Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer?

[lumberjack]

Thought the following news item might be of interest ...


Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer

The white-tail spider, whose bite has been blamed for cases of
flesh-eating ulcers for decades, has been declared innocent following
methodical Australian research.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s926733.htm

[Bruce Simpson]

On 19 Aug 2003 00:29:33 -0700, (lumberjack)
wrote:

>Thought the following news item might be of interest ...
>
>
>Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer
>
>The white-tail spider, whose bite has been blamed for cases of
>flesh-eating ulcers for decades, has been declared innocent following
>methodical Australian research.
>
>http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s926733.htm

When I was in California last month I was warned to beware of the
brown recluse spiders that were apparently quite common in the area.

One of the people I was with was already deeply arachnaphobic and
totally spun out when, while we were dining outside at the hotel,
several spiders slowly descended on threads of silk and one landed on
his head.

It was so funny -- boy could that guy dance!

Turns out they were just a harmless spider that inhabits the trees and
hangs down on a thread trying to catch moths at night.

--
you can contact me via http://aardvark.co.nz/contact/

[Bruce Simpson]

On 19 Aug 2003 00:29:33 -0700, (lumberjack)
wrote:

>Thought the following news item might be of interest ...
>
>
>Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer
>
>The white-tail spider, whose bite has been blamed for cases of
>flesh-eating ulcers for decades, has been declared innocent following
>methodical Australian research.
>
>http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s926733.htm

When I was in California last month I was warned to beware of the
brown recluse spiders that were apparently quite common in the area.

One of the people I was with was already deeply arachnaphobic and
totally spun out when, while we were dining outside at the hotel,
several spiders slowly descended on threads of silk and one landed on
his head.

It was so funny -- boy could that guy dance!

Turns out they were just a harmless spider that inhabits the trees and
hangs down on a thread trying to catch moths at night.

--
you can contact me via http://aardvark.co.nz/contact/

[Bruce Simpson]

On 19 Aug 2003 00:29:33 -0700, (lumberjack)
wrote:

>Thought the following news item might be of interest ...
>
>
>Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer
>
>The white-tail spider, whose bite has been blamed for cases of
>flesh-eating ulcers for decades, has been declared innocent following
>methodical Australian research.
>
>http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s926733.htm

When I was in California last month I was warned to beware of the
brown recluse spiders that were apparently quite common in the area.

One of the people I was with was already deeply arachnaphobic and
totally spun out when, while we were dining outside at the hotel,
several spiders slowly descended on threads of silk and one landed on
his head.

It was so funny -- boy could that guy dance!

Turns out they were just a harmless spider that inhabits the trees and
hangs down on a thread trying to catch moths at night.

--
you can contact me via http://aardvark.co.nz/contact/

[Tlacatecatl]

On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 1:51:59 -0700, Bruce Simpson wrote:

> When I was in California last month I was warned to beware of the
> brown recluse spiders that were apparently quite common in the area.
>
> One of the people I was with was already deeply arachnaphobic and
> totally spun out when, while we were dining outside at the hotel,
> several spiders slowly descended on threads of silk and one landed on
> his head.
>
> It was so funny -- boy could that guy dance!
>
> Turns out they were just a harmless spider that inhabits the trees and
> hangs down on a thread trying to catch moths at night.

Rick Vetter, spider specialist in the Dept of Entomology at UC Riverside
insists that there are no brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa) in California.

He acknowledges the presence of L. deserta in the Eastern deserts of the
state, as well as a couple of isolated populations of L. laeta that have been
unintentionally imported from South America. But he says these populations do
not coincide with the areas in which there are reports of brown recluse
bites. He notes that an occasional L. reclusa may "hitchhike" with travelers,
but is adamant that there are no colonies of this spider in the state.

He has an interesting set of web pages on L. reclusa and other "problem"
spiders (http://spiders.ucr.edu/) and is currently sponsoring the "spider
challenge" in which he is asking people to send him L. reclusa candidates
collected in California. He says that to date none of the spiders sent to him
have been L. reclusa. Here is the challenge page:

http://spiders.ucr.edu/challenge.html


Tlacatecatl Tlacaxipe

[spodosaurus]

lumberjack wrote:
> Thought the following news item might be of interest ...
>
>
> Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer
>
> The white-tail spider, whose bite has been blamed for cases of
> flesh-eating ulcers for decades, has been declared innocent following
> methodical Australian research.
>
> http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s926733.htm

Damnit. I just killed a white-tail not long ago. I don't like killing
animals that I'm not goingn to eat or that do not pose a threat to me :-(

