unfortunately I garden for wildlife which means totally organic.But I am hyper-allergenic, which is why I noticed something different setting up home. has anyone got any sound advice for me please.i have been told to destroy every one I spot, which goes against the grain.what to do?
H Kim,
I can’t advise what to do, but can share our experience. I think it was three years ago @Fire before I joined here, there was talk on the news of an outbreak of false widows - we paid no attention as it just sounded like the usual annual scare story.
We live in the Kent/London suburb. My wife went out to the garden to retrieve scooters for the kids (ironically, as they were scared of spiders) from the wooden shed (b&q shiplap bike shed) which has a low roof.
She felt something fall on her neck but knocked it away and thought nothing more. But a short while later she could feel the spider bite, and it was showing. A short while later and it was swelling, then pain, etc etc. I was at work, so a few panicky phone calls were exchanged as it seemed to escalate so quickly. It was only remembering about the “scare stories” on the news that calmed us down, and as you’d expect it all worked out and she was fine but for headaches and a new distrust of that shed!
You *really* don’t want a painful, swelling spider bite on your neck. Allergy or no.
So that’s our story - the spider was living in the dark waves of the shed, probably disturbed it as she ducked in to get the scooter.
Since then I dusted out that roof - didn’t see anything at the time or since - and checked the other sheds. Nothing unusual in the garage either. So for us it was a one-and-done.
Don’t get me started on spiders, we lived in Australia for 4 years, had to conquer a lot of fears. The smaller they are the nastier! never heard of these tho, do we have them up here?
Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” A A Milne
oh yes widespread been here since 1800's but they are easily spotted and their webs are very distinctive in thatthey are just a tangle not usual web shaped at all, they are actually quite nicely marked too, the babies move like greased lightning, but the big 'uns have attitude.
Posts
I can’t advise what to do, but can share our experience. I think it was three years ago @Fire before I joined here, there was talk on the news of an outbreak of false widows - we paid no attention as it just sounded like the usual annual scare story.
We live in the Kent/London suburb. My wife went out to the garden to retrieve scooters for the kids (ironically, as they were scared of spiders) from the wooden shed (b&q shiplap bike shed) which has a low roof.
She felt something fall on her neck but knocked it away and thought nothing more. But a short while later she could feel the spider bite, and it was showing. A short while later and it was swelling, then pain, etc etc. I was at work, so a few panicky phone calls were exchanged as it seemed to escalate so quickly. It was only remembering about the “scare stories” on the news that calmed us down, and as you’d expect it all worked out and she was fine but for headaches and a new distrust of that shed!
You *really* don’t want a painful, swelling spider bite on your neck. Allergy or no.
So that’s our story - the spider was living in the dark waves of the shed, probably disturbed it as she ducked in to get the scooter.
Since then I dusted out that roof - didn’t see anything at the time or since - and checked the other sheds. Nothing unusual in the garage either. So for us it was a one-and-done.
http://www.uksafari.com/falsewidows.htm
It seems they're more likely to be in your house than in your garden.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
never heard of these tho, do we have them up here?
A A Milne