The False Widow in England

False Widow - a name that immediately conjures images of the extremely venomous black widow. In truth the false widow is a separate genus that bears a superficial resemblance. The name can apply to over 100 species of spider but Steatoda nobilis is the one rapidly spreading across the UK. 

We recently spotted one on a wall and it prompted me to conduct some more research. As anyone reading this blog will know, I am all about encouraging my kids to interact with nature and that includes spiders. I published an article some time ago about a large house spider we captured and photographed. My children spent time watching him as he ran around the bath tub and had no problem handling the leggy arachnid. I am helping them to grow without fear or prejudice of the natural world, but clearly I don't want them clasping venomous creatures that can inflict serious bites!

Should I be worried about the UK false widow? Let's consider the facts - 1) No one has ever died of a spider bite in the UK and that includes people bitten by Steatoda nobilis 2) The spiders are typically non-aggressive and don't spend their time hanging about on walls while they wait for an unsuspecting passer by 3) The worst reactions to false widow bites have been attributed to allergic reactions. This isn't any different to the exaggerated response some people experience when stung by a bee or wasp, and it is worth mentioning false widow venom allergy still has not killed anyone. 

Steatoda nobilis is an alien species and likely arrived here on produce sent over from the Canary Islands. Global warming is attributed to its spread, but this is still a species that prefers cosy climates and none have been found further north than East Anglia. 

Looking at some pictures of post bite reactions (I won't include any on this light hearted blog) we see that reactions vary considerably. For most people it is nothing more than a red bump, others experience greater swelling and a minority suffer local damage to tissue. Recent media cases include a footballer who suffered an allergic reaction and needed the wound cleaned and trimmed and a school boy bitten while he slept. The latter is extremely rare and you really are not very likely to find a false widow or indeed a common house spider checking out the underside of a duvet.

In summary - are false widow bites dangerous? In my opinion no. Are the bites painful? Yes they can be and sometimes a tingling sensation or tight chest will develop. Clearly that could be frightening, even though it will not result in death. Will I let my kids handle them? No! In the same way I wouldn't let them pick up a wasp, they will not be permitted or encouraged to interact closely with this species. The bite would be painful and potentially trigger a more serious allergic reaction, though this would be rare. The boys are fascinated by all manner of natural wonders but whilst they can appreciate the beauty of an Eyelash Palm Viper, so too they understand that such creatures demand respect and must be observed from a distance.

The false widow has its place in the world. It is following instincts and just wants to survive and reproduce. Without spiders like the false widow we would be overrun with insect pests. They are doing their bit to maintain the status quo and understand nothing of the fear humans feel for them. If your child gets bitten then take them to A&E but don't ever let a nip from one of mother nature's wonders reduce their desire to be outside in the garden or woods and at one with animals and plants. 

The Enchanted Forest at Groombridge

An evocative name, I am sure you will agree, the Enchanted Forest is found in Groombridge, Kent (The Garden of England). It is a wonderful outdoor experience, which includes huge swings, wooden assault courses, boat trips, animals and miles of woodland. 

We visited once before with our friends from the Norwegian Church in Rotherhithe. The experience was so positive that we decided to go again. It is a great opportunity for children to run, hide, climb and generally enjoy the great outdoors. There are birds of prey, pigs, goats, cattle and peacocks to satisfy animal lovers and provide distraction for younger children. 

Inhabitants of the forest include The Groms, a mythical race who retire to the woodland depths whenever people are around. This leaves their village conveniently vacated and available for children to play in. Ideas like this are at the heart of any child's imagination - the concept of magical unknown races watching their adventures and maybe, just maybe making an appearance and introducing their human friends to a hitherto unknown world. 

This reminds me of the M.Night Shyamalan film The Village. The story focuses on a small community surrounded by woodland and operating under a truce with unseen creatures, which supposedly inhabit the forest. You witness the fear and curiosity of the children as they go about their daily lives, often pausing to stare with wonder at the trees swaying in the wind. When I first heard of this movie I remember mentioning it to my brother and we were both very keen to see it. I even recall the website created as part of the advertising campaign - the front screen pictured an isolated village with animated birds flying quietly away into the distance. It stirred the imagination.

