PRESS RELEASE for Dangerous Spiders Public Awareness Project 2006
Katoomba Rotarian/spider authority Rex Gilroy
with two preserved spider specimens.
Photo copyright © Rex Gilroy 2006
“Dangerous Spiders Public Awareness” Project
Northern Rivers Region
In the wake of a serious Funnel Web spider problem which has been increasing over a wide area of the Northern Rivers region over recent years, the Rotary Club of Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, is targeting this region as part of its nation-wide “Dangerous Spiders Public Awareness” life-saving community service project.
Objectives of the project are to educate the community at large on spider identification and sensible first-aid procedure for spider bite. As part of the project, the Club offers a booklet containing colour photos of all the dangerous, and not-so-dangerous spider species commonly met with around the home , their life histories and habits and how to control them.
There is advice for parents of young children on how to educate them about spider danger, together with a step-by-step first-aid procedure for spider bite. The booklet can be obtained by sending a donation to cover postage to the Rotary Club of Katoomba “Dangerous Spiders Public Awareness”, PO Box 54, Katoomba NSW 2780. All moneys raised from excess postage donations goes to Rotary Clubs International charities within Australia.
The Club also operates a “Dangerous Spiders Hotline” [02 4782 3441] where concerned home owners can obtain advice on any spider problems they may have. Co-ordinator of the project is entomologist/Rotarian Rex Gilroy. He urges readers to get behind the project, which has already been responsible for saving a number of livers [mostly young children].
“There are at least three Funnel Web species found in the Northern Rivers region and all are extremely deadly. These is no mistaking these shiny bodied black to reddish-brown spiders. The venom of Funnel Webs is capable of killing an adult within 12 hours, while children have died within two hours.
Due to the current hot weather, followed by moist conditions, there have been a number of recent reports of Funnel Webs entering homes in Lismore, Kyogle, Alstonville, Ballina and other areas. Other dangerous species also beginning to emerge include the White-tail, Black House and Mouse spiders.
Red Back Spider Eastern Mouse Spider White Tail Spider These, including the Red-Back, are covered in the Katoomba Rotary Club booklet. However, as the Funnel Web mating season is about to commence [November to march], we are particularly concerned that the community takes every possible against this species around their homes”, says Rex.
