnic spot and also make sure that tbo children’s feet are covered.

The katipo is exclusively a native of New Zealand, and its bit© is very dangerous, having on occasion proved fatal. It is rather an attractive insect in appearance as insects go, being black in colour with a vivid scarlet streak on the back. The majority of those found yesterday were well-grown specimens, their bodies being about the sie of a well-developed sweet pea.