My eldest son has recently been talking a lot more about undiscovered species that he is certain must inhabit the deepest oceans and highest tree tops - just waiting to be discovered and catalogued by an intrepid zoologist. Wondering at the world in this way is something adults should try hard not to lose. The reality is that new species are being discovered all the time, even large animals like pink iguanas and dolphins!

The dinosaurs & dragon walkway, the blue pool and huge mysterious oak doors are just some of the things you will find inside the forest, and I can pretty much guarantee happy, excited children. 

As we progressed through the woodland depths we found a small lake filled with carp. The fish were literally clambering over each other, and almost onto the shore, as they patrolled the shallows looking for tasty treats cast into the murky waters. It was an unusual sight. 

A great day out and thoroughly recommended. 

Giant Moths, Mantids and Meeting an Old Friend

Summer holiday! Another year has passed and it was time to venture back to our coastal oasis in the South of France. The kids were a year older and a year stronger at swimming, which made a great deal of difference when we ventured out to explore another world beneath the waves. 

The boys were both awe struck by the welter of bizarre marine wildlife. Every day we ventured into the sea with snorkel masks in place and became one with nature. There were fishes of every size and colour, hermit crabs in the thousands, sea slugs, urchins and octopodes. We swam back out to the reef where I happened across Otto - our crafty octopus from last year - and unbelievably he was still inside! I am certain it was the same animal for a few reasons - firstly it was the same size (a big adult and  uncommon that close to the shore), secondly the octopus is a solitary animal and they are very territorial. They don't live long, 3 -5 years at most, but it is entirely possible he was only a year or two old last year. Finally the den itself is well concealed and a prime location. Last year he returned the next day after we caught him and the same thing happened this time. 

It is wonderful to think that Otto had been happily catching crabs and going about his business for twelve months, while we continued our urban existence back in England. There was a flicker of recognition in his eyes, I am sure of it ;-).

I found another Octopus under a huge rock in the sea. My youngest son developed a passion for collecting ocean rocks and building them into walls, which were then incorporated into sandcastles. For a joke I decided to flip a huge boulder and suggest we could drag it to shore. A large octopus shot into view - completely stone coloured and perfectly camouflaged. With some solid team work we managed to net him. Said mollusc was christened Inky (don't worry about the picture below, we soon had him back in the bucket). After some observation myself and the boys swam him out to the deeper kelp beds and watched in awe as he drifted back into camouflaged obscurity. 

Our exploration yielded a few new gems including the weever fish and scorpion fish. Both these species are venomous and it was bucket observation only for the boys. The scorpion fishes were extremely broad and chunky, spending most of their time sitting on the sea bed and skulking around rocks. 

Back at the villa I was sitting on the patio one day when a huge moth crash landed. It had a badly bent wing and I assume it was sitting in the rafters when a gecko decided to take a pop at it. There is no way this lepidopteran beast would fit inside the stomach of a moorish gecko, but that won't stop the game little fellows from trying. Another alternative is that a bird took a bite but failed to secure the massive insect before it fell to earth. Either way it was a surprise. 

Another morning my youngest son stepped outside and spotted a large green insect sitting on the wall. Our first wild praying mantis :). An amazing animal - so well designed for hunting and a beautiful colour. 

You can go on holiday and lounge by the pool all day or get into Davy Jones' locker and experience some oceanic wonders. A different country also harbours all manner of aerial and terrestrial species - many not found in cooler northern climes. 

Some are not so unfamiliar and one evening we happened across a hedgehog doing its rounds. Such beautiful creatures and we watched her for a while as she ambled around the hedgerows and bushes looking for slugs and bugs. 

All in all an amazing time. 

The Robin's Nest

We have spent time in recent years trying to design and cultivate our garden so it attracts a wide variety of wildlife. It is small but very private and well stocked with mature plants. The rear is framed with huge trees and there is always plenty of birdsong and squirrel activity. Bees happily buzz around in the warm sunshine, butterflies flit from flower to flower and if we are lucky we get a decent crop of tomatoes and cucumbers - always assuming the snails don't get to them first. 

