FACTOID # 43: Japanese and South Korean kids are the best in the world at science and maths.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

FACTS & STATISTICS    Simple view

  1. Select countries to view: (hold down Control key and click to select several)

     

     

    Compare:

     

     

  1. Select fact or statistic: (* = graphable)

     

     

     

  2. (OPTIONAL) Compare to statistic: (both need to be graphable)

     

     

     

  3. View result as:

     

       
(OR) SEARCH ALL encyclopedia, stats & forums:   

Encyclopedia > Spider bite
Spider bite
Classification and external resources
ICD-10 T63.3
ICD-9 989.5
DiseasesDB 12299
Chelicerae of a black wishbone (Nemesiidae) spider, a mygalomorph
Chelicerae of a black wishbone (Nemesiidae) spider, a mygalomorph

Spiders occasionally bite humans. Although 98-99% of spider bites are harmless,[1] more rarely, the symptoms of their bites can include necrotic wounds, systemic toxicity, and in some cases, death. Four genera are known to have potentially lethal bites.[2] The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (most commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or disease. ... The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) is a coding of diseases and signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or diseases, as classified by the World Health Organization (WHO). ... // S00-T98 - Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-S09) Injuries to the head (S00) Superficial injury of head (S01) Open wound of head (S02) Fracture of skull and facial bones (S03) Dislocation, sprain and strain of joints and ligaments of head (S04) Injury of cranial nerves... The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (most commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or disease. ... The following is a list of codes for International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. ... The Disease Bold textDatabase is a free website that provides information about the relationships between medical conditions, symptoms, and medications. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (640x626, 74 KB) Description: {{{Chelicerae and fangs of a Black Wishbone Spider, Aname Atra, and was taken in Alice Springs, Australia}}} Source: {{{http://spiders. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (640x626, 74 KB) Description: {{{Chelicerae and fangs of a Black Wishbone Spider, Aname Atra, and was taken in Alice Springs, Australia}}} Source: {{{http://spiders. ... Types of chelicerae: jackknife (in green), scissor (in blue) and 3-segmented chelate (in red) The Chelicerae are mouth parts of the Chelicerata, an arthropod subphylum that includes arachnids, Merostomata (horseshoe crabs), and Pycnogonida (sea spiders). ... Binomial name Aname atra (Strand, 1913) Synonyms Chenistonia atra Sungenia atra Aname diversicolor The Black wishbone spider (Aname atra) is a mygalomorph spider of South Australia. ... Families Antrodiaetidae (folding trapdoor spider) Atypidae (atypical tarantula) Ctenizidae (trapdoor spider) Cyrtaucheniidae (wafer trapdoor spider) Dipluridae (funnel-web tarantula) Hexathelidae (venomous funnel-web tarantula) Mecicobothriidae (dwarf tarantulas) Theraphosidae (tarantula) The Mygalomorphae, (also called the Orthognatha), are an infraorder of spiders. ... For other uses, see Spider (disambiguation). ... Necrosis (in Greek Νεκρός = Dead) is the name given to accidental death of cells and living tissue. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ...


In almost all cases of spider bite, the chief concern is the spider's venom. Spiders regarded as dangerous possess venom which is toxic to humans in the quantities which can be delivered by a single bite of a single spider at one time. Wasp sting, with droplet of venom Venom (literally, poison of animal origin) is any of a variety of toxins used by animals, for the purpose of defense and hunting. ...


Experts on spider bites have noted that misdiagnoses of bites by both the general public and the medical community are quite common; many other conditions and diseases are confused with spider bites, sometimes preventing or delaying proper remedy, which can lead to deleterious outcome[3]. For example, there are numerous documented infectious and noninfectious conditions (including pyoderma gangrenosum, bacterial infections by Staphylococcus (including MRSA) and Streptococcus, herpes, diabetic ulcer, fungal infections, chemical burns, toxicodendron dermatitis, squamous cell carcinoma, localized vasculitis, syphilis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, sporotrichosis, and Lyme disease) that produce wounds that have been initially misdiagnosed as brown recluse spider bites by medical professionals; many of these conditions are far more common and more likely to be the source of mysterious necrotic wounds, even in areas where recluses actually occur[4]. Staphylococcus (in Greek staphyle means bunch of grapes and coccos means granule) is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria. ... MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacterium that has developed antibiotic resistance, first to penicillin in 1947, and later to methicillin. ... Species S. agalactiae S. bovis S. mutans S. pneumoniae S. pyogenes S. salivarius S. sanguinis S. suis Streptococcus viridans Streptococcus uberis etc. ... ... Species See text. ... Biopsy of a highly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth. ... Vasculitis (plural: vasculitides), a group of diseases featuring inflammation of the wall of blood vessels including veins (phlebitis), arteries (arteritis) and capillaries due to leukocyte migration and resultant damage. ... Syphilis is a curable sexually transmitted disease caused by the Treponema pallidum spirochete. ... Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a life-threatening and usually drug-induced dermatological condition that occurs more often in women than in men. ... Sporotrichosis is a disease caused by the infection of the fungus Sporothrix schenckii (S. schenckii). ... Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria from the genus Borrelia. ... A brown recluse spider The brown recluse spider is a venomous spider of the family Sicariidae and the genus and species Loxosceles reclusa. ...


The use of the terms "poison" or "poisonous" in the context of spider bites is discouraged, as poison generally refers to substances which are harmful if absorbed through epithelial linings (e.g., eaten, or absorbed through the skin). The effect of eating spiders is, in general, unknown, but some spiders (such as tarantulas) are sometimes consumed as food.[5] For other uses, see Poison (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Tarantula (disambiguation). ...

Contents

Biology and ecology of spider bites

Exposed chelicerae of Phidippus audax
Exposed chelicerae of Phidippus audax

Spiders are predatory animals that consume other animals (including other spiders) for food. For the vast majority of spider species, biting (and injection of venom) is the way the spiders subdue their prey; the spiders will use their venom to paralyze or kill their victims, often consuming them later. Spiders also use biting as a defensive mechanism, though the primary purpose of spider venom is to capture food. Image File history File linksMetadata Phidippus_audax3. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Phidippus_audax3. ... Binomial name Phidippus audax (Hentz, 1845) Synonyms Salticus variegatus Attus morsitans Attus audax Phidippus togatus Attus tripunctatus Attus fasciolatus Phidippus variegatus Phidippus smaragdifer Phidippus alchymista Phidippus rufimanus Phidippus lunulatus Phidippus dubiosus Phidippus mundulus Phidippus personatus Phidippus elegans Phidippus electus Phidippus concinnatus Phidippus morsitans Phidippus rauterbergii Phidippus mexicanus Philaeus farneus Phidippus... This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... Paralysed redirects here. ...


