Black Widow Spider Found In Grapes
Today [July 8] the Plant Protection Section at the Department of Environmental Protection confirmed that Black Widow spider was delivered to the government entomologist for identification, after someone found it in imported red grapes that were purchased from a local grocery store.
The intercepted spider displayed the classic ‘hour glass’ marking characteristic of ‘Widow’ spiders, and appears to be an immature Black Widow or a male Black Widow. Black Widow spiders do not develop the classic black colouration until they are mature, and adult males resemble immature females.
The photo below was sent in to Bernews this morning, with the reader’s account of the spider and grapes matching up entirely to the official statement from the Department:
A spokesperson said, “The grocery store in question has been contacted by the Department of Environmental Protection and they have confirmed that they no longer have any of the same grape shipment available for sale.”
“The Californian supplier of the grapes has been contacted as well as the California Table Grape Commission that oversees the export of Californian grapes and both entities have been made aware of the interception and our concerns.”
“The Department of Environmental Protection is taking every precaution to prevent spiders and other insects travelling to Bermuda and encourages the public to thoroughly wash and examine fruits and vegetables before consumption.”
According to the National Geographic: “Black widows are notorious spiders identified by the colored, hourglass-shaped mark on their abdomens. Several species answer to the name, and they are found in temperate regions around the world.”
“This spider’s bite is much feared because its venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake’s.”
“In humans, bites produce muscle aches, nausea, and a paralysis of the diaphragm that can make breathing difficult; however, contrary to popular belief, most people who are bitten suffer no serious damage—let alone death.”
“But bites can be fatal—usually to small children, the elderly, or the infirm. Fortunately, fatalities are fairly rare; the spiders are nonaggressive and bite only in self-defense, such as when someone accidentally sits on them.”
“Sir, I wish to return my grapes. There is a Black Widow Spider in them”
“I ain’t doooin notin bout notin bout dat”
“But I bought them at your store”
“Do I look like I own dis store?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what a store owner is supposed to look like”
“Well I ain’t he. Is it a vicious spida? Do it look like a 42 spida or a Court St spida?”
“Whats the difference?”
“One is Black wiv a poison gun, de over is Black wiv a differen poison gun”
“Thanks for the clarification. I think this one looks like it has come from the USA”
“Bye – America interference is too much on dis island. I’ll refund ya minus de weight of da spida”.
Stop trying to sound like Terry, you sound stupid just like him.
@ Act Like You Know…your spot on. It’s people like you who can’t read between lines nor pay attention to the irony in what is being said or how presented. Apparently, your just a product of a Broadway Play that will never see fruition.
Most of my comments are spot on when dealing with reality but you seem to want to belittle everyone that shows any immagination or punditry. In fact, it should be you that “Act’s like you know” instead of keeping all that negativity inside.
It’s people like you that make us common folk literally leave. Enjoy your life now because very soon the s*(& will hit the fan and you’ll be looking for sarcastic comments and a laugh and a good dose of reality but you will be subject to fact/s.
Reality is a beach and apparently ‘Clafe’ has found their sounding board and thats good. I deal in reality and facts but use differant wordage to convey.
Enjoy your time on the Isles of Devils because the flame will soon be lit and knowone wants to stop the lighter.
My last post on Bernews.
I’m off for a three month cruise/
Have a great day Bermuda. tomorrow is owed knowone.
Terry.
Is that a promise Terry ? Are you certain that we can rely on your self imposed disappearence ; Please ,please ,say it’s so ….
You are off on a 3 month cruise Terry? Did EB pay you off as well? i must be saying all the wrong things.
Clafe where you at Mate? I KNOW ya got the REAL story behind dis hur!!!
And so why is the name of the store not being released??
I went to plug in a power tool at an outdoor socket on my front porch about 6 months ago and noticed a strange messy web before I stock my hand under the flap.