--

Are you registered as a bone marrow donor? You regenerate what you
donate. You are offered the chance to donate only if you match a person
on the recipient list. Visit www.marrow.org or call your local Red Cross
and ask about registering to be a bone marrow donor.

spam trap: replace shyah_right! with hotmail when replying

[rapdor]

thanks for that info the local myth here in northern nsw coast region is
that the white-tail spider is a very real threat i doubt whether many
people will believe me when i tell them of this study, but at least it
reassures me


"lumberjack" > wrote in message
om...
> Thought the following news item might be of interest ...
>
>
> Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer
>
> The white-tail spider, whose bite has been blamed for cases of
> flesh-eating ulcers for decades, has been declared innocent following
> methodical Australian research.
>
> http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s926733.htm

[Nick Andrew]

"rapdor" > writes:

>thanks for that info the local myth here in northern nsw coast region is
>that the white-tail spider is a very real threat i doubt whether many
>people will believe me when i tell them of this study, but at least it

Not being bitten is a policy which has always worked well for me.

Nick.
--
http://www.nick-andrew.net/ http://aus.news-admin.org/
Do not send me email copies of postings. Keep it in USENET please.

[YnoT]

"spodosaurus" > wrote in message
...
> Damnit. I just killed a white-tail not long ago. I don't like killing
> animals that I'm not goingn to eat or that do not pose a threat to me :-(

Imagine how many totally innocent white-tails have been summarily executed
on the basis of the original bad science. Another tragic example of the
dangers of the death penalty.

Tony

[Bruce Simpson]

On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 11:13:54 GMT, spodosaurus
> wrote:

>lumberjack wrote:
>> Thought the following news item might be of interest ...
>>
>>
>> Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer
>>
>> The white-tail spider, whose bite has been blamed for cases of
>> flesh-eating ulcers for decades, has been declared innocent following
>> methodical Australian research.
>>
>> http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s926733.htm
>
>Damnit. I just killed a white-tail not long ago. I don't like killing
>animals that I'm not goingn to eat or that do not pose a threat to me :-(

It depends on whether you think a really painful bite constitutes a
threat.

I've only been bitten once and it was worse than a paper-wasp sting --
kind of like a red hot needle being pushed into your flesh.

The effects were only temporary though -- some itching and red
swelling followed but it all subsided within a day (no creams or
potions were used).

If you've got lots of other spiders then it's almost certain you'll
have white-tails as well --s ince their main food is other spiders.

I never kill them unless I'm in a hurry and there's no easy way to get
them outside.

What *is* fun is to catch a little white-tail and stick it in a jar.
Then get one of those great big fat house-spiders that make webs
outside and put it in the same jar.

Sometimes you get to see the "action" but more often you can leave
them overnight and come back to find that the big spider is "deflated"
and the white-tail is a little bigger.

--
you can contact me via http://aardvark.co.nz/contact/

[Trish Brown]

Nick Andrew wrote:
>
> "rapdor" > writes:
>
> >thanks for that info the local myth here in northern nsw coast region is
> >that the white-tail spider is a very real threat i doubt whether many
> >people will believe me when i tell them of this study, but at least it
>
> Not being bitten is a policy which has always worked well for me.
>
> Nick.

Quite frankly, I think the White-tailed Spider was only ever an imagined threat
compared to the very clear and present danger of those blasted Garden Orb
Weavers! They incorporate steel cable into their webs (could only come from a
regular diet of pig-iron, I tell you!) and the sensation of being caught in one
which has been knitted across one's carport is beyond frightening!

I believe the psychological damage that arises from capture by the Garden Orb
Weaver *far* outstrips any piddling necrotising ulceration of the flesh caused
by White Tailed Spiders! Have you never performed the Dance of Fear and Loathing
as you frantically slapped at your body and bellowed
'Where'sthespider?Where'sthespider?Where'sthespide r?' to any and all onlookers?

No, gimme Mr White Tail any day! I knew all along he was a sweet little bloke!

--
Trish {|:-}
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

[Kereru]

"lumberjack" > wrote in message
om...
> Thought the following news item might be of interest ...
>
>
> Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer
>
> The white-tail spider, whose bite has been blamed for cases of
> flesh-eating ulcers for decades, has been declared innocent following
> methodical Australian research.
>
> http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s926733.htm

Now I feel guilty, I have killed about 100 of the wee critters lately, seems
it was unjustified.

I could be had up for arachnicide, hell.