Spider mouthparts

This overhead drawing shows the chelicerae in black, the surface of the cephalothorax in brown, the legs in reddish brown, and the venom glands and surrounding muscle tissue in green. The fang portion of the right chelicera can be seen projecting into the space between the two chelicerae.
This overhead drawing shows the chelicerae in black, the surface of the cephalothorax in brown, the legs in reddish brown, and the venom glands and surrounding muscle tissue in green. The fang portion of the right chelicera can be seen projecting into the space between the two chelicerae.
The fang of this immature Psalmopoeus cambridgei spider is about 2mm long. The spider herself is about 25mm long
The fang of this immature Psalmopoeus cambridgei spider is about 2mm long. The spider herself is about 25mm long

Spiders do not have teeth. Instead, they have two chelicerae, each with two segments, the fang and the basal portion. The fang, the organic functional equivalent to a hypodermic needle, is what penetrates the skin, fur, or exoskeleton of the spider's target — spider mouthparts are primarily intended for envenoming a spider's prey in most species, typically insects and other small arthropods; not for biting humans. The basal portion includes all or part of the spider's venom glands, which can be squeezed under voluntary control by the spider to force venom out of the glands and into the wound.[6] Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Binomial name (Villers, 1789) eggsacs Cheiracanthium punctorium, commonly known as the yellow sack spider, is a spider found from central Europe to Central Asia. ... Image File history File links Spider_chelicerae. ... Image File history File links Spider_chelicerae. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Psalmopoeus_cambridgei_Fang_60x. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Psalmopoeus_cambridgei_Fang_60x. ... Types of chelicerae: jackknife (in green), scissor (in blue) and 3-segmented chelate (in red) The Chelicerae are mouth parts of the Chelicerata, an arthropod subphylum that includes arachnids, Merostomata (horseshoe crabs), and Pycnogonida (sea spiders). ... Different bevels on hypodermic needles. ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders,scorpions, etc. ...


The images in this section show the fang of an immature Psalmopoeus cambridgei at various levels of magnification, with various commercially available needles shown for comparison.


When a spider bites, the two parts of each chelicera come together like a folding knife, and when making a threat display or actually preparing to bite, the spider will also open the angle of the fangs with the basal portion of chelicerae and also open the angle of the basal portion with the cephalothorax. In the tarantulas and other Mygalomorphae, the horizontal separation of the tips of the fangs does not change much, but in the other spiders the tips of the fangs move apart from each other as well as elevating. In more precise, scientific terms, the bite mechanism is called either "co-axial" or "bi-axial". The Mygalomorphea (Tarantulas, Trapdoor spiders etc.) offer a co-axial bite while the Labidognatha sub order, comprising all other spiders such as Lycosids, Ctenids and most web spiders, etc. deliver the more common bi-axial bite. Families Antrodiaetidae (folding trapdoor spider) Atypidae (atypical tarantula) Ctenizidae (trapdoor spider) Cyrtaucheniidae (wafer trapdoor spider) Dipluridae (funnel-web tarantula) Hexathelidae (venomous funnel-web tarantula) Mecicobothriidae (dwarf tarantulas) Theraphosidae (tarantula) The Mygalomorphae, (also called the Orthognatha), are an infraorder of spiders. ...


Even the tips of the fangs of the rather large spider shown above are quite sharp, and the spider's body is well adapted to driving the fangs into flesh. Some spider bites, such as those of the Sydney funnel-web spider, are reported to have penetrated toe nails and soft leather shoes. Binomial name Atrax robustus Pickard-Cambridge, 1877 The Sydney funnel-web spider, also called a funnel-web tarantula, (Atrax robustus) is regarded by some to be the most dangerous spider in the world. ...

10x microphotograph of the chelicera and the tip of the smallest sewing needle available in ordinary commerce
10x microphotograph of the chelicera and the tip of the smallest sewing needle available in ordinary commerce

Image File history File linksMetadata Psalmopoeus_cambridgei_Fang_&_sewing_needle. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Psalmopoeus_cambridgei_Fang_&_sewing_needle. ...

Types of bites

Spiders have the capability to control how much venom (if any) is injected into a target, and adjust the dosage given according to circumstances. As venom costs the spider energy to produce, it is advantageous to the spider not to waste it. Spider bites are characterized as either attacking or defensive, depending on whether the spider is attempting to subdue prey, or to repel a perceived threat. When capturing prey, spiders will typically adjust the amount of venom delivered based on the size of the meal; when defending itself, a spider's only goal is to secure relief from being squeezed or otherwise injured. A bite in which little or no venom is injected is frequently referred to as a dry bite.


As spiders do not prey on humans (or other large mammals), spiders do not "attack" people. It is rare for spiders to mistake humans for prey. Almost all bites that humans receive are defensive bites, and frequently the spider drives the human off just by the mechanical pain of its bite, thus it is not unusual for humans to receive dry bites or partial envenomations. Thus, most spiders are unlikely to otherwise bite humans because they do not identify humans as prey. Some spiders (including highly venomous species like the Brazilian wandering spider) will behave aggressively towards large animals (including people) that the spider perceives as a threat. Even in those cases, however, they will first make a determined threat display and will bite only if they have no other choice. Spiders of the genus Phoneutria have extremely toxic venom and approximately ten times as much venom as other spiders that are known to produce fatalities in adult humans[7] , but serious consequences from their bites are not common, as many bites received by humans are believed to be dry or of low volume.[8] This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ... Species P. bahiensis P. boliviensis P. fera P. nigriventer (Brazilian wandering spider) P. reidyi Phoneutria is a genus of the wandering spider family, and of the approximately forty genera of that family it is one of the few genera that have potent enough venom to harm humans. ...


