Noteworthy News

[brewer]

Australian scientists have discovered a bigger, more venomous species of the Sydney funnel-web spider, one of the world's deadliest.

The new funnel-web species has earned the nickname "Big Boy" and was first discovered in the early 2000s near Newcastle, 170 km (105 miles) north of Sydney, by Kane Christensen, a spider enthusiast and former head of spiders at the Australian Reptile Park.

https://www.reuters.com/science/australi...025-01-14/

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Australian scientists have discovered a bigger, more venomous species of the Sydney funnel-web spider, one of the world's deadliest.

The new funnel-web species has earned the nickname "Big Boy" and was first discovered in the early 2000s near Newcastle, 170 km (105 miles) north of Sydney, by Kane Christensen, a spider enthusiast and former head of spiders at the Australian Reptile Park.

https://www.reuters.com/science/australi...025-01-14/

From the article:

"I would not recommend touching them that's for sure, they do give copious amounts of venom."

Don’t touch the great big deadly venomous spider. Got it. That’s really good to know, because I was just about to book a flight to Sydney to collect funnel web spiders with my bare hands.

Boru

[Fireball]

^ To be fair, a lot of people have to be told, for their own safety.

[Deesse23]

Australian scientists have discovered a bigger, more venomous species of the Sydney funnel-web spider, one of the world's deadliest.

Was it the same group who discovered that water is wet?  

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

^ To be fair, a lot of people have to be told, for their own safety.

Sad, innit?

Boru

[The Valkyrie]

Australian scientists have discovered a bigger, more venomous species of the Sydney funnel-web spider, one of the world's deadliest.

The new funnel-web species has earned the nickname "Big Boy" and was first discovered in the early 2000s near Newcastle, 170 km (105 miles) north of Sydney, by Kane Christensen, a spider enthusiast and former head of spiders at the Australian Reptile Park.

https://www.reuters.com/science/australi...025-01-14/

From the article:

"I would not recommend touching them that's for sure, they do give copious amounts of venom."

Don’t touch the great big deadly venomous spider. Got it. That’s really good to know, because I was just about to book a flight to Sydney to collect funnel web spiders with my bare hands.

Boru

When I helped my parents move when I was still in med school, I was moving stuff around in their new garage when a funnel-web ran out at me from behind a stack of old newspapers that had been left behind.

Those damned things don't retreat.

I was wearing boots.

It didn't win...

[zebo-the-fat]

Oh your poor boots!

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I know we should respect that every organism fills a niche in its ecosystem, and we shouldn’t muck about with them.

That said, squishing spiders is both a public service and a noble endeavour.

Boru

[arewethereyet]

I know we should respect that every organism fills a niche in its ecosystem, and we shouldn’t muck about with them.

That said, squishing spiders is both a public service and a noble endeavour.

Boru

Termination of spiders is my job.  Husband screams like a little girl at the sight of one.  Son did too when he still lived here.  Other than the several black widows I have gotten rid of, most are just a quick smack with the palm of my hand....though I must say that the wolf spiders with all the babies on their backs, give me pause.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I don't mind spiders so much so long as they kill our spring flies and skeeters. Spiders have some utility.

Of course, if you touch me without my permission that's your ass. That goes for any animal, mammal, reptile, invertebrate, and/or arthropod. But when they stay in the corner, I'm good with Boris.