Rise of the Flesh Eating Spiders of Bermuda

[Pandora]

A lot the tourist brochures and publications will tell you there are no dangerous spiders in Bermuda (or snakes). However there is one spider that has made Bermuda their home since 1983 (at least).

While Bermuda is home to a lot of large spiders, they are all non poisonous. It is the Brown recluse which is the most dangerous to humans. This spider is no bigger than a $25 piece and is likely to hide in closets or dark warm spaces.



A guy I met lost most of his ankle to a brown recluse in 1997 and there were similar tales of spider bites and people suffering large areas of skin & flesh that died back. A lot of doctors were caught unaware of that were dangerous in Bermuda much less how to treat it.

"The Brown Recluse Spider has been associated with significant disease and even reports of death, usually in small children."

The spider prefers dark, warm, dry environments such as attics, closets, porches, barns, basements, woodpiles, and old tires and according to an entomology website, most bites occur only in the summer months.

In 2005 the spider finally made newspaper headlines when 5 people were bitten in just one week. Bermuda has been effected by climate change and the lower amounts of rainfall have provided better conditions for the Brown recluse spider to significantly increase in numbers. The lack of natural predators also gives it an advantage as well.

The problem with the spider bit is that it appears as just a small "sting" and the person can assume it is nothing serious until days later when the venom has spread to a larger area the flesh around the bit has started to die back. Tissue loss and gangrene are not unusual and can lead to amputation of a hand or foot. The painful wound can take up to a year to heal.

Bermuda Sun article: Poisonous spider leaves woman in agony http://bermudasun.bm/Main.asp?SectionID=24&SubSectionID=270&ArticleID=38520

Any bit should not be ignored and need to be seen by doctor as soon as possible to rule it out.

The large Huntsman spider prefers houses that are damp where the brown recluse prefers drier houses.



To avoid being bitten:

• Avoid keeping clothing on the floor
• Store clothing and shoes inside plastic containers
  
• Shake out all clothing that has been in a hamper before wearing or washing.
• Check inside shoes before putting on
• Check inside the bed covers before getting into bed
• Wear heavy rubber or leather gloves when cleaning
• Ensure there is a gap between wall and bed and do no have bedskirts to avoid spiders getting into bed with you

Article in The Royal Gazette http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20050527/NEWS/305279954

[The G-Killer]

Did I mention I am glad I left?

[BangMaster]

Oh gosh, that's gross! I am glad I left!

[Wikigrl]

The Brown Recluse is pretty much everywhere - we even have them in Canada. In 2005 and 2006 I remember the freakout and all the articles in BDA. I've even seen a few of them myself (they're pretty funny actually because they get up on their haunches when they feel threatened by a person and they're just wee little spiders...hahahahaha!)

They've even had Black Widows confirmed in BDA.

Not unlike many many many other places....

But not even 1 snake has ever been found (in spite of the annual 'snake threat' of someone spotting some giant poisonous snake out in the brush)...

There has also only been 1 reported Shark attack in BDA back in the 60's - they couldn't confirm whether it had been provoked or not - but it wasn't life threatening. They have had a couple of tigers breach the reefs (apparently they follow the cruise ships in) and then swin around in the harbours until they swim back out or are caught.

The scariest thing in BDA is still the roaches!

Portugese Man O'Wars and those St. David's centepedes are also quite venemous


BDA is a very safe place - especially when compared to some other places like, ahem, Australia (which seems like a death trap to me! hahahaha)

[Captain Canuck]

This brings back a story.  I too was under the impression that there was nothing to worry about with respect to poisonous species in Bermuda.  After having been on island for well over a year a lunch conversation came up about the Brown Recluse Spider, and my whole world changed.  My local counterparts are like "ya their here...."  my reaction "....?!?!??!....".  So alarmed was I that i started seeing them everywhere.  We had a bunch of spiders in our house and office that were now making me nervous.  I caught a few and brought them in for identification.  Fortunately they were another, much less dangerous species....can't seem to recall the name, but it was definitely a look alike species.

Funny how you can feel totally safe one minute and a simple lunch conversation later you can almost feel them crawling on you...

Media doesn't help, cuz of all the nature shows and news articles you can basically kiss a trip to Australia good-bye.  My wife is convinced we'll get poisoned the second we step off the tarmac lol.