Many bites occur when a person steps on a spider, or inserts a limb into an article of clothing that the spider occupies. Even small spiders may deliver painful bites to people when pinched. For instance, Phidippus audax – a common jumping spider, which may grow to be approximately 3/8 inch (1 cm) long – is capable of inflicting a bite that is about as painful as a bee sting when pinched between the folds of a human's palm or otherwise seriously annoyed. Binomial name Phidippus audax (Hentz, 1845) Synonyms Salticus variegatus Attus morsitans Attus audax Phidippus togatus Attus tripunctatus Attus fasciolatus Phidippus variegatus Phidippus smaragdifer Phidippus alchymista Phidippus rufimanus Phidippus lunulatus Phidippus dubiosus Phidippus mundulus Phidippus personatus Phidippus elegans Phidippus electus Phidippus concinnatus Phidippus morsitans Phidippus rauterbergii Phidippus mexicanus Philaeus farneus Phidippus... Diversity 553 genera, 5025 species Subfamilies Aelurillinae Agoriinae Amycinae Ballinae Dendryphantinae Euophryinae Hasariinae Heliophaninae Hisponinae Lyssomaninae Marpissinae Myrmarachninae Pelleninae Plexippinae Salticinae Spartaeinae Synagelinae Synemosyninae See List of Salticidae genera The jumping spider family (Salticidae) contains more than 500 described genera and over 5,000 species, making it the largest family...


Spider venom

The chief concern with the bite of medically significant spiders is the effect of the spider's venom. A spider envenomation occurs whenever a spider bites someone and chooses to inject venom into the wound. Not all spider bites involve injection of venom into the wound, and the amount of venom injected can vary based on the type of spider and the circumstances of the encounter. With very few exceptions, such as the so-called camel spider (which is not a true spider), the mechanical injury from a spider bite is not a serious concern for humans. Some spider bites do leave a large enough wound that infection may be a concern, and other species are known to consume prey which is already dead, which also may pose a risk for transmission of infectious bacteria from a bite. [9] However, it is generally the toxicity of spider venom which poses the most risk to human beings; several spiders are known to have venom which can be fatal to humans in the amounts that a spider will typically inject when biting. Wasp sting, with droplet of venom Venom (literally, poison of animal origin) is any of a variety of toxins used by animals, for the purpose of defense and hunting. ... For other uses, see Spider (disambiguation). ... Wasp sting, with droplet of venom Venom (literally, poison of animal origin) is any of a variety of toxins used by animals, for the purpose of defense and hunting. ... Wind scorpion, Eastern Washington, USA The Camel Spider (aka wind scorpion or sun spider) is the common name for a Solpugid: a large non-spider arachnid that lives in desert regions worldwide. ... An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. ... Phyla Actinobacteria Aquificae Chlamydiae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Lentisphaerae Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Verrucomicrobia Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are unicellular microorganisms. ...


All spiders are capable of producing venom, with the exception of the hackled orb-weavers, the Holarchaeidae, and the primitive Mesothelae. (Other arachnids often confused with spiders, such as the harvestman and sun spiders, also do not produce venom). Nonetheless, only a small percentage of species have bites which pose a danger to people. Many spiders do not have mouthparts capable of penetrating human skin. While venoms are by definition toxic substances, most spiders do not have venom which is sufficiently toxic (in the quantities delivered) to require medical attention, and of those only a few are known to produce fatalities. Genera Ariston (spider) Astavakra Conifaber Daramulunia Hyptiotes Lubinella Miagrammopes Octonoba Orinomana Philoponella Polenecia Purumitra Siratoba Sybota Tangaroa Uloborus Waitkera Zosis The hackled orbweavers (family Uloboridae) have the special distinction of being non-venomous spiders. ... Genera see text The Holarchaeidae are a spider family with only two described species in one genus. ... The Liphistiidae are the most primitive living spiders, placed in their own suborder, called the Mesothelae. ... The Phalangids or Opiliones (better known as harvestmen or daddy longlegs) are eight-legged invertebrate animals belonging to the order Opiliones in the class Arachnida, in the subphylum Chelicerata of the phylum Arthropoda. ... Genera Eremobates Syndaesia A Solifugid (plural form Solifugae) is an arachnid belonging to the order Solifugae. ...


Spider venoms work on one of two fundamental principles; they are either neurotoxic (attacking the nervous system), or necrotic (attacking tissues surrounding the bite, and in some cases, attacking vital organs and systems).


Neurotoxic venom

The majority of spiders with serious bites possess a neurotoxic venom of some sort, though the specific manner in which the nervous system is attacked varies from spider to spider. A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells – neurons – usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. ... The nervous system is a highly specialized network whose principal components are nerves called neurons. ...

  • Widow spider venom contains components known as latrotoxins, which cause the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, stimulating muscle contractions. This can affect the body in several ways, including causing painful abdominal cramps, as well as interfering with respiration, and causing other systemic effects. [2]
  • The venom of Australasian funnel-web spiders and mouse spiders works by opening sodium channels, causing excessive neural activity which interferes with normal bodily function.
  • The venom of Brazilian wandering spiders is also a potent neurotoxin, which attacks multiple types of ion channels [10] In addition, the venom contains high levels of serotonin, making an envenomation by this species particularly painful.

Species Approx. ... A latrotoxin is a variety of neurotoxin that stimulates motor and sensory neurons to release neurotransmitters. ... Chemical structure of D-aspartic acid, a common amino acid neurotransmitter. ... The chemical compound acetylcholine (often abbreviated ACh) is a neurotransmitter in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) in many organisms including humans. ... Among quadrupeds, the respiratory system generally includes tubes, such as the bronchi, used to carry air to the lungs, where gas exchange takes place. ... Genera Atrax Hadronyche Australasian funnel-web spiders are venomous spiders of the family Hexathelidae. ... Diversity 11 species Species see text Mouse spiders are spiders of the genus Missulena, in the mygalomorph family Actinopodidae. ... Sodium channels are integral membrane proteins that exist in a cells plasma membrane and regulate the flow of sodium (Na+) ions into it. ... Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ... Ion channels are pore-forming proteins that help to establish and control the small voltage gradient that exists across the plasma membrane of all living cells (see cell potential) by allowing the flow of ions down their electrochemical gradient. ... For the professional wrestling stable, see Ravens Nest#Serotonin. ...

