BOY BITTEN AT BEACH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22032, 12 February 1935, Page 8

BOY BITTEN AT BEACH

KATIPO SPIDER SUSPECTED ADMISSION TO HOSPITAL [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday A boy, the son of Mr. 0. Jans, farmer, of Oakura, was severely bitten by an insect, believed to be a katijpo spider, while playing yesterday at the Oakura Beach, about 8 miles froW New Plymouth. He was given niedica attention on the spot and taken by ca to the New Plymouth Hospital, his condition was reported to be satisfactory this afternoon. The boy w playing near some lupins above beach when his cries attracted . tion. There were some hundreds _ people on the beach at the time, in _ eluding two large picnic parties tro New Plymouth. The hospital authorities were un"Ote to sav detinitelv to-da\ r whether _ bite was inflicted by a katipo spider, but several people on the beacu, ing regard to the favourable circ M stances for the presence ™ spider—grass, lupin and debris * the after-effects of the bite, gave opinion that no other insect could Ha caused the boy'fi injury. He was in c - siderable pain until medically treatea. Conditions this year appear to M been particularly favourable tor propagation of katipos. Several been captured at Wanganui already tn» vear. This spider, generally referre as New Zealand's only venomousi lan animal, is found northwards from Peninsula, and is practically c to beaches and sand dunes. . . Only last Mr. W. W. Smth. a well-known naturalist, issued • ing that katipos were very this year as a result of the wa - weather.