Nonetheless we could not seem to attract nesting birds in spring time, or possibly they were very stealthy and remained undetected, but this year was different. Having trained the ivy to reach across to the opposing wall (and create additional cover above a wooden platform), we finally secured a family of robins. That quintessential feature of every Christmas card in the land was good enough to grace us with four bonny babies. Yesterday evening, just before the boys went to sleep, we were all watching the parents flying back and forth to their blossoming brood. It is tiring work and the parents toil flat out to maximise their chirping children's chances of survival. 

I will try to take a few more pictures to show development over the coming days. I have to be very quick - darting in to take a snap and being very careful not to disturb them (no flashes used). We won't have much time before they fledge, but it is lovely to know the little garden is doing its bit to support the local wildlife. 

Robins will often lay a couple of clutches in one season and sometimes more. This could very well be the first lot and so, with some luck, the same pair will utilise this nest again before the end of July. 

Courtship can begin as early as January, but the breeding season normally commences in March. Robins don't like typical bird boxes with round entrances, but they will utilise open fronted varieties. Only the female is involved with nest construction but the male does supply a huge amount of her food during this intensive period. A lot hinges on his ability to supply quality nutrition - it is the difference between a small, weak clutch and a large strong one. 

Incubation takes about 2 weeks and it is another 2 weeks until the young fledge. That is right - it only takes about one month for eggs to hatch and the little birdies to fly away. 

British Robins stay in the country year round but, interestingly, Nordic examples fly to the Mediterranean because it is just too cold to find food. We are buying a new bird table this year and will do our best to feed the local bird population during the next British winter. 

Edit (13/05/13): Our little birds flew the nest a couple of days after taking the  first pics, so no chance of additional images. Hopefully they will use the same nest again before the end of this season. 

Toads

Spring hit England this weekend - finally!! The weather was beautiful and there is only one option in these circumstances. We headed off into the wild to liaise with the native amphibians and also took our Galoob Animal truck, just so we could drive it over stuff!

The pond was absolutely teaming with croaking toads. Huge spheres of slimy vertebrates formed all over the murky surface, as males clambered to secure the plum position astride enormous females. It is easy to forget the size differential and every season brings it back home with a bang - some of the battling tiddlers looked quite ridiculous as they hung on to their whale-esque partners. 

We must have caught forty toads and the odd frog. For some reason toads massively outnumbered frogs in this pond. It was just too easy and you had to be careful not to step on them. The kids could have spent all day catching and releasing said amphibians. The pair above were particularly comical, with the female being significantly larger than any others we saw that day. 

Magical weather and so nice to be in the thick of nature again. Everything felt so full of life - multiple species of birds singing in the trees, amphibians and insects everywhere. 

The common Toad (Bufo bufo) is normally a solitary animal, but convene in huge numbers during the breeding season and also ignore their usually crepuscular patterns to try and progress genetic material into the next generation. It is winner takes all. 

After a lovely day in the fresh air we made a quick trip to town and the boys capped off a special weekend with some outdoor amusements. 

Be outside!

The New Caledonian Giant Gecko

It was my eldest son's birthday this weekend and, alongside a Micro scooter, I managed to source a young adult Rhacodactylus leachianus - The New Caledonian Giant Gecko. This is a species he had noticed a while ago and I remember how it captivated his attention and imagination. He liked it more than the Green Tree Python, and that is saying something.

This Gecko is rare in the UK and was first collected in the 1980s. Subsequent expeditions in the 90s yielded additional stock and you often see animals sold as being genuine examples from island X,Y,Z etc.... In reality you cannot possibly know where your animal came from, unless you travel to the wet, wind swept islands of New Caledonia (east of Australia) and collect it yourself! We see the same situation with many other reptiles and unless the locale in question has very clear distinguishing characteristics, then it is entirely likely they are crosses from a variety of regions. 

