White-tailed spiders

The white tail spider is innocent!

• White tails have a long term bad reputation, however there is no scentific proof that their bite cause long term tissue damage. The rare ulceration may be caused by bacteria found on their fangs
• Female white tail's will grow to 20 mm long, while the males will only be 12 mm long
• They like to hide under logs and bark, clothing left on the floor and they will even hide under sheets and blankets on beds.
• Their white spots fade with age, the more mature spider will have redish coloured legs
• They don't spin webs
• Most bite victims only suffer short term and localised pain, redness and swelling which may blister, that can last up to a few days
• White tails feed on other spiders and insects

Please seek medical advice if you suspect a white tailed spider bite, immediately!

In November 2005, Steve was bitten on the forehead by a white tailed spider whilst sleeping. At the time, it caused pain and swelling that blistered, it also caused numbness to the left side of his face and Steve even had trouble swallowing. To this day, (we can nearly set our clocks to it) that pain, swelling and blistering appears again, as if Steve has had a fresh white tail bite on his head. He suffers for around a week or more with these same sensations before it heals and goes away for another year. Many people I have spoken to have experienced very similar things. A pharmacist suggested he get a toxicology test, to determine what the problem is. However we only have an opening of one week a year that this test can be run. At this point, we are not able to find any further information on it other than it seems to reappear with the weather!