"Rhonda Anderson" > wrote in message
. 5...
> Julia Altshuler > wrote in
> :
>
>> Since this is almost certain to come up in this thread eventually, I'll
>> beat you to the punch with this:
>>
>>
>> http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/brownrecluse.asp
>>
>>
>> Spider bites can hurt, but they're generally not too serious.
>>
>>
>> --Lia
>>
>
> Come live around Sydney for a while and you might change your mind <g>.
>
> http://www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/funnelweb.htm
> http://www.uq.edu.au/~xxrraven/funnelwb.html
>
> http://www.amonline.net.au/spiders/dangerous/redback/
>
> The happy news of course is that since the development of antivenoms, no
> deaths have occurred <g>. Plenty of redbacks in my yard, but I've not
> seen any funnelwebs - possibly gets a bit too dry where I am. Mind you, I
> always check the toes of my boots before putting them on. I remember a
> news story some years ago where a bloke (living somewhere in North
> Sydney, I think, where there are plenty of funnelwebs) put his shoes on
> and travelled all the way to work before being bitten by a funnelweb in
> the toe of his shoe.
>
> Of course, the majority of spiders are not lethal, but a couple of
> species that will make you pretty sick, and could kill you, is enough for
> me :-)
>
> Rhonda Anderson
> Cranebrook, NSW, Australia
==========

Thanks for posting that Rhonda. Neat pictures.

NOTE: Redbacks are known as "Black Widow" spiders in the states.

Cyndi/Syssi