What insect could do this?

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gramps

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Took the bins and recycling out this afternoon for collection tomorrow.
Having placed the bin and recycling on the grassy verge I walked back up the slope and felt a sharp pain in my left hand between little and ring finger.
On further inspection I found that the root of my little finger had two puncture wounds approx 6mm apart and the area beneath became swollen and bruised.
I assume that I must have come into contact with some sort of spider but I thought most UK resident spiders would be unable to pierce human skin with their fangs.
Any ideas?
 
From Gavin's link, there appear to be a few species on record as biters in the UK... http://www.falsewidowspider.org.uk/british-biting-spiders Unlikely to be dangerous as far as venom goes but some people are (properly!) allergic to the venom and the anaphylactic shock associated with the allergy could be dangerous. Still not nice getting stung twice though. Hope the swelling goes down and the pain vanishes soon, Roger.
 
Nod said:
From Gavin's link, there appear to be a few species on record as biters in the UK... http://www.falsewidowspider.org.uk/british-biting-spiders Unlikely to be dangerous as far as venom goes but some people are (properly!) allergic to the venom and the anaphylactic shock associated with the allergy could be dangerous. Still not nice getting stung twice though. Hope the swelling goes down and the pain vanishes soon, Roger.
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Thanks Nod ... still alive and kicking so not too serious the link mentioned the False Widow bite being just like the sting of a bee or wasp and that was what it was like. I had spent the day in the Torr Hide at Ham Wall and had noticed a number of 'bulbous' body spiders around the windows there, so I wonder if I brought one home with me on my clothing and it got onto my hand as I removed my fleece and perhaps touched it unknowingly when handling the recycling :thinking:
 
Look up black widows. If they bite you it can be quite serious. Not fatal but might take a long time to heal. I nearly got bitten by one of these and it's made me terrified of moving bins etc.
 
mickledore said:
Look up black widows. If they bite you it can be quite serious. Not fatal but might take a long time to heal. I nearly got bitten by one of these and it's made me terrified of moving bins etc.
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Don't think we have Black Widows in the UK do we?
 
Do we not? I'm sure that's what we saw. Black with red zigzag design on its back?
Must admit I panicked a bit so my memory may be wrong. Apologies if I am.
The pictures I saw of the bites were horrific. Tales were that they could take months to heal.
 
mickledore said:
Do we not? I'm sure that's what we saw. Black with red zigzag design on its back?
Must admit I panicked a bit so my memory may be wrong. Apologies if I am.
The pictures I saw of the bites were horrific. Tales were that they could take months to heal.
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Pretty sure we don't but the False Widow looks similar and is the UK's most venomous spider apparently :)
 
Just done a Google. They ones we had - approx 5 adults and several cocoons presumably with babies were not false widows. The images I brought up for black widows and their close relations were what we had.

Presumably they are still in the garden somewhere. Gloves always to hand these days.
 
Black Widow

affc176c4ad91059e87abc0b27806ead.jpg



Edit: Snap! ... Hope you reported the infestation if that's what they really were. :)
 
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No. Didn't know they were reportable.
We were lifting flags to lay new drains. We bought some foul smelling repellent for when we put the flags back. Three of us fully protected were lifting flags and spraying vigorously but they had all gone and taken their egg sacs with them. Hence the fear that they must still be around.
 
mickledore said:
No. Didn't know they were reportable.
We were lifting flags to lay new drains. We bought some foul smelling repellent for when we put the flags back. Three of us fully protected were lifting flags and spraying vigorously but they had all gone and taken their egg sacs with them. Hence the fear that they must still be around.
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They are not a native UK species, and would have had to have hitched a ride in via air or sea.
 
A widow, be it Black or False would definitely not present a bite with the puncture marks 6mm apart! That is something far bigger than that! :eek::eek::eek::)
 
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Craig20264 said:
A widow, be it Black or False would definitely not present a bite with the puncture marks 6mm apart! That is something far bigger than that!
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TBH that was my first though but couldn't think of what else it would be, especially as I didn't see anything ... may have been 5mm but definitely two puncture wounds side by side and 5-6mm apart. Painful stinging like a bee sting and under the skin swelling, redness and subsequent blue bruising ... still slightly swollen now but no visible bruise remaining though if I press the skin I can still see the two puncture marks. :)
 
Been busy googling and it seems black widows are common in temperate regions, so could well be living quite happily here.
Not reported it, and would n't know how to. Our council won't be bothered. This was in the depths of winter when they probably came to the side of the house for warmth. Not going to look into reporting it because there will probably be a ruling fromn Brussels which will require the instant demolition of all houses within 100 yards, sorry metres, around here. A pair of gloves comes cheaper!
 
Craig20264 said:
A widow, be it Black or False would definitely not present a bite with the puncture marks 6mm apart! That is something far bigger than that! :eek::eek::eek::)
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Found this:-
Orb webs are quite capable of giving a bite this big, as are most Tegenaria and Woodlouse spiders. In fact 5mm is the average bite size for those species within the UK capable of penetrating human skin.
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I suppose the important question must be about the bite. How is it? Swollen/inflammed/hot?
Have you taken anti histamine?
I get quite a few bites in the course of my work, and anti histamine is the first thing to do. If it isn't right tomorrow morning then an urgent appointment with doctor is a must. Stress to receptionist that you have an infected insect bite and you are worried about septicaemia. You'll get an appointment. Don't take no for an answer!

Don't want to worry you but I know a guy who lost his arm below the elbow to a bite that he left untretated.
 
mickledore said:
I suppose the important question must be about the bite. How is it? Swollen/inflammed/hot?
Have you taken anti histamine?
I get quite a few bites in the course of my work, and anti histamine is the first thing to do. If it isn't right tomorrow morning then an urgent appointment with doctor is a must. Stress to receptionist that you have an infected insect bite and you are worried about septicaemia. You'll get an appointment. Don't take no for an answer!

Don't want to worry you but I know a guy who lost his arm below the elbow to a bite that he left untretated.
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Not really worried as it's evidently healing well now, isn't infected and I'm not having any other untoward symptoms :)
 
That's good news but don't take any chances...whatever may have bitten you.
 
mickledore said:
That's good news but don't take any chances...whatever may have bitten you.
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Agreed. Monitor the wound closely. If it gets bigger or redder or develops a lump under the skin then seek attention. There is a rather small spider common in UK and US called the Brown Recluse. It can be as small as 6mm or as large as about 20mm. Depending on how much venom it injects can be inconsequential, or can cause necrosis of the flesh and start eating away. Young children and older folks can easily die from the bite.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ive-year-old-s-wish-away-Christmas-gifts.html
 
Glad to say that I am still alive and kicking and there is now no sign of the bite but I will be wary in the future :)
 
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