Spider Bite

Kristoph · 13 Jul 2014 at 05:03

Hello,

I've just beek awoken by a scrabbling sensation in my ear, which resulted in my grabbing what it was and flinging it at the wall. I turned the light on and as I expected, it was a spider.

Only problem is, my ear has gone from fine to on fire, and is stinging like I've been stung by a wasp. It's swollen up compared to my other ear and I've just taken some painkillers.

I don't usually kill spiders, and only earlier rescued a big one and chucked it outside. But this one decided it's own fate.

Doesn't look anything like a false widow though, so what could it have been?

edit: on looking more at false widows, it may be a false widow? the abdomen of the one in my photo has similar markings, however a little crushed http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/...-widow-species/false-widow-nobilis/index.html

Picture of said spider:

Kristoph · 13 Jul 2014 at 05:20

Hmm, the thing that looked like it may be a false widow was the dimpled cephalothorax (had to google that). I always thought all this spider bite stuff was hyped up - but this is still keeping me awake after 45 mins and 2 paracetamol.

Kristoph · 13 Jul 2014 at 05:37

I don't have a particularly low pain threshold, but I did call the NHS advice line. Then realised that there's not a lot that can be done other than pain killers / anti-histamines. I've just not had this sort of pain from a spider before. Now 1 hour since it happened and it still feels the same. Going to try and get some sleep and see if it wears off a bit.

Kristoph · 13 Jul 2014 at 05:46

I regret killing it now, would have been much easier to identify, and I could have posted it to a spider forum without feeling like an ass.

Kristoph · 13 Jul 2014 at 10:29

Ear pain and swelling has gone down quite a bit. It's now at the level of stinging nettle with quite an ache to it.

No super powers yet, just a peculiar craving for insects.

I live in Somerset. I've seen one of these in my house before but in my bed with me was a first. Doubt the girlfriend will want to stay over again.

Kristoph · 13 Jul 2014 at 12:20

Kristoph · 14 Jul 2014 at 01:20

Still alive, had it identified as a false widow, ear hasn't hatched. Win.

Kristoph · 14 Jul 2014 at 01:37

Mynight said:
It's lying it's not really Kristoph anymore! The eggs have taken him over

Good to hear you're ok though. Supposed to be quite a nasty bite

Yeah it was surprising, I've been stung by bees and wasps in the past but this was easily equal. Didn't think it would be that bad, maybe ant bite/stinging nettle sort of level, but it packed a punch for a spider!

Rroff said:
Not much you can do unless its a medical emergency but antihistamines and ride it out. Hate spider bites as they don't heal immediately due to the venom :S

Yeah the feeling is still lingering, and thats 16+ hours, though it's hardly even an ache now. I imagine by the time I wake up tomorrow it will have gone completely.

I just hope there's not any more in my bedroom...

Kristoph · 14 Jul 2014 at 01:49

Hahah, too late for hoovering & dubstep. I have had one spider on my face before, I managed to scoop it off my face alive, turned on the light and it was a white spindly thing. Anyway, I'll take Acme's support and try and sleep well. Night.