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Arachnophobia - Spiders Shut School
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jfw  
#1 Posted : 23 October 2013 00:33:03(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
jfw
A school has closed following an outbreak of False Widow spiders :-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/new...gloucestershire-24623652

I have become quite familiar with these creatures over the last 5 years, after joining my current employer, as they have made their home in the reception area, post room and stationary cupboard.

A few years before I joined, the MD caught one and sent it to the Natural History Museum where it was identified. The advise they provided was that bites were rare, that if they do bite, it is no worse than a Wasp or Bee sting, but that in very rare cases someone could have a more severe reaction to a bite, just as can happen with a Wasp or Bee. They are timid creatures which only bite if they feel threatened.

At the time they were still rare and as he has strong environmental principles he instructed that they could stay and should not be harmed.

Since becoming aware of them I have realised how common they are now, I now spot them regularly in various different places when I'm out and about. Or if I don't spot them I spot their distinctive webs/nests.

We have never had a bite reported in work. A few spiders have been dispatched by the heel of some of the females, but I have developed a technique of catching them and then releasing them in a hedgerow a few minutes walk away.

Many members of this forum living in the southern half of the UK will have them in their work place, home, garage or shed without realising. It is only as a result of the recent media coverage over the last couple of years that has resulted in greater awareness of them and more sightings being reported.

If this school has discovered so many in different areas, they don't have an outbreak in my opinion, they have an established community of False Widows, which has probably been their for years, during which time no bites have been reported. So has the school over reacted by closing ?

Also if the False Widow bite is no worse than a Wasp or Bee sting, are we going to start seeing schools closing for them too ?

Interested to know what others would do if they discovered False Widows in their place of work ?

- Would they shut it down and fumigate ?
- Would they live together in harmony ?
- Would they operate as normal, but arrange for fumigation at the first
opportunity such as a weekend ?

- Would you take the same course of action if it were wasps or Bees ?
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Ian Harper  
#2 Posted : 23 October 2013 05:04:50(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Ian Harper
I am a beekeeper and would never fumigate bees. There is a real and severe threat in the decline of the honey bee which will have severe impact on the world if we do not take it seriously.
I note in the story there are no known deaths, like the honey bee I guess the myth is around anaphylaxis. I have many beekeeping friends who suffer from anaphylaxis and are stung and whilst severely painful it has not put them off beekeeping. Most people seem to think they will drop down dead which is not the case.
If you are ever in a position with bees the british beekeepers association, bbka, will collect and remove bees free of charge. I go out sometimes with my assocation to help out. We then give them to people starting out as beekeepers or I keep them myself. A swarm is very valuable!
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Hally  
#3 Posted : 23 October 2013 08:22:07(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Hally
I cover all out UK and Ireland sites. Last week our Barnsley depot manager sent me a picture of a false window that was 'taken' outside as they were concerned (big burly yorkshiremen scared...) about it. So concerned the picture that we got was of it on a desk in the office, so I pointed out if they were concerned why did someone bring it in for tea and biscuits and a warm? Yes I agree, the media yet again scaremongering.

In relation to bees, we managed to attract a honey bee swarm in our main manufacturing site where I am based. We rang our pest control people who were 10 mins away and they came and immediately identified them and rang a bee keeper who came and took them away.
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Steve e ashton  
#4 Posted : 23 October 2013 08:53:58(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Steve e ashton
Unfortunately, when hysteria takes hold 'common sense' departs. If the workforce are determined in their own minds that there is a threat they are unwilling to accept - then there is little point in trying to establish a rational, proportionate response. So whilst my own belief would be 'live and let live'. I wouldn't 'close' the workplace - but have to accept it may close anyway. I'd probably be the last out, turning off the lights as I go. I know there is no point in trying to stop the panic..

Similar issues many years ago when asbestos was 'discovered' in a laboratory. The asbestos was in good condition, and safe behing wall boards - but the lab staff evacuated at the run. The interesting follow-up was the asbestos removal team who then evacuated at the run because "there's benzene in there - that stuff's carcinogenic..."

Risk perception is an interesting subject - as professionals we can try to establish sensible, proportionate responses, we can educate the workforce and members of the public who are affected by our activities - but the media have a greater hold on emotions and a lot to answer for. Unfortunately, they cannot be held to account and seem to revel in the mischief they can create. Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow until reason returns.
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Melrose80086  
#5 Posted : 23 October 2013 09:47:44(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Melrose80086
My guess would be that they didn't want any of the kids terrorising the poor things into biting them (wee boys and girls can be worst "pests" than anything living a quiet life in the school cupboard!) then the parents screaming "why wasnt anything done before now?"" and "I'll sue the school coz wee Jimmy's arm ballooned to double size because one bit him" - never mind the fact that he was pulling the legs off the thing when it decided to sink its fangs into his hand!

A large jam jar and a bit of cardboard usually does the trick with most spiders / insects...or the dog will eat it in our house which is far more gruesome to watch!
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Graham Bullough  
#6 Posted : 23 October 2013 15:03:24(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Graham Bullough
The photo of the false widow spider which accompanied the cited BBC news article shows it on what is evidently someone's bare skin. Therefore, if such spiders are as venomous and nasty as some sources describe, was the person taking a big risk in having it on their skin?

