Poisonous Spiders

[flip-flop]

Office argument this afternoon - a workmate has said that the most venomous spider in the world is native to the UK, but its teeth aren't strong enough to break human skin.

I've said I think he's talking rubbish - I have no idea whether he is or not, but it just sounds like a load of old cobblers.

Am happy to stand corrected!

[ugly_bob]

not sure about that.
the biggest spider in the world is native to the UK.
Norfolk raft spider I think it's called. Certainly from Norfolk Broads, lives on top of the water - small body, long legs - doesn't break surface

[fat rascal]

i'd go with you flip flop...utter cobblers.. i've never heard of such a spider here!!

[wolf63]

I actually read in an animal book once that the normal everyday spider in this country is very poisonous and could incapacitate a human. But that there fangs wouldn't get through our skin.

I tried convincing someone of this fact the other day - and failed.

My cat used to eat spiders, they make a horrible crunching noise - really gross.

[The Big Gill]

I think he might have been watching Ricky Gervais in 'Animals' - he does a bit about the 'daddy longlegs'.

[Lonnie]

Try this site, UK spiders, you'll have to click on each individually,but with patience, you'll find what your after. www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th11.htm

[wolf63]

I can't believe that Lonnie actually expected us to trawl a site that had PICTURES of spiders - yuck.

I found this entry in another site -

" Even this little spider I just found in the bathroom has a bite which carries a powerful venom. Most spiders would not bite you anyway, simply because you are not food; although if you aggravated one long enough it might take a nip as a defensive move. Most of our household spiders in the UK are incapable of penetrating our tough skin so you have nothing real to fear from them. If you live in a tropical climate, I would be a bit more cautious: some of smallest spiders in warmer countries have the most poisonous bite! "

Can't remember where - it was all of two minutes ago.

[mccfluff]

if its true i'm emigrating

[Tammera]

Brazilian wandering spider is the most venomous spider, Funnel web spider is most dangerous as it can kill people very fast (around 15 minutes).

[Tammera]

sorry by the way the largest spider is the Goliath they are about the size of a dinner plate, although the raft spider is the largest in the UK they are about 2cm, they are also endangered.

[Lonnie]

Sorry wolf63, but at least you made me laugh, a rare event nowadays.

[electricblue]

Well like i've said on here before,when you come to this house and see the spiders can be huge and they hang around the bathroom and wait,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,THEN they run towards you brandishing a gun and have a fight to the death with my dyson,,,now THAT is scary!!!

[wildwood]

It is a myth about the daddy-long-legs spider. The one common in UK has weak fang muscles and no power to penetrate skin. Its venom is quite mild.
There are however some species of the daddy-long-legs genus which have the usual spider's fang lock mechanism which can penetrate human skin.

You are a lot more likely to get hurt in a road accident or home accident than suffer from a spider bite in UK.

[froggo]

ive got a very dangerous can opener and the blender scares the hell out of me ;~)

[KZAB]

The spider said to be responsible for the MOST bites is the Usumbara Red Baboon. Most spiders will warn you and avoid you, but this one will bite you just because you are there!

[pitstopbunny]

There is supposidely a spider on the Isle of wight that bites and I did wake up one morning to find marks on my neck and a dead smallish spider next to me. Not sure if it was a bite or a scratch where I must have push him off me.

Also has anyone heard of the giganticos? - my step mum reckons it is a huge garden spiden native to the uk. When I live near some woods, there was a huge spider in my lounge - I think it may have been one of these, it was massive and scared the hell out of me!

[lankeela]

The Great Raft Spider is actually found at Redgrave and Lopham Fen in Suffolk., one of only two places it is found. It is an endangered species and grows to the size of a human hand.

[phaloides]

One British spider that can give a painful but not dangerous bite is the Woodlouse Spider ( Dysdera crocata ) that has a pair of fearsome fangs ( if you are a woodlouse ). I have been bitten by one and do not wish to repeat it. Woodlice present no problems to this hunter.

[wolf63]

when you think of it - our fluffy little companions are most probably more dangerous than the spiders in this country.

My dog bit through my finger nail and nail bed of my right middle finger. He had found a bit of chicken (on bone) in the street (live near a chippie) and I tried to get it out of his mouth, just as he chomped down. I was at the hospital for hours and had a sling for days.
That was about 6 years ago and the nail is still deformed.

My cat bit me - because he wanted to and I was annoying him. It went right through the skin and bled and hurt like hell. Needed anti-biotics in the end.

Never had an injury from a spider.

Susan