Recently the New Caledonian Giant Gecko was reclassified into one single species, whereas formerly it was two subspecies - R.leachianus leachianus and R. leachianus henkeli. The former was found on the primary  island in the NC cluster (appropriately called Grand Terre). The smaller satellite islands were home to R.l.henkeli. Physically the satellite animals were often a little smaller and colours could vary, but they are the same species. Our male was sold as a Pine Island example but it is anyone's guess as to whether that is the case. He is certainly a very big Gecko. 

I had to cunningly sneak the semi-arboreal lizard into our house and ensure the adjustment period produced a happy, settled gecko. This was a lot easier than I expected, largely due to his completely nocturnal behaviour. In the day he slept in his little tree house and at night would venture out and about. He was soon feeding regularly and thriving in the conditions. 

This is a unique and beautiful animal. It is the biggest gecko you will ever clap eyes on (the Tokay - see picture below - is a similar size but doesn't have the same huge head and feet). The Tokay is also a very aggressive species - they can be tamed but are generally a bad choice of pet for children.  The New Caledonian Giant Gecko is probably the most vocal of all lizard species. People living on the islands refer to them as the devil in the trees, because of the array of whistles, barks, growls and chirps they use to communicate with each other. Kept alone they are relatively quiet, however, and it takes another of their kind to provoke a proper conversation!

Purchasing a hatchling wouldn't have been suitable for us, because young kids need something they can work with immediately and that is fairly robust. You can't expect them to show the patience required to watch a very slow maturing species grow into an adult, which will finally (maybe) accept physical contact.

Getting a quality example, especially one that is calm, is tough. He tolerates handling but certainly does not appreciate it. Not a biter, which is essential, and once outside the vivarium he will sit in the hand calmly enough. Even so he is very pleased to go back in and I can't trust him in the same way as our other reptiles. Ultimately we will aim to pair him up and produce some hatchlings of our own, but that can wait a while. It is not as simple as putting a male with a female - this species is very particular about mates and will reject numerous candidates. Also they only produce a couple of eggs in each clutch,  so it is not hard to see why prices are still high. A fantastic addition to the collection and one of the most amazing reptiles I have ever encountered.

Galoob Giant Command

This is it - the big one! After a lot of effort we managed to track down a mint condition Giant Command - the flagship rough terrain monster truck from Galoob's 1980s Power Machines range. It is the sixteen wheel version called Leader 16 (a thirty two wheel version is out there somewhere!).  Ridiculously rare and hard to come by, probably because so many were put through their paces in the great outdoors, but that won't stop us doing the same! We are off into the wilds for some serious off road action, so watch this space for footage and images of the same. Sixteen wheel drive, and I mean sixteen wheel drive. Poor Flex was dragged all over the floor in a tug of war the other day but Giant Command was certainly not built for speed. It trundles along, but has amazing strength. 

First stop is Great Gran's house (aka Granna's house) and her garden. Fresh air, wildlife and the coolest boys' toys known to man - it doesn't get better than that. 

Edit (30/10/13): I have, after an exhaustive search, managed to locate Giant Command 32. Comprised of 3 Power Machines - Grip Iron, Turbo Jet and Leader 16 (which we already own). It is huge when fully constructed and I have never seen a toy truck like it. It was a global search but finally we located the rarest of them all!

Nature's Endless Cycle - Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

One of the saddest things about the natural world is that living creatures only have a finite time here on earth. Childhood often brings with it one of the first experiences of this harsh reality, usually through the loss of a beloved pet. I certainly lost a few animals while I was growing up and that feeling of loss is something most humans find hard to bear. You swiftly move on but it is an important reminder that our time on earth is limited and life is precious. 

                                       Nature's Cycle by Virginia Lee

I have never shied away from discussing life and death with the children, but it is certainly a milestone when they suddenly realise the finality of it all. At that point the first little slice of childhood innocence evaporates, but it is ok and not to be mourned; this is how it is meant to be. Cycles are an essential part of nature - whether we are referring to the water table, the rising and setting of the sun or recycling of elements when a creature shuffles off its mortal coil. 