Necrotic venom

Spiders known to have necrotic venom are found in the family Sicariidae, a family which includes both the recluse spiders and the six-eyed sand spiders. Spiders in this family possess a known dermonecrotic agent sphingomyelinase D, which is otherwise found only in a few pathogenic bacteria. Some species in this family are more venomous than others; according to one study, the venom of the Chilean recluse and several species of six-eyed sand spider indigenous to southern Africa, contains an order of magnitude more of this substance than do other Sicariidae spiders such as the brown recluse[11]. Bites by spiders in this family can produce symptoms ranging from minor localized effects, to severe dermonecrotic lesions, up to and including severe systemic reactions including renal failure, and in some cases, death.[12] Even in the absence of systemic effects, serious bites from Sicariidae spiders may form a necrotising ulcer that destroys soft tissue and may take months and very rarely years to heal, leaving deep scars. The damaged tissue may become gangrenous and eventually slough away. Initially there may be no pain from a bite, but over time the wound may grow to as large as 10 inches (25 cm) in extreme cases. Bites usually become painful and itchy within 2 to 8 hours, pain and other local effects worsen 12 to 36 hours after the bite with the necrosis developing over the next few days.[13] Necrosis (in Greek Νεκρός = Dead) is the name given to unprogrammed death of cells/living tissue (compare with apoptosis - programmed cell death). ... Sicariidae are members of a genus of spiders found in arid portions of South America and southern Africa. ... Genera Loxosceles Sicarius The recluse spiders (family Sicariidae) comprise two genera and 122 species [1], best known being the Brown recluse spider. ... Binomial name Sicarius hahnii Walckenaer, 1847 The six-eyed sand spider (Sicarius hahnii) is a medium-sized spider of deserts and other sandy places in southern Africa. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... A brown recluse spider The brown recluse spider is a venomous spider of the family Sicariidae and the genus and species Loxosceles reclusa. ... Renal failure or kidney failure is a situation in which the kidneys fail to function adequately. ... Endoscopic images of a duodenal ulcer. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Gangrene is a complication of necrosis (i. ...


Serious systemic effects may occur before this time, as the venom spreads throughout the body in minutes. Mild symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, rashes, and muscle and joint pain. Rarely more severe symptoms occur including hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.[14] Debilitated patients, the elderly, and children may be more susceptible to systemic loxoscelism. Deaths have been reported for both the brown recluse and the related South American species L. laeta and L. intermedia. For other uses, see Nausea (disambiguation). ... Heaving redirects here. ... An analogue medical thermometer showing the temperature of 38. ... A rash is a change in skin which affects its color, appearance, or texture. ... {{otheruses4|1=medical hemoglobin]] into the surrounding fluid (plasma, in vivo). ... Thrombocytopenia (or -paenia, or thrombopenia in short) is the presence of relatively few platelets in blood. ... Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a pathological process in the body where the blood starts to coagulate throughout the whole body. ...


Numerous other spiders have been associated with necrotic bites in the medical literature. Examples include the hobo spider and the yellow sac spider. However, the bites from these spiders are not known to produce the severe symptoms that often follow from a recluse spider bite, and the level of danger posed by each has been called into question.[15][16] So far, no known necrotoxins have been isolated from the venom of any of these spiders, and some arachnologists have disputed the accuracy of many spider identifications carried out by bite victims, family members, medical responders, and other non-experts in arachnology. There have been several studies questioning danger posed by some of these spiders. In these studies, scientists examined case studies of bites in which the spider in question was positively identified by an expert, and found that the incidence of necrotic injury diminished significantly when "questionable" identifications were excluded from the sample set. [17][18] Binomial name {Walckenaer, 1802} The hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis) is a member of the genus of spiders known colloquially as funnel web spiders. ... Binomial name Hentz, 1847 The Yellow sac spider (Cheiracanthium inclusum and Chiracanthium mildei), alternately known as the black-footed spider, is not a true sac spider (of the family Clubionidae), but a long-legged sac spider, that is, a member of the family Miturgidae that was formerly classified in that...


Treatment

Treatment for bites depends on the type of spider in question. Most spider bites are harmless, and will require no first aid. If you experience major discomfort and require medical treatment, and a spider was observed in the act of biting, then a spider expert may be needed to determine the species of spider that has bitten you--identification of the spider's species might determine the proper course of treatment. For this reason it is preferable to capture the spider--either alive, or in a well-preserved condition. Spiders which have been flattened, or which are allowed to desiccate or decay, may not be useful in achieving a positive identification. Most medical responders are not trained to identify spiders, and few hospitals have spider experts on staff. Contrary to media reports, it is not (in general) possible to identify the type of spider responsible for a bite solely from observed symptoms.


Unless a spider is observed in the act of biting, it should not be assumed that a spider bite has occurred (or that a wound, injury, or illness was caused by a spider). Assumption that a reported injury was caused by a spider is the most common source of false reports, which in some cases have often led to misdiagnosis and mistreatment, with potentially life-threatening consequences[19]. Many spider bites, including those by some dangerous species, are relatively painless at first and may go unnoticed if not directly observed. These bites may only be noticed later if serious symptoms appear, in such cases the spider is usually no longer present.


Treatments for more minor bites should be as for any puncture wound. The wound should first be encouraged to bleed to wash out any foreign material and debris. (Many wounds will not bleed because they are so small in diameter that they seal immediately.) Topical antiseptics such as Isodine should be applied on the off chance that the bite introduced some virus or microbe beneath the skin level and that the antiseptic can penetrate to that depth. The bite should be observed for a couple of days so that medical attention can be sought if signs of infection appear. (It is obviously difficult to get antiseptic to penetrate to the bottom of such a puncture.)[20] First aid may also involve the application of an ice pack to control inflammation, the application of aloe vera to soothe and help control the pain, and if serious symptoms appear, prompt medical care. An abscess on the skin, showing the redness and swelling characteristic of inflammation. ...


