Wednesday, November 10, 2010

red back army

Alarmism of a different nature. 
Scary Headline: Deadly red-backs invade New Zealand
Send shivers down their spine: "Australia's deadly red-back spider has established itself in New Zealand, posing a significant risk to humans as it threatens to colonise major cities, researchers have found."
Leave the most important facts till the end: "there have been no fatalities since an anti-venom was developed in the 1950s."

3 comments:

  1. Not only that but the Australian Redback (Latrodectus hasselti)is a close relative of NZs own Katipo (Latrodectus katipo)which is also venomous with an available anti-venom.
    I don't think NZs cold wet winters (North Isaland coastal anyway) are any worse than southern Aus.
    Also noted the include mention that "climate modelling showed"

    Alan

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  2. Of course with the ABC it's what they leave out. A fuller article on this can be found at
    www.northernadvocate.co.nz/local/news/northland-climate-would-suit-feared-aussie-redback/3929463/

    which has as one of it's concluding remarks " Their findings were averaged out over 30 years of redback sightings - in other words, very few."

    Alan

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