Black Widow

[asciwhite]

We've just had a call telling us our Australian cousin has died from a black widow spider bite, he just said to his wife he didn't feel too good and was going to bed, I don't know how he did not realise he'd been bitten. Do these spider bites not hurt?

[andy-hughes]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.

In answer to your question, the answer is no, a spider bite is barely felt by a human. The fangs on a spider are very small - as is the prey that have to bite with them. The problem is, the venom is used to paralyse the nervous system of the victim. In humans, this can cause an extreme reaction which can lead to respitory arrest, and it would apear that your cousin's heart simply stopped in his sleep.

[asciwhite]

Thanks andy,

So strange how we just potter along.....

R.I.P nev... a new star to watch out for in the sky

[sense4all]

I am so sorry to hear your news. Sending you our condolences!