Spiders and Snakes

[Bruno]

Mark:
Maybe I'm an alarmist, but if it were me I'd have that spider bite checked
out and ID the spider that bit you.
>You wrote: "(BTW, what's a fever tick?)."  In Utah, ticks are known to be
vectors of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Other tick born diseases are Lyme
Disease and Colorado Tick Fever. These are serious diseases.
--
Bruce
Utah, USA

Mark Walker <MWalker at gensym.com> wrote in message
news:45F8A30CE009D2118F850000F805064D01AC6278 at hqmail.gensym.com...
> I've shared many of the hazards associated with butterflying in remote
> locations before, perhaps in an attempt to offset the image of the wimpy
> butterfly collector.  When I think of what it took to travel to some of
> these locations back in the second and third decades of last century, it
> truly amazes me.  Driving in cars without air conditioning on unpaved
roads
> - with little in the way of conveniences (no AM/PM handy to refill the 32
> oz. soda cup).  The clothing was more uncomfortable.  The locations more
> inaccessible.  These were a studly group - and I'm talking about the
female
> Lepidopterists.
>
> So here I am in So. Texas, ready for more biting mosquitoes and crawling
> ticks (BTW, what's a fever tick?).  While tracking some Phaon
Crescentspots
> in Armstrong, I feel this incredibly sharp pain in my middle left finger.
> What, a bee?  A wasp?  A red ant?  No - it's a spider, about the size of
> tick.  It's pale yellow, and has elongated front legs.  And it's just
> created the most painful spider bite I've ever experienced.  Apparently,
it
> didn't like being caught up in my net.  When it detected fleshly contact,
it
> gave it to me.
>
> Now, two days later, I think my finger is going to fall off.
>
> This will seriously hinder my salutations to courteous drivers who
> acknowledge my superior drive-and-watch-the-fauna maneuvering.
>
> O.K., so I'm just kidding about the falling off part.  It's swollen,
though,
> and constantly reminding me of it's donor.  I'm sure I'll survive
(although
> I was tempted to at least document the event, just in case someone finds
me
> two days from now lumped over in the rental car on the side of some
> abandoned road).  Speaking of abandoned roads - we butterfliers do put
> ourselves into some rather vulnerable positions.  My wife has often
remarked
> that if something were to happen to me, they wouldn't find my body for
days
> - maybe weeks (heck, maybe never).
>
> Anyway, I'm certainly not whining.  I love this part of it.  The swollen
> fingers, the itchy ankles, the abandoned roads - that one butterfly moment
> that defines and justifies the excursion - it's great.  I'm afraid I can't
> hold a candle to the old timers, though.  When I see specimen dates like
> 1913, and we're talking about the Mojave desert, I'm in awe.
>
> Mark Walker
> teaching in Houston, TX
>