There was a news report today about the spread of the False widow, another relative of the deadly black widow which is on its march across the UK...
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090519/tuk-deadly-widow-weaves-web-across-brita-45dbed5.htmlReminded me of my own encounter with a suspect spider last year. I got bitten last summer in a hay field on Salisbury plain, I may of moaned about it on here in a previous post. My hand swelled up like a balloon, I felt ill for a day and my hand burned for about a week until the swelling went away. From what I seen of the spider at the time the closest looking thing I could find was brown widow spider with it the size, colourings, markings and shiny exoskeleton.
Such a random thing to occur as you do not expect it in the UK but something I wouldn't want to repeat. If you or someone like your kids does complain of being bit by something it worth noting that these things are out there and the symptoms of the bite can be a fair bit more prolonged than a bee sting so have some sympathy (not like my Mrs laughing at my freakish balloon hand) and watch out for a bad allergic reaction.
