Deadly Spiders march into Australian Cities
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Deadly Spiders march into Australian Cities*
February 02, 2007 06:18pm
Article from: AAP
AUSTRALIA - A PLAGUE OF POTENTIALLY deadly funnel web spiders have
invaded inner Brisbane suburbs for the first time.
An elderly woman living in the inner northern suburb of Newmarket was
taken to hospital last weekend after being bitten by a funnel web,
prompting a warning to residents from Queensland Museum spider expert Dr
Robert Raven.
He said the Hadronyche Infensa funnel webs had previously been found
only in the outer western and south-western suburbs near areas of
rainforest or bushland such as Kenmore, Brookfield, The Gap, Rochedale
and Mt Cotton.
But about 20 more funnel web burrows have been found near the woman's
home at Newmarket, which is close to Kedron Brook.
"This is most unusual as funnel webs typically survive only in cool,
moist rainforest areas," Dr Raven said.
It appears that global warming and the drought may be to blame for the
spider invasion.
"I suspect that Brisbane's reduced rain means that the spiders have
moved closer to areas of higher humidity generated by the small amount
of watering that is being done around houses," he said.
"The vicinity to Kedron Brook is also a factor because of the
persistence of the native vegetation along its banks."
Dr Raven said that the local funnel webs Hadronyche formidabilis,
Hadronyche infensa and Hadronyche valida are to be considered every bit
as dangerous as the better-known Sydney funnel web.
He said male funnel webs left their burrows in search of females when
warm summer temperatures combined with heavy rainfall, such as stormy
evenings and it was the males which were responsible for most bites on
humans.
"People should be aware of large black spiders walking at night or
during or after rain," Dr Raven said.
The ground-dwelling spiders are jet black, long legged and quickly rise
into the attack position with their front legs raised ready to bite.
A bite from the spiders at this time of year should be treated with
utmost care, he said.
"If the victim has been envenomed, severe systemic distress, which
includes laboured breathing, vomiting, and pupils fixed and dilated, is
soon evident," Dr Raven said.
There have been 26 recorded deaths in Australia in the last 100 years
from spider bites.
A total of 13 were attributed to funnel webs, seven of them children.
But a Sydney funnel web anti-venom has saved many lives since it was
developed by the late Professor Struan Sutherland in the 1970s.