Two-Striped Telamonia (Telamonia dimidiata)

Received an email regarding a dangerous spider. In Malaysia, there are many Two-striped spiders in the wild. Apparently this is a hoax. I must admit I was not sure myself until someone pointed out my ignorant.
These spiders are found in the open among leaves in our Malaysian's rainforest.

Subject: Better be careful (nothing to lose)......... it may save your life!

Three women in KL turned up at various hospitals over a 5-day period, all with the same symptoms - fever, chills, vomiting, followed by muscular pain, collapse, paralysis, and finally,death. There were no outward signs of trauma. Autopsy results showed toxicity in the blood.

These women did not know each other, and seemed to have nothing in common. It was discovered, however, that they had all visited a same restaurant along Jalan Kuchai Lama within days of their deaths. The health department descended on the restaurant, shutting it down. The food, water, and air conditioning were all inspected and tested, to no avail. The big break came when a waitress at the restaurant was rushed to the hospital with similar symptoms. She told doctors that she had been on vacation, and had only went to the restaurant to pick up her check. She did not eat or drink while she was there, but had used the restroom. That is when one toxicologist, remembering an article he had read, drove up to the restaurant, went into the restroom, and lifted the toilet seat.

Under the seat, out of normal view, was a small spider. The spider was captured and brought back to the lab, where it was determined to be the Two-Striped Telamonia (Telamonia dimidiata), so named because of its reddened flesh color. This spider's venom is extremely toxic, but can take several days to take effect. They live in cold, dark, damp climates, and toilet rims provide just the right atmosphere.

A Malaysian's Two-Striped Spider. Note the 2 black striped at the abdomen.

Several days later, a lawyer from JB showed up at a hospital emergency room. Before his death, he told the doctor, that he had been away on business, had taken a flight from Indonesia , changing planes in Singapore , before returning home. He did not visit the restaurant while there He did, as did all of the other victims, have what was determined to be a puncture wound, on his right buttock.

Investigators discovered that the flight he was on had originated in India . The Civilian Aeronautics Board (CAB)ordered an immediate inspection of the toilets of all flights from India , and discovered the Two-Striped Telamonia (Telamonia dimidiata) spider's nests on four different planes! It is now believed that these spiders can be anywhere in the country. So please, before you use a public toilet, lift the seat to check for spiders. It can save your life! And please pass this on to everyone you care about.

P Susthitha Menon (Susi)
Photonics Technology Laboratory
Department of Electrical, Electronics and System Engineering
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia ( National University of Malaysia )
43600 UKM Bangi
Selangor Darul Ehsan.