Judy

[Lar]

In article <3f4236da$0$23584$5a62ac22
@freenews.iinet.net.au>, says...
:) Another tragic example of the
:) dangers of the death penalty.
:)
:)
Oh I'm sure the spiders were guilty of something. :P
--

http://home.comcast.net/~larflu/spid2.jpg

Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

[donald j haarmann]

"lumberjack" >

> Thought the following news item might be of interest ...
>
>
> Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer
>
> The white-tail spider, whose bite has been blamed for cases of
> flesh-eating ulcers for decades, has been declared innocent following
> methodical Australian research.
>
> http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s926733.htm


-----------
I took the liberty of forwarding the above to the "Venom Mailing List".
This reply includes the URL for the original publication and an editorial. /djh/

----------
> > Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer

Not completely, according the original article:
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/179_04_180803/isb10785_fm.html
"These data suggest that spiders are an extremely uncommon cause of necrotic
or cytotoxic lesions, and should be considered only at the end of a long
list of other differential diagnoses."

Posters name deleted. /djh/ Who suspects that the spiders mothers knew all along
- their prodigy were innocent!


--

donald j haarmann
-----------------------------
"In nature there are neither rewards nor
punishments - there are consequences! "

[Neil Gerace]

"Kereru" > wrote in message
...
>
> "lumberjack" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Thought the following news item might be of interest ...
> >
> >
> > Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer
> >
> > The white-tail spider, whose bite has been blamed for cases of
> > flesh-eating ulcers for decades, has been declared innocent following
> > methodical Australian research.
> >
> > http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s926733.htm
>
> Now I feel guilty, I have killed about 100 of the wee critters lately,
seems
> it was unjustified.
>
> I could be had up for arachnicide, hell.
>
> Judy

The female of the species is more deadly than the male. - Old Jungle Saying

:)
Neil

[Spidah]

"Kereru" > wrote in message
...
>
> "lumberjack" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Thought the following news item might be of interest ...
> >
> >
> > Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer
> >
> > The white-tail spider, whose bite has been blamed for cases of
> > flesh-eating ulcers for decades, has been declared innocent following
> > methodical Australian research.
> >
> > http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s926733.htm
>
> Now I feel guilty, I have killed about 100 of the wee critters lately,
seems
> it was unjustified.
>
> I could be had up for arachnicide, hell.
>
> Judy
>
>

And so you should be :)

Spidah /\(**)/\

[John]

"Lar" > wrote in message
t...
> In article <3f4236da$0$23584$5a62ac22
> @freenews.iinet.net.au>, says...
> :) Another tragic example of the
> :) dangers of the death penalty.
> :)
> :)
> Oh I'm sure the spiders were guilty of something. :P
> --

Yes, their eyes are too close together. Some of them, at least.

[interested party]

"YnoT" > wrote in message
. au...
> "spodosaurus" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Damnit. I just killed a white-tail not long ago. I don't like killing
> > animals that I'm not goingn to eat or that do not pose a threat to me
:-(
>
> Imagine how many totally innocent white-tails have been summarily executed
> on the basis of the original bad science. Another tragic example of the
> dangers of the death penalty.
>
> Tony

I feel so guilty now. But hey, I like your post path. Thnx 4 that:)

A

[Brian Dooley]

On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 12:32:32 +0800, "Neil Gerace"
> wrote:

>
>"Kereru" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> "lumberjack" > wrote in message
>> om...
>> > Thought the following news item might be of interest ...
>> >
>> >
>> > Spider cleared of causing flesh-eating ulcer
>> >
>> > The white-tail spider, whose bite has been blamed for cases of
>> > flesh-eating ulcers for decades, has been declared innocent following
>> > methodical Australian research.
>> >
>> > http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s926733.htm
>>
>> Now I feel guilty, I have killed about 100 of the wee critters lately,
>seems
>> it was unjustified.
>>
>> I could be had up for arachnicide, hell.
>>
>> Judy
>
>The female of the species is more deadly than the male. - Old Jungle Saying

But Kipling thought of it first.

--
Brian Dooley

Wellington New Zealand

[rapdor]

> > Oh I'm sure the spiders were guilty of something. :P
> > --
>
> Yes, their eyes are too close together. Some of them, at least.
>
>
And too far apart on the other buggers.

[Perun]

> The white-tail spider, whose bite has been blamed for cases of
> flesh-eating ulcers for decades, has been declared innocent following
> methodical Australian research.
>
> http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s926733.htm

Eh.. I will never go to Australia cuz you have the most ugly and scary
spiders I've ever seen ;-P

P.