In the case of bites by widow spiders, Australian venomous funnel-web spiders, or Brazilian wandering spiders, prompt medical attention should be sought; in some cases the bites of these spiders may develop into a medical emergency. Medical attention should also be sought if a severe allergic reaction occurs.[citation needed] Species Approx. ... Binomial name Atrax robustus Pickard-Cambridge, 1877 The Sydney funnel-web spider, also called a funnel-web tarantula, is regarded by some to be the most dangerous spider in the world. ... Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ... {{Otheruses4|the medical term|the Australian television series|Medical Emergenc an immediate threat to a persons life or long term health. ... Pancreatitus can be caused by an Allergic Reaction to a food. ...


Necrotic bites

There is no established treatment for necrosis. Routine treatment should include elevation and immobilization of the affected limb, application of ice, local wound care, and tetanus prophylaxis. Many other therapies have been used with varying degrees of success including hyperbaric oxygen, dapsone, antihistamines (e.g., cyproheptadine), antibiotics, dextran, glucocorticoids, vasodilators, heparin, nitroglycerin, electric shock, curettage, surgical excision, and antivenom. None of these treatments have been subjected to controlled, randomized trials to conclusively show benefit. In almost all cases, bites are self-limited and typically heal without any medical intervention.[4] Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the medical use of oxygen at a higher than atmospheric pressure. ... Dapsone is an antibiotic medication most commonly used for the treatment of Mycobacterium leprae infections (leprosy). ... Cyproheptadine (usually as cyproheptadine hydrochloride, trade name Periactin) is an antihistaminic and antiserotonergic agent. ... An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. ... Dextran is a complex branched polysaccharide made of many glucose molecules joined into chains of varying lengths. ... The name glucocorticoid derives from early observations that these hormones were involved in glucose metabolism. ... Heparin, a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan is widely used as an injectable anticoagulant and has the highest negative charge density of any known biological molecule. ... Nitroglycerin (NG), also known as nitroglycerine, trinitroglycerin, and glyceryl trinitrate, is a chemical compound. ... Sign warning of possible electric shock hazard An electric shock can occur upon contact of a humans body with any source of voltage high enough to cause sufficient current flow through the muscles or hair. ... In surgery, the use of a curette to remove tissue by scraping or scooping. ... “Surgeon” redirects here. ... Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ...


Occasionally, infections of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are misdiagnosed as necrotic spider bites; this can have severe consequences as a MRSA infection is frequently a medical emergency.[21] MRSA redirects here. ...


Specific treatments

Some specific courses of treatment may be indicated to deal with severe symptoms:

  • Dapsone is commonly used in the USA and Brazil for the treatment of necrosis. There have been conflicting reports about its efficacy and some have suggested it should no longer be used routinely, if at all.[22]
  • Wound infection is rare. Antibiotics are not recommended unless there is a credible diagnosis of infection.[23]
  • Studies have shown surgical intervention is ineffective and may worsen outcome. Excision may delay wound healing, cause abscesses, and lead to objectional scarring.[24]
  • Anecdotal evidence suggests that application of nitroglycerin patches may be effective in treating recluse bites.[25] Recluse venom is a vasoconstrictor, and nitroglycerin causes vasodilation, allowing the venom to be diluted into the bloodstream, and fresh blood to flow to the wound. Theoretically this prevents necrosis, as vasoconstriction may contribute to necrosis. However, one scientific animal study found no benefit in preventing necrosis, with results showing it increased inflammation and it caused symptoms of systemic envenoming. The authors concluded the results of the study did not support the use of topical nitroglycerin in brown recluse envenoming.[26]
  • Use of antivenom for severe spider bites is frequently indicated, especially in the case of neurotoxic venoms. Effective antivenoms exist for Latrodectus, Atrax, and Phoneutria venom. Recluse bites are now treatable by antivenom; an antivenom for Loxosceles bites is now available in South America, and it appears antivenom may be the most promising therapy. However, the recluse antivenom is most effective if given early, and because of the relatively painless bite delivered by recluses, patients do not often present until 24 or more hours after the event, possibly limiting the effect of this intervention.[27] Due to the risk of serum sickness, use of antivenom is generally not indicated unless serious symptoms are present, and/or the patient fails to respond to other forms of treatment.

Dapsone is an antibiotic medication most commonly used for the treatment of Mycobacterium leprae infections (leprosy). ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. ... An abscess is a collection of pus collected in a cavity formed by the tissue on the basis of an infectious process (usually caused by bacteria or parasites) or other foreign materials (e. ... Anecdotal evidence is an informal account of evidence in the form of an anecdote, or hearsay. ... Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) is the pharmaceutical name for nitroglycerin. ... The blood vessels are part of the circulatory system and function to transport blood throughout the body. ... Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ... Serum sickness is a reaction to an antiserum derived from an animal source. ...

Types of spiders with medically significant venom

Spiders having medically significant venom exist in almost all parts of the world except those that are coldest. There is general agreement on which spiders give bites that may produce lasting damage or death, but not such general agreement on how one might sort spiders identified by genus and species in order of their threat to humans.


The following types of spiders are known to have medically significant bites, with symptoms ranging from localized pain all the way to severe tissue destruction and potential death. Spiders whose bite has caused fatalities which are well-documented in the scientific literature are so indicated in the section headers. Only four genera (Phoneutria, Atrax, Latrodectus, and Loxosceles) are known to have killed humans; three other genera (Hadronyche, Missulena, and Sicarius) possess venom which toxicology studies have shown have lethal potential (being similar to Atrax and Loxosceles venom in composition). There are suspected but unconfirmed deaths reported in the literature from species in Tegenaria and Haplopelma. Pain redirects here. ... Biological tissue is a collection of interconnected cells that perform a similar function within an organism. ... For other uses, see Death (disambiguation). ... Species P. bahiensis P. boliviensis P. fera P. nigriventer (Brazilian wandering spider) P. reidyi Phoneutria is a genus of the wandering spider family, and of the approximately forty genera of that family it is one of the few genera that have potent enough venom to harm humans. ... Genera Atrax Hadronyche Australasian funnel-web spiders are very dangerous spiders of the family Hexathelidae. ... The scientific term for the widow spider is a member of the spider genus Latrodectus. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Genera Atrax Hadronyche Australasian funnel-web spiders are venomous spiders of the family Hexathelidae. ... Diversity 11 species Species see text Mouse spiders are spiders of the genus Missulena, in the mygalomorph family Actinopodidae. ... Sicarius is a word derived from latin used in a number of contexts: A sicarius was the perpetrator of a type of violent crime under Roman law. ... Diversity 101 species Species T. agrestis T. atrica T. domestica T. duellica (gigantea) T. ferruginea T. parietina T. silvestris  many others The genus Tegenaria has several famous members, including the notorious hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis), the domestic house spider (Tegenaria domestica) and the giant house spider (Tegenaria duellica). ... Species See article Haplopelma is a genus of old-world tarantulas which are found in Southeast Asia. ...


