Take a bite out of fear
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Updated: October 27, 2009 5:59 PM
Editor:
I notice that stores in our area are again carrying the Hobo/Brown Recluse spider traps. Before people rush out and lay down $20 in an effort to eradicate these supposedly man-eating spiders, let’s put the hysteria aside and look at some facts.
First, the Brown Recluse does not exist in BC, so you don’t have to lay awake at night worrying about them.
Hobo spiders (Tegenaria agrestis) are common in BC. Hobos are extremely hard to identify and a number of other spiders also look similar. Hobos are preyed upon by other spiders, and live in building and fields/gardens.
The two websites that are listed on the package for information employ scare tactics: displaying gory pictures of the worst case scenario, necrosis (death of living tissue) attributed to the Hobo bite. In scientific studies, the venom of the Hobo spider has not been found to be necrotic, and there are 30 other medical conditions that could cause necrosis. In Europe, where these spiders are abundant, there have been no reported cases of their venom causing necrosis.
Hobo spiders are non aggressive: agrestis means ‘of the fields’, not ‘aggressive’, as incorrectly listed on the spider web sites. Spiders, like other creatures, can bite when physically endangered – luckily, human flesh is pretty tough, so the chance of any venom getting into the system is slight. If bitten and venom injected, the bite of the Hobo spider can cause, in some people: headaches, nausea, vomiting, soreness, and flu-like symptoms.
The best caution is to make sure your house has a minimum of cracks, wear gloves when rooting around in the garden shed, shake your boots out before putting them on if they have been sitting for awhile, and breathe!
H. McSwan
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