[jg]

"Trish Brown" > wrote in message
...
..............
Have you never performed the Dance of Fear and Loathing
> as you frantically slapped at your body and bellowed
> 'Where'sthespider?Where'sthespider?Where'sthespide r?' to any and all
onlookers?
>
....all onlookers? - they're releasing 'em in your garage, T, bringing
deckchairs just to watch the show :)

[donald j haarmann]

"jg"

>
> "Trish Brown" > wrote in message
> ...
> .............
> Have you never performed the Dance of Fear and Loathing
> > as you frantically slapped at your body and bellowed
> > 'Where'sthespider?Where'sthespider?Where'sthespide r?' to any and all
> onlookers?
> >
> ...all onlookers? - they're releasing 'em in your garage, T, bringing
> deckchairs just to watch the show :)
>
>


---------
Your toooooooooooo late.
The "Tarantella" goes back to 1374! If not earlier.

http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3tartla.htm



--
donald j haarmann - independently dubious

[Tlacatecatl]

On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 2:50:00 -0700, Trish Brown wrote:

> Quite frankly, I think the White-tailed Spider was only ever an imagined
> threat
> compared to the very clear and present danger of those blasted Garden Orb
> Weavers! They incorporate steel cable into their webs (could only come from a
> regular diet of pig-iron, I tell you!) and the sensation of being caught in
> one
> which has been knitted across one's carport is beyond frightening!
>
> I believe the psychological damage that arises from capture by the Garden Orb
> Weaver *far* outstrips any piddling necrotising ulceration of the flesh
> caused
> by White Tailed Spiders! Have you never performed the Dance of Fear and
> Loathing
> as you frantically slapped at your body and bellowed
> 'Where'sthespider?Where'sthespider?Where'sthespide r?' to any and all
> onlookers?

One of the most delightful posts I've read in a while, thanks.


Tlacatecatl Tlacaxipe

[Trish Brown]

donald j haarmann wrote:
>
> "jg"
>
> >
> > "Trish Brown" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > .............
> > Have you never performed the Dance of Fear and Loathing
> > > as you frantically slapped at your body and bellowed
> > > 'Where'sthespider?Where'sthespider?Where'sthespide r?' to any and all
> > onlookers?
> > >
> > ...all onlookers? - they're releasing 'em in your garage, T, bringing
> > deckchairs just to watch the show :)
> >
> ---------
> Your toooooooooooo late.
> The "Tarantella" goes back to 1374! If not earlier.
>
> http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3tartla.htm
>
> --
> donald j haarmann - independently dubious

Well, IMHO, we here in Oz ought to instigate an Eriophorella in honour of that
deadly and dangerous foe, the Garden Orb Weaver. I reckon Tarantulas have
*nuthin'* on the cold, vicelike constriction felt around the heart of an
_Eriophora_ victim as s/he realises the inexorability of being confronted by the
owner of the web that just stuck fast in their face and hair! Be dubious no
longer! The cardiac complications of Intimate Contact with a Garden Orb Weaver
have to be experienced to be believed!

You *must* concede the point here! When have you *ever* walked innocently into
an _Eriophora_ web and -

- walked calmly out again?

Ppbblfft! Do you *really* want me to believe you weren't suddenly afflicted by a
compulsion to dance and flap your arms about? To kick your legs up and stomp
your feet? To whirl about, shaking and waving?

Just because it's older, doesn't mean the Tarantella is any more indicative of
Tarantular Deadliness than an Eriophorella might be of Orb Weaver Worry!

Even the Sydney Funnel Web pales in comparison, I feel! When you have eyeball to
eyeballs contact with a Funnel Web in your garden, you know perfectly well what
you're faced with. Times eight! You evacuate forthwith and then you leave the
vicinity.

Walk into an Orb Weaver web and it's the Unknown that undoes one. Who knows
where the spider is? Could be in your hair. Could be in your ear. Could be in
the bush/tree/post from which the web was strung. Who knows? Could be walking up
your leg with designs on biting a hunk out of your - er - body. Are you
complacent enough, indeed sanguine enough to just *stand* there and *not* do the
Dance of Fear and Loathing?