Brazilian wandering spiders (Phoneutria--confirmed deaths)

The Brazilian wandering spider (a ctenid spider) is a large, brown spider rather like a North American Wolf spider in appearance. However, it has a highly toxic venom (one of the most neurologically active), and is regarded (along with the Australian venomous funnel-web spiders below) as among the most dangerous spiders in the world.[28] It, like several other more harmless spiders, may hitch a ride in clusters of bananas. As a result, any large spider appearing in a bunch of bananas should be treated with due care. Oddly, many of the bites of this species are alleged to be dry bites (in which no venom is released), but because of the margin of error when identifying the precise subspecies involved (assuming the spider body is saved or captured), this claim is not definitive. In either case, the bite is at minimum mechanically painful due to the large size of the chelicerae (fangs), and the high levels of serotonin contained in the venom. The bite can be one of the most excruciating of all spider envenomations. The spiders are as large as some small tarantulas and, as already mentioned, have fairly long fangs. While venom from either spider can be deadly to children and the infirm, since the development of antivenom to the venoms of both were developed (the funnel web spider in the mid-1980s and the wandering spider in 1996[citation needed]), no human deaths from their bites have been recorded. Nevertheless, any large spider which makes a threat display (raising front legs, rearing back to display fangs) when encountered should be treated with caution - especially in areas where this type of spiders may be present. Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ... Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ... Diversity 107 genera, 2320 species Genera Adelocosa Alopecosa Arctosa Geolycosa Hogna Lycosa Pardosa Pirata Sosippus Trochosa many more Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, so named because their method of hunting is to run down their prey. ... Binomial name Atrax robustus Pickard-Cambridge, 1877 The Sydney funnel-web spider, also called a funnel-web tarantula, is regarded by some to be the most dangerous spider in the world. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For the professional wrestling stable, see Ravens Nest#Serotonin. ... Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ...


This spider's venom has also been found to cause increased levels of Nitric Oxide, which, in male human victims, will result in an involuntary erection that can be very painful and last hours. Scientists are attempting to create an erectile dysfunction treatment that can be combined with other medicines out of the peptide that causes this reaction.


Australian venomous funnel-web spiders (Atrax, Hadronyche--confirmed deaths)

Main article: Australian venomous funnel-web spiders
Atrax robustus Sydney Funnel-web Spider
Atrax robustus
Sydney Funnel-web Spider

The Australian venomous funnel-web spiders, such as the Sydney funnel-web spider (a mygalomorph only distantly related to the araneomorph funnel-web spiders) frequently bite people and are regarded as among the most dangerous in the world. They are quite aggressive spiders, and are prone to biting when confronted, rather than running away. The Sydney funnel-web spider, a large, bulky, black spider, is restricted to a relatively small area around Sydney, Australia. Its venom contains a compound known as robustotoxin which is highly toxic to primates. Unlike the Brazilian wandering spider, which is alleged to occasionally deliver dry bites, these spiders typically deliver a full envenomation when they bite. Binomial name Atrax robustus Pickard-Cambridge, 1877 The Sydney funnel-web spider, also called a funnel-web tarantula, is regarded by some to be the most dangerous spider in the world. ... Download high resolution version (1600x1391, 438 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1600x1391, 438 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Families Atypidae (atypical tarantula) Antrodiaetidae (folding trapdoor spider) Mecicobothriidae (dwarf tarantulas) Hexathelidae (venomous funnel-web tarantula) Dipluridae (funnel-web tarantula) Cyrtaucheniidae (wafer trapdoor spider) Ctenizidae (trapdoor spider) Theraphosidae (tarantula) Source: Platnick 2003 The Mygalomorphae, previously called the Orthognatha, are a suborder of spiders. ... The Araneomorphae, previously called the Labidognatha, are a suborder of spiders. ... This article is about the metropolitan area in Australia. ...

Range of the two genera (Hadronyche and Atrax) of venomous Australian funnel-web spiders
Range of the two genera (Hadronyche and Atrax) of venomous Australian funnel-web spiders

There are other dangerous species of Atrax and Hadronyche related to this spider in surrounding parts of Australia, including Tasmania. The males in this case have somewhat more potent venom than females and they also wander, making them more likely to be encountered in summer. Image File history File links Sketch_Funnel-Web_range. ... Image File history File links Sketch_Funnel-Web_range. ...


One other genus in the Hexathelidae family has been reported to cause severe symptoms in humans. The genus Macrothele in Taiwan has been attributed to severe bites, but no fatalities.[29] There are no known deaths attributed in the literature to any funnel-web species other than A. robustus Genera Atrax Hadronyche The venomous funnel-web tarantulas (family Hexathelidae) are notorious for the inclusion of the Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus). ... Diversity 26 species Type species Mygale calpeiana Walckenaer, 1805 Species See text. ...


Tangle-web spiders (Theridiidae)

Two genera of the tangle web spiders have venom which is known to be medically significant. One genus, the widow spiders of genus Latrodectus, has caused more human fatalities than any other. The other genus, the false widow spiders of Steatoda, has a far less serious bite. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Cobweb habitude spiders. ... Species Approx. ...


