Invasion of the spiders

s. Bipunctata (Common False Widow) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Seeing a lot in the news about the recent sightings of False Widow spiders in England. Given that it is one of the few spiders in the UK whose bite can break the skin then perhaps the worry can be understood although I expect it will die down soon with the coming of winter. It's bite can release venom and neurotoxins but it seems the more serious risk is from bacterial infection.

A good time to repost about the other forgotten invader, the Segestria Florentina or Tube Web spider. A few years ago these were harbingers of the end of Western civilisation but the world keeps spinning.

Here's some pics of one of the critters I found in my back garden a few years ago. It's big, black and with a bright green marking which gives the appearance of 'fangs'. This one flipped over on it's back when I disturbed it showing a what seems to be a well armoured body. Found another the following year in some brickwork. Like the False Widow it's bite can puncture skin and people say it's like receiving a 'deep injection' that remains painful for a few hours.

Cecil Frances Alexander wrote about:

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

in the poem Maker of Heaven and Earth and God related creation in Genesis 1:20-22

20 Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”

Perhaps a little less fruitful for some of creation Lord!

Authored by Chris Hall

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