Spiders in India

machadinha

<cross-posted again. Btw:

I love that image >

These, too, will no doubt exist in India. Again, they'll tend to hide away from you if they can (centipedes can be aggressive btw, which still doesn't mean they'll come hunting for you, more that they will defend themselves if necessary. Did you know the ones you have at home are said to be fairly poisonous too?)

Only a few scorpions are deadly poisonous. The others (some are harmless) will pack a punch with effects ranging from something like a bee sting to a feverish day I believe, the wound itself is said to be quite painful btw. I don't know if India has any lethal species.

I don't know if scorpions are very regional, what I know is they tend to be highly local. So one area may have relatively high numbers, while a short bit away none may be found. They will prefer barren and isolated places I believe. What happens is humans will sometimes decide to build their houses there, so, yes, you'll then have house scorpions. (I've lived in such a one. Never got stung mind, but yes, it happens, of course. And again, they live in the Mediterranean too, btw.)

Tropical centipedes can be pretty large and intimidating-looking, and while not lethal as far as I know (they might be to children and the elderly and the likes [?]), a bite may warrant a hospital visit, is again said to be very painful and will get you very sick in any case. Better treat them with respect. (I'm not even sure about the Indian species btw, but I assume it's the same there.)

And then you have your millipedes who secrete an irritating substance in their defense (the small European ones do too I believe), and...

It's no big deal in practice really. Some good rules of thumb in the tropics (and I doubt if many members here practice them or all of them or if so, consciously) are to give your shoes and perhaps your clothes a good shake before putting them on (these creatures like to hide away in dark & secluded places after all, and your empty shoes are just perfect for that); when trundling around the bush, try to have your feet and ankles covered at least (with a view to snakes, ticks, etc. too), usually translating to shoes + socks + long trousers; don't go picking up sticks and stones just like that or putting your hands in holes and stuff (step over or preferably around a lying branch and such rather than on it, with a view to possibly disturbing a snake again; if suspecting a snake may be up ahead, walking with a slow and pronounced gait, or stepping in place if need be, will send off vibrations to let them know you're coming [snakes are practically deaf, but have a highly developed sense of movement], most of them will again want to hide away from you & save for a few more aggressive [which again must really be read as more defensive] species they will only attack if cornered or surprised, remember the venomous kind will need their precious venom to kill prey, not to bother with you who are obviously not prey, and this goes for most animals); and other such simple measures. Ah, you might want to inspect your bed or hammock or give it a good shake again before lying down. It will depend are you in downtown Delhi or somewhere in the Keralan jungle too, of course.

This all sounds much more of a deal than it is, it just becomes second nature. And other than that, stuff happens I guess, one can always get unlucky. Unless you plan to go way out to nowhere, if worst comes to worst there'll be a hospital with the necessary anti-venoms nearby, or so one hopes.

When it all comes to down to it, most people will be happy to see any interestingly exotic wildlife whether big or small at all

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Nick-H

Make sure there's nothing in your boots or shoes. Sandals makes this easier, of course.

After that, most of this crowd of beasties is just fun and interesting to see. Exotic, yes: a praying mantid is quite something, for instance.

I don't remember if neuromouse has told us what part of India they are visiting. It's going to make a big difference to the wildlife they might encounter. Consider the climate difference; it will be real winter up North, whilst still steaming in the South.

The worst, and most dangerous perhaps, you are likely to meet is the wretched mosquito. it is the one thing that occasionally threatens to make my pleasant life in India hell .

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jyotirmoy

And look below your bed before retiring. Who knows what Dijjns are hiding there? The biggest dread I ever have is some slimy hands dragging me by my legs just as I was driftin off to sleep... cold sweats had to be neutralised by cold water.

Nick-H

The wife telling you it's time to get up for work already?

Haylo

Ugh.. As if I needed something else to worry about! I think checking under the bed would be just as scary.
Imagine if there was something waiting there!

*Haylo adds "Employ Dijjn-Wallah" to her list of things to do*

By the way, there is an ad at the bottom of this page which says "Deadly Spiders Thinking of buying? Compare 100s of retailer's prices" That would make an interesting souvenir I guess...

jyotirmoy

Buy one & get one free or the other way around

mousourik

Tarantulas in India !!!!!!!!????????????

didn't they say - ignorance is bliss ?

Searching in wikipedia for spiders in India ? goodness! i don't think that we Indians (read Bengalis, as they travel the most) do that kind of research before venturing out for nice places.

jyotirmoy

My best friend said dragons don't exist and dragged me to their lairs.

edwardseco

Just say it doesn't exist. I have a large infestation of Black Widows. Workman come in bug eyed about the big spiders and saying, its a good thing they aren't Black Widows. I laugh affirmatively..

Haylo

Most Westerners have never seen a spider larger than an inch across, so the idea of finding a HUGE one is pretty disturbing to a lot of people. If it was somewhere outside, I would be fascinated. If it was in my bedroom, I might have to move house!

Unless you are an entomologist, tarantula means (as in the OP) a spider that is big and hairy and scary.

Edited to add: I REALLY hope this is only found in some boring part of India (is there one?) that I wasn't going to visit anyway!

machadinha

You're right Haylo. I think the question boils down to something like:

-- Does India have big hairy spiders? Yes, I'm quite sure it would, can't remember running into them any more than I might at home though.

-- Does India have poisonous spiders? Ditto. (And this should maybe be followed up by, If so, how poisonous? No idea.)

I was thinking meanwhile we have a viper in the Netherlands that, while not fatal, is said to pack a decent punch. Can't say I ever, ever gave or give this any thought when going out & about. (And then we have ticks possibly carrying Lyme's disease and... Oh boy.)

According to Wikipedia, a presumably imported and perfectly harmless species of scorpions has managed to establish itself in Southern England btw.

jyotirmoy

If Slovenia and Croatia is western I have seen bigger spiders and one has the audacity to ask me why I am so thin.

KABAARY

Spiders are familial...they follow their adopted masters wherever.

Spiders are a necessary accompaniment here in human habitations but they are the harmless sort...I'm tantalising one right now in my parlour with a fly...trick is to dust the rooms and especially the ceilings, nooks and corners very regularly.

jyotirmoy

You are a good househusband bhai Kabaary cleanig all the webs I don't bother till it grows on my eyes and acsshuuulay I am thankful it does

KABAARY

Not a house husband but a domestic cow (spouse prefers to use the misleading term of "baa lamb".

Ki go sir, koto peg down ? Aamaar third cholche...