Widow spiders (Latrodectus--confirmed deaths)

Main article: Widow spider

The widow spiders (genus Latrodectus), such as the black widow and redback spider, are spiders that carry a neurotoxic venom [1] which can cause a set of symptoms known as Latrodectism. Like many spiders, widows have very poor vision, and they move with difficulty when not on their web. Widow spiders are large, strong-looking house spiders (but still have relatively spindly legs and deep, globular abdomens). The abdomen is dark and shiny, and has one or several red spots, either above or below. The spots may take the form of an hourglass, or two triangles, point-to-point. Male widows, like most spiders, are much smaller than the females, and may have a variety of streaks and spots on a browner, less globular abdomen. The males are generally considered to be much less dangerous (if at all) than the females. Widows tend to be quite non-aggressive, but will bite if the web is disturbed and the spider feels threatened. The venom, although rarely life-threatening, produces very painful effects including muscle spasms and 'tetanus-like' contractions. A serious bite will often require a short hospital stay. Children, elderly, and ill individuals are at most risk of serious effects. Species Approx. ... The scientific term for the widow spider is a member of the spider genus Latrodectus. ... Species Fabricius, 1775 Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935 Walckenaer, 1837 The black widow spider () is a spider notorious for its neurotoxic venom. ... Binomial name Latrodectus hasselti The red-back spider (Lactrodectus hasselti) is a potentially dangerous spider now found throughout Australia. ... The term neurotoxic is used to describe a substance, condition or state that damages the nervous system and / or brain, usually by killing neurons. ... It has been suggested that Snake poison be merged into this article or section. ... Latrodectism is the clinical syndrome caused by a neurotoxic venom that can be injected by the bite of any spider that is a member of the spider genus Latrodectus, in the family Theridiidae. ...


False black widows (Steatoda)

Main article: Steatoda
Steatoda bipunctata
Steatoda bipunctata

The False black widow spiders (also known as false katipo, false button spider, cupboard spider, and in Australia, brown house spider) are spiders of the genus Steatoda. They resemble widow spiders in size and physical form, which is not surprising since they are members of the same Family. While the bite of Steatoda spiders are nowhere near as serious as that of true widow spiders, several of these spiders do have medically significant bites. The bite of Steatoda grossa, commonly known as the cupboard spider, is known to cause symptoms which have been described as a very minor widow bite; the medical community now refers to the symptoms of Steatoda bites as steatodism. Other spiders in this genus known to be problem biters include two chiefly European varieties, S. paykulliana and S. nobilis, and a species found mainly in New Zealand and South Africa, S. capensis Diversity 122 species Species S. grossa S. nobilis S. triangulosa  many more The spider genus Steatoda, in the family Theridiidae, includes over 120 recognized species, distributed around the world (including many cosmopolitan species which are found among human populations worldwide). ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1350x1050, 176 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Steatoda Spider bite Cobweb habitude spiders ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1350x1050, 176 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Steatoda Spider bite Cobweb habitude spiders ... Species Approx. ... Binomial name Steadoda grossa C. L. Koch, 1838 Approx. ... Binomial name Steatoda nobilis Thorell, 1875 Steatoda nobilis, commonly known in England as the biting spider or the false black widow (though several other species are known by the latter name), is a common species of spider in the genus Steatoda. ...


Use of widow spider antivenom has been shown effective in treating steatodism.[30] The genera Steatoda and Latrodectus are biologically close cousins; both belong to the family Theridiidae. There are over 100 species in this genus, but only several species have been associated with medically significant bites. Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ... Genera Latrodectus Argyrodes Theridion Steatoda The tangle-web spiders or comb-footed spiders (family Theridiidae) are a large group (over 2000 species in nearly 80 genera) of haphazard web-builders found throughout the world. ...


Members of this genus are characterized by the "D" shape of the cephalothorax, and the way the relatively straight line thus formed is mirrored by the blunt forward surface of the abdomen.They look something like this: Ə Other genera in this family generally have cephalothoraxes that are more oval in shape or even rather round, and that give the appearance of two body parts that are joined by a small connector.


Sicariidae spiders

The family Sicariidae includes two genera, both of which have highly dangerous and necrotoxic bites. One genus, Loxosceles, are the well-known recluse spiders, a genus which is distributed worldwide (but is most commonly found in the Americas). The other genus, Sicarius, is far less known; being found only in the Southern Hemisphere. Spiders in both genera have venom containing the dermonecrotic compound sphingomyelinase D. Sicariidae are members of a genus of spiders found in arid portions of South America and southern Africa. ...


Recluse spiders (Loxosceles--confirmed deaths)

Main article: Recluse spider

Recluse spiders (Loxosceles spp.), such as the brown recluse spider, also known as "violin spiders" or "fiddlers" from the dark violin-shaped marking on the cephalothorax, are slow-moving, retiring spiders which wander about in dim areas and under things, and so are more easily trapped against one's skin by clothing, bed sheets, etc. The spiders will often creep along at a very slow pace and then make a sudden dart for a couple of inches, then return to the previous languid pace. Recluses are extremely venomous. Most encounters with this spider occur from moving boxes or rooting about in closets or under beds. The range of the brown recluse, L. reclusa in the US is approximately the southern 2/3 of the country by the eastern 3/4 of the country. A number of related recluse spiders (some non-native introductions) are found in southern California and nearby areas, as well. Genera Loxosceles Sicarius The recluse spiders (family Sicariidae) comprise two genera and 122 species [1], best known being the Brown recluse spider. ... Binomial name Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940 The brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, is a well-known member of the family Sicariidae (formerly placed in a family Loxoscelidae). It is usually between 6–20 mm (¼ in and ¾ in) but may grow larger. ...


Most recluse spider bites are minor with little or no necrosis. However, a small number of bites produce severe dermonecrotic lesions, and, sometimes, severe systemic symptoms, including organ damage. Rarely the bite may also produce the systemic condition with occasional fatalities. Necrosis (in Greek Νεκρός = Dead) is the name given to accidental death of cells and living tissue. ...


A minority of bites form a necrotizing ulcer that destroys soft tissue and may take months and, on very rare occasions, years to heal, leaving deep scars. The damaged tissue will become gangrenous and eventually slough away. The initial bite frequently cannot be felt and there may be no pain, but over time the wound may grow to as large as 10 inches (25 cm) in extreme cases. Bites usually become painful and itchy within 2 to 8 hours, pain and other local effects worsen 12 to 36 hours after the bite with the necrosis developing over the next few days.[13] Endoscopic images of a duodenal ulcer. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Gangrene is a complication of necrosis (i. ...


