A deadly black widow spider
Latrodectus mactans is settling
into a new life at Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm after being found in a VW
campervan imported from California, USA.
The campervan was imported from Sacramento, California, last October by a
couple (who do not wish to be named) who bought it from the states unaware of
its potentially dangerous passenger.
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The deadly find was discovered by a mechanic working underneath the
vehicle, who after power washing the underside noticed a small black spider with
a red hourglass marking on the underside of its abdomen.
We then collected the unwanted stowaway and it now resides in my "nasties"
tank - a locked and alarmed biological hazard enclosure devoted to venomous
species located in Arachnoland, near Insect City.
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Black widows are extremely venomous and though they do not always cause
death, because they only inject a small amount of venom, their bite is extremely
painful and symptoms can last for several weeks if one is lucky enough to
survive.
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Also a few weeks ago I was asked to collect a "small banded snake" from an
elderly gentleman's garden in Stratford which turned out to be a harmless baby
corn snake
Pantherophis guttatus; obviously an escaped pet!
Both of these unusual visitors can now be viewed in complete safety at
Stratford Butterfly Farm.
For more information visit
www.butterflyfarm.co.uk
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