What I found was a Brown Widow spider, about the size of a dime (I have an awesome picture of it as proof). It is, apparently, quite common on the island, and while not as aggressive as the Black Widow, it is just as venomous.
I hate spiders, mostly because anything with eight legs, four pairs of eyes and hair all over their body just doesn’t seem quite right to me (apologies to any friends who fit that description). I wish I had known Brown Widows, along with the Brown Recluse, were so common on the island. Not because I would run around scared, but at least I would look twice before sticking my hand into a dark corner/wood pile/power socket.
Signed, yours truly,
Peter Parker
can you show me what it look like or do I just punch up brown widow
It is almost identical to the black widow except that the ‘hourglass’ marking is either orange or yellow, instead of red.
Bernews could you please give the email address to The Department of Environmental Protection, I have some pics of a spider caught last night that I want to forward for identification.
Yes,I now have a big black mark on my bum! This was in Southampton in 2009 thank you MR.Brown Recluse!!!!!
as ushual, GUYZ arent gettin d full story…
Dis wuz a simple mix-up…my mate Electricity Walrus wuz tellin me dat deres a secret undagrond pet store posing as a fruit market up St. David’s calld “Bread-Neesha’s Cavern of Extremely Boasty Exotic Anima…I mean, Fruit”, run by none otha then d elusiv Brean-Neesha herself. There slogan is “WHATCHOO MEAN, BIE? We aint got no illegal pets!” (2 throw off de cops).
NE WAYZ, dependin on wut animal u want, Bread-Neesha will cover it in fruit so dat u dont look suspishiss when ya leavin de store, n wutever “fruit” u order is code 4 a certin type of animal. 4 example, if you go in dere n say “AY BREAD-NEESHA, MAHHHH A BUNCH OF BANANAS, bie!”, Bread-Neesha will give u a fully-grown moose coverd in bananas. If you say “MAHHHH 362 pomagranits!”, u will b d proud owner of a siberian tiger. So in case u dont see wherr dis is goin, orderin a “bunch of grapes” is tantmount 2 sayin “ive rlly rlly bin cravin a black widow spider n i wuld like u 2 give me 1, Bread-Neesha”.
ALl DAT HAPPND HERE WUZ a simpl mix up on d shippin docks…d grocry store in question musta got Bread-Neesha’s shipmnt, ne she probly got like 20 lbs. of bleu cheez or sumfin. as ushual, d media isnt givin us d hole story, n is keepn us in d dark. DONT BELEEV NE THING U READ, BERMY…WAKE UP, PPL!
Hey Clafe you kill me!!!
I prefer my grapes in a bottle ..
Oh yeah…danh and durty…Just finishing off the last bottle before we secure the lines onboard. Don’t worry about your grapes and bottles……..you stick to cheap balls and wine……you’ll survive…oops…….I’ve got the helm……cast off….(reverse 4 revolutions port…..swing swing………half ahead starboard……midships…………………….were OFF…………………pass me that dark and stormy…………raise the mainsail, and watch out for those PRC’s…I feel a song cummin horn…….(cummysong)…….bwahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaNow lets get down and dirty like dee Pee Al Pee………………………………………
Glad to know that you’ll be paying a visit to Neptunes Bar , maybe even get to play Black Jack with Black Beard ..Good Luck as you sail off into the sunset …
Harbor radeeyoo Harbor radeeyoo…Dis his salin wassal Outahair….do yoo cuuppy owah……..
Afternoon…Outahair….Timmy here…we sea you 1 mile southered of Ewarts Rock…suggest a change in course as your heading towards the biggest drug importers house in history…..Yah barakin hup Harbor raydeeo………
Hang a left……port…..? Yah……..( gibberish…left me cal call SWAT….. (Salt Water Attack Team)……
Alfa…this Moped….. Copy over………
Ah!!!! good thing we have shallow draft,.,….Vats det meen………
I saw a beacon, then I saw the person with a flash light. Ewart turned it off….Over and out……