SPIDER BITES

[EMM]

At this time of the year there are some big " bu******s" around lurking in wood piles , dry leaves etc.

We had friends round for dinner last night and on opening the door when they arrived we saw a big brown spider ( body at least 20mm ). Not thinking liZ brushed it away to safety and was rewarded by a bite.
Two red marks could be seen and her finger became swollen and painfull.
We googled " poisonous spiders in Portugal " and identified it was not one of the two to be very wary of.
He finger is still a little swollen this morning but has reacted well to a anti histamine cream and ice.

We forget that Portugal is a semi tropical country and has bugs that we are not familiar with, its back to wearing gloves when gardening and keeping a respectfull distance from any spiders in future.

[blue]

I know & I never wear gloves, I came across a large amber scorpion whilst gardening & I'm out there no gloves & wearing flipflops, I think the large amber ones are ok venom wise but I still wouldn't want to be stung by one.
We've had a few of the big, fat garden spiders come into the house, I think the rain must drive them in, some of them are the size of small crabs! The only spider I've been bitten by out here is a tiny, wee one, it stung a bit but had no other effect fortunately, it's often the little things that you have to look out for.

[Michael Crane]

..... it's often the little things that you have to look out for.

Hey! Leave me out of this!

[maccasa]

Fortunately there are no really toxic spiders in portugal BUT they havent been told that! they are only likely to be more than slightly painful if you are very young (not small MC!) very old, suffer from allergies or have a poor immunity system. The bite is equivalent to a wasp/bee sting

IF you are bitten - first thing is to take at least 3 Piriton - up to 5 if you are over 90kg, then apply antihistamine cream to the bite area. Go to the hospital if it really starts to swell and you feel faint.

(note if you are bitten when drunk, the latter may not apply! )

[pato]

It's serious when you start swinging from one corner of the room to another with a ball of wool in your mouth, seek help immediately!

[Ellie]

Im more concerned about Mossie bites......but Mike Chislehurst gave me a tip and when in Algarve I always eat marmite toast for breakfast..it does keep the mossies away!
Mind you I never saw one in my apartment at Monte Dourado..Lucky or not?

[pato]

Im more concerned about Mossie bites......but Mike Chislehurst gave me a tip and when in Algarve I always eat marmite toast for breakfast..it does keep the mossies away!
Mind you I never saw one in my apartment at Monte Dourado..Lucky or not?

It keeps everyone away.

[James Faro]

Im more concerned about Mossie bites......but Mike Chislehurst gave me a tip and when in Algarve I always eat marmite toast for breakfast..it does keep the mossies away!
Mind you I never saw one in my apartment at Monte Dourado..Lucky or not?

This true, Ellie? That stuff is basically rotten Bovril spread on bread!

[maccasa]

Is this true about marmite keeping Mozzies away? I keep hearing this but never had a good explanation - its only basically yeast extract from brewing beer, so why?

[maccasa]

Ref Mozzies and Marmite - I have just spent some time trawling the internet for anti-mozzie protection. Whilst lots and lots of people swear eating Marmite works, there seems to be very little real scientific evidence - The recurring theme is that it is the Vitamin B (+ B1, B12) that it contains is hated by the mozzie - if you eat enough the vitamin is given off from your skin. There are also several references to Tonic water being good - so it seems like a gin and tonic with your marmite on toast MIGHT help in the morning.

[Matryx]

Is this true about marmite keeping Mozzies away? I keep hearing this but never had a good explanation - its only basically yeast extract from brewing beer, so why?

I'll just stick to beer then

[dennisg]

Is this true about marmite keeping Mozzies away? I keep hearing this but never had a good explanation - its only basically yeast extract from brewing beer, so why?

I'll just stick to beer then

I'll just stick to going in winter when they are not about.

[Ellie]

Yes its true...think its something to do with the smell of your skin..its sort of 'lingers' underneath the skin and keeps mossies away..at least thats what I was told by Mike Chislehurst (may he rest in peace)...
When I have marmite on toast for brekkie the mossies stay away from me

[James Faro]

If alcohol is indeed a good repellent to mosquitoes then we can expect these annoying insects bashing into walls or being thrown out of people's villas for bad behaviour. Certainly worth a good try if yeast is the magic ingredient.

[mac]

Sorry, there's no way I'd eat marmite even if it does work against mozzies. And I'd steer clear of anyone who'd eaten marmite as well. I can't imagine anything worse than smelling of the stuff!!! Yuck!