Spider found in Leixlip

darkman2

Piccy


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/images/2009/0825/237082_1.jpg

LUKE CASSIDY


A deadly Australian red-back spider found in Leixlip, Co Kildare turned out to be little more than a case of mistaken identity when the creature in question was identified as a common European spider at Dublin Zoo today.

Australian Mike Carter discovered what he believed to be the deadly spider while carrying out work on a pillar outside a house in Leixlip. Mr Carter, who has seen red-backs in his native Australia, said he recognised the creature’s web before capturing the spider in a crack in the pillar.

He took the spider in a jar to Dublin Zoo because he feared people would not identify the spider as potentially deadly.

The red-back is closely related to the notorious black widow spider and differs in appearance only by the absence of a red dorsal stripe. Only the female’s bite is dangerous but its venom acts directly on the nerves causing illness and in some cases death.

Director of Dublin Zoo Leo Oosterweghel said while the arachnid resembles an Australian red-back it is a harmless European spider.

“I can understand why he mistook it for an Australian red-backed spider, but its not, it’s a European species,” he told The Irish Times .

Mr Oosterweghel warned that while the Australian creature is far more dangerous than its European cousin, people should be careful as any spider can be dangerous especially if sensitive or allergic.

“You always have to be careful of spiders because they do have mandibles which they inject into their prey.

“There are European spiders that can still be quite painful and unpleasant but nothing like what you see in Australia - especially for people with sensitivity and allergy - they can kill you.”

Mr Oosterweghel thanked Mr Carter for bringing the spider to the Zoo’s attention and encouraged the public to send in photographs if they come across any unidentified creatures in future.

As for the spider in question, Mr Oosterweghel has decided to give it a new home.

“I actually like spiders so I’m going to keep it for a while and see how it goes.”

Irish Times

Either it arrived here in a box from the continent or there is more then one and they are having little baby spiders - hate to come across one of these. Hate to live in Leixlip! I hate new weird creatures.

AlmightyCushion

The government is posting out a rolled up magazine to every house in the country as we speak.

RHunce

What idiot mistakes a common European spider for a deadly Australian one

F!_!cking simpleton :rolleyes:

ronnie3585

I hate spiders

Ostrom

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

The government is posting out a rolled up magazine to every house in the country as we speak.

Cant we just feed them our iodine tablets?

darkman2

RHunce wrote: »

What idiot mistakes a common European spider for a deadly Australian one

F!_!cking simpleton :rolleyes:

An Austrailian according to the article.:p

Stev_o

I blame Terry.

Xavi6

Over here we call them Chizwozzas.

Fremen

"Redback spider not found in Dublin"
Slow news day, eh?

Amalgam

It looked to me like a very fat, well fed, female common Wood Spider. They can darken as they get older.

I've been feeding one every day or so for two Summers, She's the size of a big gobstopper, I'll try and get a pic for the spiderphobes.

RHunce

Amalgam wrote: »

It looked to me like a very fat, well fed, female common Wood Spider. They can darken as they get older.

I've been feeding one every day or so for two Summers, She's the size of a big gobstopper, I'll try and get a pic for the spiderphobes.

Okaaaaaaay then..... Moving swiftly on :P

TheZohanS

Stev_o wrote: »

I blame Terry.

Might have been Bronte..... doing her nails, sees a spider and thinks to herself "That colour would look great on you Mr. Spider"...

kiffer

Amalgam wrote: »

It looked to me like a very fat, well fed, female common Wood Spider. They can darken as they get older.

I've been feeding one every day or so for two Summers, She's the size of a big gobstopper, I'll try and get a pic for the spiderphobes.

I was feeding a spider that lived in the gap around a window frame in my house when I was a kid...
I'd catch big craneflies or what ever and drop them into her web... She'd scuttle out and grab them...
But this was the same year we had the tame jackdaw hanging round the area... One day as I was feeding the spider the jackdaw flew into the laneway and landed on my shoulder, he was very interested in what I was doing... I dropped the fly into the web and out scuttles Miss Spider... Out of her nice safe home...
*Chomp*
Jackdaw eats her... Ruining all my good work... If he'd waited she'd have been even bigger...