My best friend has to put his beloved Neopolitan Mastiff to sleep tomorrow. He is the same age as me, but deep inside we are still the same children losing pets twenty five years ago. I remember well when my young family lost one of our pet dogs Kaia (see pic below) to a heart attack on Christmas Day back in 2006. She was only 3.5 years old and my first son too young to grasp the significance of what happened - though he still marvels at pictures of her and asks for another dog the same. It didn't really hit me until I returned from my mum's house (where we went for Christmas dinner and tried to put a brave face on). At home, later that night, the reality of not having her with us hit home. It is that sense of loss that all humans (possibly with the exception of sociopaths!) have evolved to feel. I would like to think it serves some purpose. 

It was only a few months back that my eldest son visited uncle Jim's for a tour of his reticulated python collection. His two huge mastiffs were patrolling the premises as usual but, having been introduced as guests, we were then treated with kindness and my son was covered in slobber from enthusiastic attention. Jim's young son, when he is older, will marvel at pics of Titan in the same way my son is in awe of Kaia. Too young to remember, but knowing the huge canine was there for his family once.

The natural world and the universe are part of a vast cycle. Titan will soon be out of pain and onto the next stage of his journey. I love this poem, which captures the wonder of that cycle and the poignancy of loss. It reminds us that nothing ever truly dies and that nature is wondrous and beautiful:

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight. 
I am the soft stars that shine at night. 
Do not stand at my grave and cry, 
I am not there; I did not die.

Safe journey big fella.

Walking with Dinosaurs at the O2 Arena London

My brother rang me a couple of weeks back and offered to take his nephews to the Walking with Dinosaurs show at the O2 Arena. I insisted on coming too - it has received rave reviews and is currently completing the final world tour. There wouldn't be another chance and this was a fantastic opportunity to give the kids an impression of what dinosaurs were really like. 

Extinct they may be, but fossil evidence remains to excite the imagination and allow shows like this to attempt a demonstration of their majesty. The arena features several scattered mountain segments, which shift into different positions as required. There are people inside and they cunningly release various props, which are used as part of the show. It is all very clever and appropriately begins with a small clutch of dinosaur eggs hatching, before mum comes trundling into the arena and  species discussion begins.  

We are treated to several species including essentials such as Stegosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Torosaurus (a Triceratops lookalike with every child assuming it was a Triceratops!) and of course Tyrannosaurus Rex. The producers got this right, because any child interested in dinosaurs will instantly recognise the classic examples. Lesser known species such as the giant winged Pteranodon Ornithocheirus were included in their vision - this particular species soaring through an astounding flight scene, which was truly beautiful to behold. 

The show takes us chronologically through the three main dinosaur eras - the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous. Amazing visual effects are employed to demonstrate the rapid growth of vegetation and the appearance of flowers. 

There are some comedy elements, such as the appearance of an enormous mound of dino dung, which is of particular interest to the presenting palaeontologist. It is all very educational and teaches children how dung heaps can assist in understanding the diet of dinosaurs (something which is, of course, no different with modern animals). 

The finale features the T-Rex, as you could probably guess, and everyone laughs as a baby T-Rex trundles into the arena first and makes a feeble attempt at  roaring. Soon after he finds himself in a spot of bother with two enormous herbivores but you can guess who comes to save the day - that is right, mum makes an appearance!

The adult T-Rex model is truly amazing and the dramatic music, coupled with the earth shattering roars, create an incredible and immersive experience. 

The models are operated by varying means. Smaller species or babies are often detailed rubber suits with people standing inside. You can see the human legs alongside the dino ones, but it is cleverly done and doesn't detract from the spectacle. The most amazing are without doubt the huge animatronic  giants, however, and the effort and expense that went into creating this type must have been immense. They have stone coloured bases, which ensure they remain upright, and the walking action is created by metal rods discretely attached to the base. Watching T-Rex stomp around the arena was mesmerising and worth the entry fee alone. 

Educational, well scripted, amazing special effects - this show is essential viewing for anyone interested in the natural world of yesterday. The kids loved it.