Hairy, scary spiders

The wonderful world of creepy crawly spiders will be on display during a Spider Seminar at USQ.

Around 30 children and parents from the Toowoomba Home Schooling Group will visit the University for the information session, where a wide variety of spiders will be on display.

During the seminar the children will view a number of dangerous species ranging from funnel-webs to mouse spiders. Frozen and preserved specimens will be examined and the Find- a-Spider website will also be used.

Seminar Organiser, Associate Professor Dr Ron Atkinson, was involved with the development of the funnel-web antivenom during the 1980's and has since developed a keen interest in local spiders. He also maintains the Find-a-Spider website in conjunction with USQ.

Dr Atkinson said the 90 minute presentation would be an interactive display of spiders where the children and their parents could ask questions and learn to use the Find-a-Spider website.

"The request for this presentation followed a visit to the University late last year by one of the families in the group for the purpose of having a spider identified", Dr Atkinson said.

Public awareness of his research has led to a steady stream of requests for spider identification or advice across the state. Dr Atkinson performs this cost-free as a service to the community.

The spider seminar will be held at USQ on Wednesday 8 February 2006 at 10.00am.

Media Contact: Connie-Louise Alexander +61 7 4631 2977