WTF moments

[NIIIC]

What is that

[Mad78]

From what i understand they are two giant spiders stuck together.

[Throngrik]

NIIC, you need some new halogen headlight fluid, maybe you would see better then

 

Throngrik

[Mad78]

Staying on the subject of spiders (they seem appropriate for this thread )

here is a Goliath Bird Eater Tarantula. The reason i post the pic is because that pictiure is life size one. i sure wouldn't like to find on of these MFs under my bed pillow

[Darktrooper]

Dude, I saw a lot of them in "Fear Factor"

 

Nasty buggers...

[Mad78]

Yeah, well even if they are gigantic they are relatively harmless.

[Darktrooper]

Yeah, well even if they are gigantic they are relatively harmless.

 

... if you don't pi$$ them off.

[Mad78]

Good point.

I read that the Amazonan indians actually eat them because the tarantula is full of protein.

[Skynxnex]

Good point.

I read that the Amazonan indians actually eat them because the tarantula is full of protein.

 

Heh, eating spiders doesnt rate very high on my list of favorite things to do.

 

Since we are talking about spiders, does anyone know what the most poisonous spider in the world is?

[Mad78]

Googled up the question

 

What is the world's most dangerous spider?

 

It is hard to define which spider in the world is the most dangerous to humans. Several spiders could qualify, depending on what you mean by dangerous. Do you mean the spider with the most toxic venom, measured by its effect on newborn mice or other mammals? Or do you mean the spider that has caused the death of the most people? Those that have the strongest venom may not be encountered by humans very often, or may even have trouble piercing human skin and so are not considered to be "dangerous". Data are usually only kept on bites from spiders that are potentially deadly or cause severe reactions and these data are not recorded consistently at a national or international level. Here, we will define dangerous as "deadly".

 

In summary, on current evidence the most dangerous spiders in the world are funnel-web spiders (Atrax and Hadronyche species), Redback Spiders and their relations (Latrodectus species), Banana Spiders (Phoneutria species) and Recluse Spiders (Loxosceles species). In Australia, only male Sydney Funnel Web Spiders and Redback Spiders have caused human deaths, but none have occurred since antivenoms were made available in 1981.

 

The Australian funnel-web spiders are among the deadliest spiders in the world in the effect their bites have on humans and our primate relations (although the bite has little effect on dogs and cats). There are many species of funnel-web spiders in Australia but only male Sydney Funnel-webs have caused human deaths. There have been only 13 deaths recorded from male Sydney Funnel-webs, but up to 30-40 people are bitten by funnel-web spiders each year. Mouse spiders may have venom that is as toxic as that of some funnel-webs, as some patients have had severe reactions to their bites, although no-one has been recorded as having died from the effects of a mouse spider bite. Antivenoms are available for both funnel-web and Redback Spider bites.

 

A group of spiders that is dangerous in many countries belongs to the genus Latrodectus in the Family Theridiidae. In Australia we have the Redback Spider (Latrodectus hasselti). In America, a common representative of this genus is the Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans). Antivenoms are available for both funnel-web and Redback Spider bites.

 

A deadly spider which comes from South America is the Banana Spider, Phoneutria species. In south-eastern Brazil between 1970 and 1980, more than 7,000 people were admitted to hospital with bites from this spider. An antivenom also exists for this species.

 

The Recluse or Fiddleback Spider is a deadly spider belonging to the genus Loxosceles. Recluse spiders are found in many parts of the world and have been introduced into Australia. The venom of this spider can cause severe skin necrosis (eating away of the flesh) and can be fatal although not many deaths have been recorded.

Help that answeres the question.

[Skynxnex]

Hmm interesting. I had a feeling the funnel web spiders would be making an appearance there.

 

Thanks for the info!

[Mad78]

I was actually quite curious about that too.

 

Though i am amazed that the Red Back spider appears.

i find amusing that the smaller spiders are always the deadliest.

[Krytos]

Surprised about RedBacks? I've known to stay away from those little guys since . . . since I can remember. There use to be a nest of them at my first house, never got close to them, they're extremely deadly and I've heard enough stories to convince me. For example, my brothers mate works as a removalist and was taking some furniture out from under some old ladies house when he noticed that his vein in his arm was a deep purple, and there was a bite mark on his wrist as well as a Red Back. He got rushed to hosptial (thank god it was only a few minutes drive away). By the time he got there, the veins leading to his heart were all purple . . . he showed me a photo of it once that his mate took while they were in the Ambo, not sure if I can fidn it though

 

There are also white tail spiders in Australia - perhaps they have another name though, because they sounded like Recluse or Fiddleback with that flesh eating virus.

My mates beach house usually has a few of those hanging around (makes it hard to get to sleep) and one time his friend's mum got bitten by one. She got rushed to the hospital, though she still has a scar on her hand from where the flesh was rotting.