Terry

Stev_o wrote: »

I blame Terry.

TheZohan wrote: »

Might have been Bronte..... doing her nails, sees a spider and thinks to herself "That colour would look great on you Mr. Spider"...

I planted it to freak out that Australian dude.

ikky poo2 wrote:

Terry ****s spiders.

Terry can see deleted posts.

Stev_o

Terry wrote: »

Terry can see deleted posts.

And through tiny tiny cracks in the walls it seems.

Terry

Stev_o wrote: »

And through tiny tiny cracks in the walls it seems.

I see and hear all.
People actaully call to my house to tell me stuff.
If something happens, I hear about it.

bronte

TheZohan wrote: »

Might have been Bronte..... doing her nails, sees a spider and thinks to herself "That colour would look great on you Mr. Spider"...

I was gonna paint him pink, but then red's my favourite colour.

Seriously, there better not be any about when I get home in a few weeks. :eek:

Sofaspud

Big deal, I found one on my wall beside my bed a minute ago!

Then attacked it with a tissue!

Then it fell down the side of my bed!

I haven't seen it since actually . . . .

:eek:

Amalgam

Sofaspud wrote: »

Big deal, I found one on my wall beside my bed a minute ago!

Then attacked it with a tissue!

Then it fell down the side of my bed!

I haven't seen it since actually . . . .

:eek:

It takes time for the spider to spin a noose, it'll be back, when it suits.......

carefulnow99

apparently this is what he went to Dublin zoo with :pac:

http://www.usq.edu.au/spider/find/spiders/images/508A10.jpg

OOOOOHHHH NOOOOO!!!!!:p:p:p

those longlegged things!!!!!

Sharpshooter

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

The government is posting out a rolled up magazine to every house in the country as we speak.

Fcuk that, I'm sticking with my Sharpshooter.:mad:

grenache

I thought it might have been one of those nano spiders that escaped from Intel.

mattfender

prob is some SPYder (see what i did there) that Intel are using in accordance with the CIA because theyre on to us Leixlip people...


Ugh its too late for this. Time to play with a daddy long legs

brendansmith

That spider deserves a medal

4zn76tysfajdxp

Terry wrote: »

People actaully call to my house to tell me stuff.
If something happens, I hear about it.

...

Seriously...?

Rozabeez

*Lives in Leixlip and has a histamine allergy*

****e.

Corkfeen

I've seen plenty of weird looking spiders in my garden Still waiting for spider power spiders to arrive, can finally fulfill my dream of becoming Damhan Alla Fear --- The Ultimate Hero

Run_to_da_hills

What a twat, and an embarrisment for any Auzzy, hope it gets into the Auzzy gutter press. If the spider dose not have a red back it is not a red back. :rolleyes:


A red back looks like this.

http://www.bulkmsm.com/competition/images/redback1.jpg

Keogg

Why is it always Leixlip?
This town sucks






at least its better then its surrounding towns...

Keogg

mattfender wrote: »

prob is some SPYder (see what i did there) that Intel are using in accordance with the CIA because theyre on to us Leixlip people...


Ugh its too late for this. Time to play with a daddy long legs

there's always daddy log legs bouncing around my porch light... I might go catch one too... they're so fun to catch, tickly though:pac:

Mrmoe

Terry wrote: »

I see and hear all.
People actaully call to my house to tell me stuff.
If something happens, I hear about it.

Do you know where I put my house keys then? I only had them like 5 minutes ago

loveforcelbridg

Keogg wrote: »

Why is it always Leixlip?
This town sucks






at least its better then its surrounding towns...

Celbridge baits you every time you come down :pac:..
Anyways, I heard about this story and I told all my freinds and they think theres redbacks in celbridge now, I didn't tell them the mistake part.

pistonsvox

loveforcelbridg wrote: »

Celbridge baits you every time you come down :pac:..

......ROW :pac: