h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: White-Tailed Spiders - A17084649
Author: Niwt - U162817

I think I was actually bitten by one of these!

*shudders*

An interesting entry, even though I can't stand


lil xx

Nasty little blighters these one. Nice factual start, reads well.

Is there any truth in the rumour that they can also spray their venom? I heard story of someone getting the venom in their eye and going blind - but I have a suspicion this was more urban legend than truth.

I also heard the fact that they eat other spiders and are unaffected by their venom makes them quie nasty as they then can metabolise their prey's venom into their own - that is why in more recent years they have become more of a problem than redbacks toward the human population.

They also seem to like slightly humid conditions as I've heard that most human victims are in bathrooms where the spider either hides in linen baskets or around the toilet.

Thankfully I never came across one when I lived in Oz - the only spiders that I seemed to see the most of were bleeding great Huntsmen.

Again, nice little factual piece - might do well with some anecdotal evidence but I think it is good as it stands

Thanks for the comments guys!

I suspect the venom-spraying thing is just a myth, I've never heard of that! Not sure about the eating-venom thing...I'm not sure what's meant by more of a "problem" because their venom still seems to be non-fatal.

I shall think up some anecdotes! I could try and write about my bite...

Also going to add a section on breeding I think.

By problem I sort of wondered why White-Tails became media darlings a while back and seemed to be pushing the redback off the most-feared spider pedestal? Was there a high profile case involving a white-tail? A small child bitten and killed? I can't recall, but they did seem to get more prominence in the early 90s in Oz for some reason.

Mind you Wolf Spiders were the ones I was always scared of. I've seen pictures of what their bites do to human skin and muscle. Bleurgh!

Changed the entry slightly

I don't think they've killed anybody! The only reason I can think of why people wouldn't like them is due to the whole necrosis thing, and as they were cleared of that recently, they should really be our best friends!

Hmm, I just google-imaged wolf spider bite and it was not pleasant! Perhaps I'll write an entry on them next...

Not MORE entries!

Yes! On all the venomous ones! Then I can start on the safe ones, and on snakes, and stonefish!

My sister and father are staying with relatives in Oz just now.

My sister met her first Huntsmen spider last week, seems she screamed the place down

Anyway, back to the *shudders* in hand. Perhaps we can find something more on them, to add to your entry

Huntsmen are cool! I will probably write about them next. They aren't scary at all, they are actually quite friendly and not very dangerous. They don't often bite. Your sister will get used to them and by the end of her holiday she will love them!

I have changed the entry significantly since you first commented here, if you haven't seen it since then! Any other suggestions?

Dagnabbit! You certainly have changed it quite a bit!

*puts away the link*

Looking good in there!

"White-tailed spiders is a term" - hmmm... this doesn't feel right - how about putting the term 'White-tailed spiders' in italics when it first appears (ie in this sentence).

"Removing all other spiders and webs (that is, the prey of the white-tailed spiders)" - so they eat webs as well as the spiders...

20 degrees Celcius --> Celsius

Alex

Ew!

Fab Entry, I'm so glad you're back writing for h2g2 again Niwt!

When you say 'provoked' though, what would you have to do make a spider feel threatened enough to attack? (If dirty looks are enough I could be in trouble...)

One of my colleagues is going to Australia in December and he's almost as terrified as he is excited!

"what would you have to do make a spider feel threatened enough to attack?"

Tread on it

Thanks for the comments guys! An an Italiac!

I changed it to fix all the points you mentioned, I hope it makes a bit more sense now! 'Provocation' I think actually includes just touching them, it's very unfair!

I'v read it and i think it's great!

Great entry! Well done Niwt.

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