Spiders everywhere.

Omol · Luke Warm Joined: 15 Oct 2002 Posts: 304

Deadly spider

Three women in North Florida, turned up at hospitals over a 5-day
period, all with the same symptoms. Fever, chills, and vomiting,
followed by muscular collapse, paralysis, and finally, death. There
were no outward signs of trauma. Autopsy results showed toxicity in
the blood.
These women did not know each other, and seemed to have nothing in
common.
It was discovered, however, that they had all visited the same
restaurant (Olive Garden) within days of their deaths. The health
department descended on the restaurant, shutting it down. The food,
water, and air conditioning were all inspected and tested, to no
avail. The big break came when a waitress at the restaurant was
rushed to the hospital with similar symptoms. She told doctors that
she had been on vacation, and had only gone to the restaurant to
pick up her check. She did not eat or drink while she was there, but
had used the restroom. That is when one toxicologist, remembering an
article he had read, drove out to the restaurant, went into the
restroom, and lifted the toilet seat. Under the seat, out of normal
view, was a small spider. The spider was captured and brought back
to the lab, where it was determined to be the Two-Striped Telamonia
(Telamonia dimidiata) , so named because of its reddened flesh
color. This spider's venom is extremely toxic, but can take several
days to take effect. They live in cold, dark, damp, climates,
and toilet rims provide just the right atmosphere. Several days
later a lawyer from Jacksonville showed up at a hospital emergency
room. Before his death, he told the doctor, that he had been away on
business, had taken a flight from Indonesia, changing planes in
Singapore, before returning home. He did not visit (Olive Garden),
while there. He did, as did all of the other victims, have what was
determined to be a puncture wound, on his right buttock.
Investigators discovered that the flight he was on had originated in
India. The Civilian Aeronautics Board (CAB) ordered an immediate
inspection of the toilets of all flights from India, and discovered
the Two-Striped Telamonia (Telamonia Dimidiata) spider's nests on 4
different planes! It is now believed that these spiders can be
anywhere in the country. So please, before you use a public toilet,
lift the seat to check for spiders. It can save your life! And
please pass this on to everyone you care about.

Officer Sylvia Steele
University of North Florida
Science Dept 4567 St.
Johns Bluff Road,
South Jacksonville, FL 32224-2645

Spiders everywhere.

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