Also, the BBC article has the curious heading "False widow spiders force Forest of Dean school closure". This conjures a mental image of gangs of such spiders having maliciously conspired to invade/infest the school and frighten its occupants! :-)

Another thought: As some spiders in Australia are notorious for having lethal venom in their bites I understand that Australians tend to be vigilant for them and try to take basic precautions against being bitten, e.g. checking inside shoes before putting them on. Therefore, perhaps it's worth hoping that the news about the closed school doesn't reach Australia because some Australians might at risk of convulsing themselves with laughter if they read it. However, on a more serious note, perhaps they might be able to offer practical advice about what to do if the spiders keep returning to the affected school.

Also, to echo earlier responses concerning bees, if anyone does find a stray swarm of honey bees, PLEASE DO contact the British Beekeepers' Association. From past experience I've found that they'll arrange for someone to visit as promptly as possible to collect the swarm free of charge. Bees are tiny creatures but, as recent TV documentaries have explained, are vital for the work they do in pollinating crops, etc. Also, as knowledgeable gardeners will tell you, it's daft to destroy wasp nests unless they are in locations where the wasps can pose a problem. This is because wasps prey on common garden pests. This fact is reflected in the fact that parasitic wasps (non-stinging type) are used in some or many horticultural greenhouses as a notably more effective and safer alternative to chemical sprays as a means of controlling greenfly and aphids, etc.
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paulw71  
#7 Posted : 23 October 2013 15:12:09(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
paulw71
Graham Bullough wrote:
The photo of the false widow spider which accompanied the cited BBC news article shows it on what is evidently someone's bare skin. Therefore, if such spiders are as venomous and nasty as some sources describe, was the person taking a big risk in having it on their skin?

Also, the BBC article has the curious heading "False widow spiders force Forest of Dean school closure". This conjures a mental image of gangs of such spiders having maliciously conspired to invade/infest the school and frighten its occupants! :-)

Another thought: As some spiders in Australia are notorious for having lethal venom in their bites I understand that Australians tend to be vigilant for them and try to take basic precautions against being bitten, e.g. checking inside shoes before putting them on. Therefore, perhaps it's worth hoping that the news about the closed school doesn't reach Australia because some Australians might at risk of convulsing themselves with laughter if they read it. However, on a more serious note, perhaps they might be able to offer practical advice about what to do if the spiders keep returning to the affected school.

Also, to echo earlier responses concerning bees, if anyone does find a stray swarm of honey bees, PLEASE DO contact the British Beekeepers' Association. From past experience I've found that they'll arrange for someone to visit as promptly as possible to collect the swarm free of charge. Bees are tiny creatures but, as recent TV documentaries have explained, are vital for the work they do in pollinating crops, etc. Also, as knowledgeable gardeners will tell you, it's daft to destroy wasp nests unless they are in locations where the wasps can pose a problem. This is because wasps prey on common garden pests. This fact is reflected in the fact that parasitic wasps (non-stinging type) are used in some or many horticultural greenhouses as a notably more effective and safer alternative to chemical sprays as a means of controlling greenfly and aphids, etc.



On a lighter note the collective noun is a cluster of spiders. Not a gang ;-)......sorry
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Graham Bullough  
#8 Posted : 23 October 2013 16:33:34(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Graham Bullough
paulw71 - Thanks for correcting my 'ineducation' about collective nouns. I couldn't readily decide between gangs or hordes of spiders and never even thought of clusters. Also, no need for any apology about trying to raise literary standards on this forum! :-)
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firesafety101  
#9 Posted : 23 October 2013 17:02:25(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
firesafety101
I never had a problem with bees, never been stung by one.

Wasps are a different feature, they are nasty pieces of work and I along with lots of others will have them killed if they nest in my property, have d0ne that twice.

Spiders on the other hand have never bothered me, I do believe we all swallow a couple of spiders without knowing, probably while asleep in bed.

My wife and daughter hate them but I catch and release outside when they have a problem.

One thing I do know is where you have spiders there are very very few other insects. Perhaps you could ask the school how many flies they have seen recently.
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Graham Bullough  
#10 Posted : 23 October 2013 18:08:44(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Graham Bullough
For another perspective see http://www.telegraph.co....eaction-say-parents.html It reports that (some) parents of pupils criticised the decision to close the school as an over-reaction. Furthermore, some say they are concerned about the possibility of adverse effects on their children caused by residues of the pesticides used to combat the spiders.
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Zimmy  
#11 Posted : 23 October 2013 19:29:51(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Zimmy
http://wiki.britishspide...ndex.php?title=Main_Page

Our children have been keen on the 8 legged things for years. Please take care of them (spiders that is) they are really cute when you get up close. The orbs are real good to draw. Mrs Zimmy being not so fond it has to be said. But the mex red can be a bit of a pain if you sneak up from behind.

;-)
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