White tail spider

[ATJ]

I found this guy in the lounge room yesterday and caught it. I only got to take some photographs of it today and because of the rain, my choice of backgrounds was limited. I put it on a flat rock on the back tables.

Nikon D300, 60mm f/2.8D, SB-800 and diy softbox. ISO200, 1/125s, f/22.

[cyanide]

Yeesh - how big/small is this guy?

*shudders*

[Critter]

don't get bitten by these little guys though. The bite becomes necrotic and creates a wound that takes months to heal. As you found it inside your house, you may want to try to eradicate them.

[ATJ]

Yeesh - how big/small is this guy?

Body length was around 20mm.

The bite becomes necrotic and creates a wound that takes months to heal.

While that is generally believed, there is actually little (if any) hard evidence to support that idea. e.g. http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/species-bank/sbank-treatment.pl?id=69194, http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/179_04_180803/isb10785_fm.html

[Matt. K]

I put it on a flat rock on the back tables.

Nearly right....flat rock goes on top of spider.....BAM! SPLAT!
Nice macro shots. I believe the jury is still out on the white tail being a flesh rotting spider but there is something about these lil critters that I just don't like. It's a gut feeling.

[Critter]

Good point, I should have said that the bite wound can become necrotic and hard to heal. I have treated a woman who got bitten by one (confirmed by museum expert to be white tailed spider), and it didn't heal for about three months. Sounds like she was just pretty unlucky though given the literature around on it.

Great shots by the way - forgot to mention that before! The first one makes me want to prioritise the 105VR Micro I want over my wifes preference for a new bed!

[Jonesy]

I have also heard that because they will eat anything different white tail bites can give different results, due to bacteria from what they have been eating.

My partner is not very well at the moment and what started as 2 small (what looked like) bites has turned nasty and swollen and is spreading. 2 nights after the bite we found a very large white tail in our bedroom.

Having said that Doc's dont think its a bite but we are going back again...

Sorry to go off topic.

I'm with Matt K

Nearly right....flat rock goes on top of spider.....BAM! SPLAT!

I like the first one mainly for the fact of the angle and detail. The others are kinda like what I see before I squash em!

[ATJ]

I have also heard that because they will eat anything different white tail bites can give different results, due to bacteria from what they have been eating.

Interesting theory. They prey on other spiders, so it may be more about their prey's food.

[Myrtle]

We have a lot of these back home in NZ - nasty little buggers - more often than not they cause skin and healing problems - my brother got bitten by one and ended up losing all the skin from around the bite site, took months to heal.

[bigsarg7]

mmm, love the photo's for quality, but it really reiterised how much i hate spiders!! especially white tales, they just look scary! give me a daddy long leg anyday!
Very nice work though, i like #1 the most for the detail on the spider and the rock!

[Greg B]

They are unpleasant looking buggers, that's for sure. Whether they cause the flesh eating wounds discussed, or not,
I would take a cautious approach and deal with them quickly, brutally, and with extreme prejudice. Like Matt said.

(My first wife was very arachnophobic - if a spider was sighted, I not only had to kill it, but also have the remains
available for examination to confirm that the threat had been eradicated. I found that a quick spray, then put the can
on the spinky, did the trick. Ten minutes later, the deceased could be viewed safely, and we could get on with
our lives.)

On to the photos, they are really good. I particularly like the first one.

[jammy2]

I like the first shot best..looks like the spider is staring right back at you (x4)

[ewm3]

I AM arachnaphobic and glad I don't have these in or near my home. As far as the debate on 'Necrotic' wound effects is concerned, you might want to read this study: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/179 ... 85_fm.html
Love your pictures and aspire to such skill BUT I won't be going near these suckers!