There was also a house last year with a backyard full of Mouse Spiders. Every night they'd emerge, so eventually some science team (From CSIRO probably) came and collected them for studying (they only got like 80 out of over a hundred). They still don't know what attracted them there, though are glad to get the sampels as they're a rarish species.

 

Still, all my life I've never been bitten by a spider. Even though I've had a Huntsman run up my seatbelt once, wake up to see a Wolf Spider on my window nearly every month and always find a few of the buggers hanging around something outside.

Also on that not, I heard that Daddy long leg spiders are one of the most venomous - though are unable to penetrate your skin with their bites. And for all you aracnaphobes - apparently you eat about 8 spiders in your sleep in your entire life . . . yummy

[Trejiuvanat]

Ugh Black Widows... Hate them, I do, I remember seeing one of those on my bed when I was a kid. Damned be the tropics.

[Mad78]

Surprised about RedBacks? I've known to stay away from those little guys since . . . since I can remember. There use to be a nest of them at my first house, never got close to them, they're extremely deadly and I've heard enough stories to convince me. For example, my brothers mate works as a removalist and was taking some furniture out from under some old ladies house when he noticed that his vein in his arm was a deep purple, and there was a bite mark on his wrist as well as a Red Back. He got rushed to hosptial (thank god it was only a few minutes drive away). By the time he got there, the veins leading to his heart were all purple . . . he showed me a photo of it once that his mate took while they were in the Ambo, not sure if I can fidn it though

 

There are also white tail spiders in Australia - perhaps they have another name though, because they sounded like Recluse or Fiddleback with that flesh eating virus.

My mates beach house usually has a few of those hanging around (makes it hard to get to sleep) and one time his friend's mum got bitten by one. She got rushed to the hospital, though she still has a scar on her hand from where the flesh was rotting.

There was also a house last year with a backyard full of Mouse Spiders. Every night they'd emerge, so eventually some science team (From CSIRO probably) came and collected them for studying (they only got like 80 out of over a hundred). They still don't know what attracted them there, though are glad to get the sampels as they're a rarish species.

 

Still, all my life I've never been bitten by a spider. Even though I've had a Huntsman run up my seatbelt once, wake up to see a Wolf Spider on my window nearly every month and always find a few of the buggers hanging around something outside.

Also on that not, I heard that Daddy long leg spiders are one of the most venomous - though are unable to penetrate your skin with their bites. And for all you aracnaphobes - apparently you eat about 8 spiders in your sleep in your entire life . . . yummy

Bloody Hunstman spiders. When i was in Oz i was the one to have to put them out all the time (being an arachnophobe i didn't like that idea)

Saw some Redbacks once. A farmer friend of mine showed them to me. Very small buggers. They also love to hide under toilet seats.

I didn't have the occasion to see any white tailed spiders while in Oz.

About Daddy long legs. That is a myth born from the fact that they can kill red backs

[Darktrooper]

Ugh Black Widows... Hate them, I do, I remember seeing one of those on my bed when I was a kid. Damned be the tropics.

 

Whoa, man. You got lucky. I almost got bitten by a "cienpies"

 

I don't remember the english name, but those crawlers can kill a man.

[Skynxnex]

Check this out. About a month ago downstairs in my house, I noticed this black thing on the carpet so I get closer to investigate...and it was a black widow. First time I ever saw one in the house before. Oddly enough it was limping along which to me means my cats had been attacking/playing with the damn thing. Anyway, call me scared or wimpy, but I was very reluctant to even get a paper towel and squish the little bugger. I just have a fear of getting bitten by a venomous spider.

[Darktrooper]

You could have used a shoe.

 

or for mayor peace of mind, a big boot.

[dinochick]

We had a back widow in my car engine not long after spring break. My boyfriend had climbed under the car to change the oil when he found it.

[Grand_Admiral_Thrawn]

I found it surprising how much of North America is home to Black Widows. I had thought that here in southern Ontario I'd be safe from them, but apparently they can be found as far north as Ottawa.

 

Fortunately I also read that they aren't aggressive in that they won't bite you simply because you come within two feet of them.

[Mad78]

Unlike Funnel webs who are very agressive.

[Trejiuvanat]

You could have used a shoe.

 

or for mayor peace of mind, a big boot.

 

Big boots are reserved for scorpions, and (alacranes).

[Darktrooper]

You could have used a shoe.

 

or for mayor peace of mind, a big boot.

 

Big boots are reserved for scorpions, and (alacranes).

 

My friend, you're right.

[Mad78]

Luckily we do not have any scorpions.

Actually the swiss fauna is not reputed for its deadliness.

[Throngrik]

Luckily we do not have any scorpions.

Actually the swiss fauna is not reputed for its deadliness.

 

Well I suppose you could be accidently hit by an alpenhorn or get yodled to death but then again, that's not fauna is it

 

Throngrik