"The Dread Katipo”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 71, 17 December 1935, Page 11

"The Dread Katipo”

Sir,—lt would be regrettable if fear of katipo spiders was allowed to mar the ■pleasures of a visit to the beach, and since an interesting article which recently appeared iu ■'The Dominion” on “The Dread Katipo” may quite possibly cause unwarranted apprehension to a number of lovers of the open, the following observations may be opportune. Having often secured live specimens of the katipo, one learns to know where they are to be found, also where they are most unlikely to be found, and the information may dispel much anxiety, at the same time sounding a note of warning. From experience, tlie most unlikely place to find a katipo spider is on a clean, open beach, especially below high-water mark. The most probable place to find one. is along almost any coast where a camping party has left behind empty tins or other refuse. AVhere there is drift wood, logs, and especially old tins lying about, at, or above high-water mark, one would seldom search long without discovering a katipo, though it is unlikely it would attack unless the abode was disturbed. They are usually found under cover of an old tin or debris of this kind. The treatment for a bite has been expertly discussed, but since prevention is better than cure, the moral would appear to be: Keep the beaches clean, select clean places, and fear not the katipo.— I am, etc., SCIPIO. Feilding, December 15.