And Now-Bird - Eating Spiders!
p. 127 · Read in the full issue
Goroka , NG, has got a monster insect (see cover ) hut, not to he outdone, Port Moresby has got spiders, seven inches across, that eat birds.
What’s worse for Port Moresby, of course, is that what they’ve got is real even if Goroka’s monster is not.
According to Reuter, since the “wet” arrived in Port Moresby these spiders have been invading homes. In the last 10 days of December, five of the spiders had been caught by householders.
The Administration entomologist, Mr. A. Catley, said that they are known as “bird eating spiders” and are amongst the biggest in the world. They are common to parts of P-NG and Queensland Normally they live in holes in the ground, but when the rains come they seek something a bit more permanent in the way of shelter.
Their bite is fatal to birds and fowls, could make a human very sick and might even kill a baby.
So far no one in Port Moresby has been bitten.