I rest my case!
--
Trish {|:-}
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

PS. Seriously, though. It really *ought* to be called an Eriophorella - it's a
perfect description of what one does! ;-D

[jg]

"Trish Brown" > wrote in message
...
> donald j haarmann wrote:
> >
> > "jg"
> >
> > >
> > > "Trish Brown" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > .............
> > > Have you never performed the Dance of Fear and Loathing
> > > > as you frantically slapped at your body and bellowed
> > > > 'Where'sthespider?Where'sthespider?Where'sthespide r?' to any and all
> > > onlookers?
> > > >
> > > ...all onlookers? - they're releasing 'em in your garage, T, bringing
> > > deckchairs just to watch the show :)
> > >
> > ---------
> > Your toooooooooooo late.
> > The "Tarantella" goes back to 1374! If not earlier.
> >
> > http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3tartla.htm
> >
> > --
> > donald j haarmann - independently dubious
>
> Well, IMHO, we here in Oz ought to instigate an Eriophorella in honour of
that
> deadly and dangerous foe, the Garden Orb Weaver. I reckon Tarantulas have
> *nuthin'* on the cold, vicelike constriction felt around the heart of an
> _Eriophora_ victim as s/he realises the inexorability of being confronted
by the
> owner of the web that just stuck fast in their face and hair! Be dubious
no
> longer! The cardiac complications of Intimate Contact with a Garden Orb
Weaver
> have to be experienced to be believed!
>
> You *must* concede the point here! When have you *ever* walked innocently
into
> an _Eriophora_ web and -
>
> - walked calmly out again?
>
> Ppbblfft! Do you *really* want me to believe you weren't suddenly
afflicted by a
> compulsion to dance and flap your arms about? To kick your legs up and
stomp
> your feet? To whirl about, shaking and waving?
>
> Just because it's older, doesn't mean the Tarantella is any more
indicative of
> Tarantular Deadliness than an Eriophorella might be of Orb Weaver Worry!
>
> Even the Sydney Funnel Web pales in comparison, I feel! When you have
eyeball to
> eyeballs contact with a Funnel Web in your garden, you know perfectly well
what
> you're faced with. Times eight! You evacuate forthwith and then you leave
the
> vicinity.
>
> Walk into an Orb Weaver web and it's the Unknown that undoes one. Who
knows
> where the spider is? Could be in your hair. Could be in your ear. Could be
in
> the bush/tree/post from which the web was strung. Who knows? Could be
walking up
> your leg with designs on biting a hunk out of your - er - body. Are you
> complacent enough, indeed sanguine enough to just *stand* there and *not*
do the
> Dance of Fear and Loathing?
>
It's not your fear (which I share), it's the wonderfully colourful
description which promises a hugely entertaining spectacle.

[John Savage]

"John" > writes:
>Yes, their eyes are too close together. Some of them, at least.

I always give a spider the benefit of the doubt. I won't kill one unless
it's of a really dangerous species. You just count their legs--the
dangerous ones have eight.
--
John Savage (news address invalid; keep news replies in newsgroup)

[Nicolaas Hawkins]

On 30 Aug 2003 , John Savage wrote :

> "John" > writes:
>>Yes, their eyes are too close together. Some of them, at least.
>
> I always give a spider the benefit of the doubt. I won't kill one unless
> it's of a really dangerous species. You just count their legs--the
> dangerous ones have eight.

....and even they aren't too dangerous after their thickness has been
reduced to 0.01mm.

--
Nicolaas.


- An optimist is a guy without much experience...

[Rod Out back]

Anyone here get Imparja television(satellite TV)? They have a mascot named
Yamba; the honey ant.

Well, if watch him doing his "kids go to bed now" session at 8pm, and you
count the number of legs, Yamba is obviously a freaking spider!!! And a big
sucker at that....

It scares me that no-one seems to notice.....sigh.

Cheers,

Rod... Out Back
"John Savage" > wrote in message
om...
> "John" > writes:
> >Yes, their eyes are too close together. Some of them, at least.
>
> I always give a spider the benefit of the doubt. I won't kill one unless
> it's of a really dangerous species. You just count their legs--the
> dangerous ones have eight.
> --
> John Savage (news address invalid; keep news replies in newsgroup)
>

[decom]

Yep, eight legs alright... doesn't look to dangerous though ;-)

http://www.imparja.com.au/yamba.htm

With that expression, it looks like the only danger he presents is to
himself.

"Rod Out back" > wrote in message
...
> Anyone here get Imparja television(satellite TV)? They have a mascot
named
> Yamba; the honey ant.
>
> Well, if watch him doing his "kids go to bed now" session at 8pm, and you
> count the number of legs, Yamba is obviously a freaking spider!!! And a
big
> sucker at that....
>
> It scares me that no-one seems to notice.....sigh.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Rod... Out Back
> "John Savage" > wrote in message
> om...
> > "John" > writes:
> > >Yes, their eyes are too close together. Some of them, at least.
> >
> > I always give a spider the benefit of the doubt. I won't kill one unless
> > it's of a really dangerous species. You just count their legs--the
> > dangerous ones have eight.
> > --
> > John Savage (news address invalid; keep news replies in newsgroup)
> >
>
>