CC

[Mike]

BDA is a very safe place - especially when compared to some other places like, ahem, Australia (which seems like a death trap to me! hahahaha)

Media doesn't help, cuz of all the nature shows and news articles you can basically kiss a trip to Australia good-bye.  My wife is convinced we'll get poisoned the second we step off the tarmac lol.

Aus is not for the faint of heart!   

When I updated my first-aid course here, I was amazed at how many procedures there are for various 'death trap' critters.  In years of a very active outdoor lifestyle, I've never had to attend anything worse than an ant bite.  I think you'll be fine for a visit.   

[Wikigrl]

Funny how you can feel totally safe one minute and a simple lunch conversation later you can almost feel them crawling on you...

That is exactly how I felt when I found out that those blasted roaches could fly!!!!

[Long gone]

To sum up. viz.
1. Brown recluse spider.(Dept. of Immigration failure; probably arrived on Cup holiday).
2. Huntsman. (presumably arachnid and not the louche guy in the boozer.)
3. Black Widows. (eight-legged ones that is.)
4. Giant poisonous snake (yet to be confirmed.)
5. Sharks. (ocean creatures not to be confused with financial advisers.)
6. Roaches. (Shock, horror!)
7. Jelly fish. (slippery customers)
8. Centipedes. ( ).

Where are you 'Bear' Gryll's? Bermuda desperately needs you!

Re. Australia. I have lived here for forty years and apart from the odd friendly mozzie, the only creature to have bitten me has been the taxman.  :'(

[Pandora]

Yes the spiders are everywhere in the world.

In Bermuda however the authorities were in denial up until the GREAT SPIDER CRISIS of 2005 ;-) 

In Australia everyone is aware of the dangers and knows to get any and all bites checked out and how to prevent getting bitten. When the Bermuda brochures say there are no nasties and some one goes sticking their hand into a log pile to pull out wood for the BBQ that can leave to a nasty surprise.

They also ignored the advice in in 1987 to monitor the population and try to eliminate them before they took hold. Now they are everywhere and have greatly increased in numbers in the last few years. There is also a study going on about the toxicity of them but I cannot find the link - one scientist has suggested they have bred with a local "non toxic" spider similar to them which is slightly larger and these are now a larger (more venom injected) variety. 

As the RG & Bermuda sun articles state there are now a "significant" number of bites each year.

The other issue is that because they are not as deadly as Australian spiders such as the Funnel and redback they get less concern. Try telling that to some one in agony who has been bitten that they were not warned properly.

I knew 3 people who had suffered bites and I know zero in Australia (where I have a lot of friends). One has permanent disfigurement and needs special orthopedic shoes from a bit to their ankle when it extended all the way down to their heel. Their insurance did not cover a lot of the costs. Their insurance company also tried wrangle out of a lot of the costs by saying "there are no dangerous spiders in Bermuda".

[Pandora]

There has also only been 1 reported Shark attack in BDA back in the 60's - they couldn't confirm whether it had been provoked or not - but it wasn't life threatening. They have had a couple of tigers breach the reefs (apparently they follow the cruise ships in) and then swin around in the harbours until they swim back out or are caught.

Provoked? Hey Shark, If you were twice as smart you would still be stupid! You breathe underwater right? Well I hope you enjoyed my fresh pee! You are so ugly Hello Kitty said good-bye to you! Hey your mom is so fat the whales sing "We are family". You are a waste of skin and the only thing good about shark skin is for polishing my car. Now get out of the water and go clean my car. Stop circling around me you making me so hungry all I can think about is "shark fin soup".

 

[Wikigrl]

You're a funny lady!

You'd be surprised at how stupid people can be: "Oh look, there's a shark - I think I will poke it."

[BangMaster]

I was kitesurfing and honestly I never saw anything than turtles and manta ray. The second one only few times in the early morning. I wish I could see a Shark but I guess I was always too lucky. Honestly while riding a 60 cm board on the water, I am not sure I would feel confident in meeting a big fish just below my foot ...

[Wikigrl]

Manta rays....love those things! The first time I ever saw one I was sitting off gazing into the harbour and *SPLASH* one came flying up out of the water! Magestic to see!