Serious systemic effects may occur before this time, as the venom spreads throughout the body in minutes. Mild symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, rashes, and muscle and joint pain. Rarely more severe symptoms occur including hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.[14] Debilitated patients, the elderly, and children may be more susceptible to systemic loxoscelism. Deaths have been reported for both the brown recluse and the related South American species L. laeta and L. intermedia. For other uses, see Nausea (disambiguation). ... Heaving redirects here. ... An analogue medical thermometer showing the temperature of 38. ... A rash is a change in skin which affects its color, appearance, or texture. ... {{otheruses4|1=medical hemoglobin]] into the surrounding fluid (plasma, in vivo). ... Thrombocytopenia (or -paenia, or thrombopenia in short) is the presence of relatively few platelets in blood. ... Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a pathological process in the body where the blood starts to coagulate throughout the whole body. ...


Even more dangerous is the Chilean recluse, a species native to South America and found in many parts of the world, including in southern California and other southwestern states. Bites of this spider have been known to cause systemic reactions in 15% of reported cases, and fatalities in 3-4% of cases. [31] Binomial name Loxosceles laeta (Nicolet, 1849) The Chilean recluse spider is a venomous spider, Loxosceles laeta, of the family Sicariidae (formerly of the family Loxoscelidae). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...


Six eyed sand spiders (Sicarius)

Main article: Six-eyed sand spider
The Six-eyed sand spider
The Six-eyed sand spider

The six-eyed sand spider, of southern Africa (and other spiders in the genus Sicarius), is considered by some to be the world's most venomous spider. Assays of its venom have led some to consider this spider's bite as the most dangerous on record; and currently no antivenom exists for its bite. Fortunately, this specimen rarely interacts with humans, and is seldom known to bite; recorded envenomations by this spider are rare. A cousin of the recluse spider (and possessing the same toxic compound as found in recluse venom), this spider buries itself in the sand and strikes from ambush at prey that wanders too closely. Sand particles adhere to cuticles on its abdomen, thus acting as a natural camouflage if uncovered. If disturbed, it will run a short distance and bury itself again. Binomial name Sicarius hahnii Walckenaer, 1847 The six-eyed sand spider (Sicarius hahnii) is a medium-sized spider of deserts and other sandy places in southern Africa. ... Image File history File links Six-eyed_sand_spider_4. ... Image File history File links Six-eyed_sand_spider_4. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ... Genera Loxosceles Sicarius The recluse spiders (family Sicariidae) comprise two genera and 122 species [1], best known being the Brown recluse spider. ...


Little is known about the bite of other Sicarius species; however numerous other species have also been found to possess venom containing sphingomyelinase D.


Mouse spiders (Missulena)

Main article: mouse spider

The mouse spiders of the genus Missulena are a type of primitive burrowing spider found primarily in Australia. Several species of this genus are known to possess a venom which contains compounds similar to robustotoxin, the substance in funnel-web venom which is deadly to humans, and there have been several recorded bites by this spider producing severe symptoms requiring emergency medical treatment. However, unlike the funnel-web spiders, which have resulted in at least 13 deaths in the last 100 years,[32] there are no recorded human fatalities due to mouse spider bites, and many bites by this spider result in no serious complications. It is suspected that unlike Atrax and Hadronyche, which typically deliver full envenomations when they bite, that mouse spiders often give "dry" bites. When severe envenomation does occur, funnel-web antivenom has been shown to be effective.[33] Diversity 11 species Species see text Mouse spiders are spiders of the genus Missulena, in the mygalomorph family Actinopodidae. ...


True tarantulas (Theraphosidae)

Main article: Tarantula

The true tarantulas, of the family Theraphosidae, are fearsome looking spiders with somewhat notorious reputations. As large spiders, they have very powerful fangs and are capable of delivering a sizable quantity of venom. However, many species of tarantula are known to be relatively harmless to humans. Tarantulas are typically divided between New World and Old World types; depending on what part of the world the spider in question comes from. For other uses, see Tarantula (disambiguation). ...


New world tarantulas

Mexican Red Knee tarantula (Brachypelma sp), a New World species
Mexican Red Knee tarantula (Brachypelma sp), a New World species

New World tarantulas--those indigenous to the Americas--have bites that generally pose little threat to humans (other than causing localized pain). The primary means of defense for these spiders are urticating hairs, which can cause irritation and other typical symptoms in humans. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x878, 165 KB) Brachypelma turanchulas are ugly amimal but i used to have them when i was young but prepare therir they will kill you. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x878, 165 KB) Brachypelma turanchulas are ugly amimal but i used to have them when i was young but prepare therir they will kill you. ... This article belongs in one or more categories. ...


Old world tarantulas

Cobalt blue tarantula (Haplopelma lividum), an Old World species
Cobalt blue tarantula (Haplopelma lividum), an Old World species

Old World tarantulas, especially those indigenous to Asia, are another matter. These species lack urticating hairs, and use biting as a defensive mechanism (as well for subduing prey). In addition, these spiders are far less docile; and more likely to try to bite an adversary (including humans) if provoked. The effect of Old World tarantula venoms is not well studied, for the most part; however much anecdotal evidence suggests they have stronger venom than their New World counterparts. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1594x1731, 610 KB) Beschreibung: Haplopelma lividum, female Fotograf: Roland Pfaffeneder -->Rpf1965 Datum: Mai 2005 first upload in de wikipedia on 09:11, 22. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1594x1731, 610 KB) Beschreibung: Haplopelma lividum, female Fotograf: Roland Pfaffeneder -->Rpf1965 Datum: Mai 2005 first upload in de wikipedia on 09:11, 22. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... This article belongs in one or more categories. ...


There are many anecdotal reports from individuals in the tarantula pet trade of significant bite from Poecilotheria spp., occasionally resulting in hospitalization. Symptoms include localized pain and swelling, exhaustion, moderate to severe muscle cramping, labored breathing and fever, sometimes delayed days after the initial bite.[34][35][36][37] Poecilotheria is a genus of the family Theraphosidae containing various species of tarantulas. ...


One species whose venom has been studied extensively is the Chinese bird spider (Haplopelma spp.), a tarantula of the subfamily Ornithoctoninae. The venom has been found to contain numerous novel toxins, is effective at killing mice, and has been blamed for at least one fatality in China. However, there is little documented clinical evidence of the effects of this spiders' bite in humans; so firm conclusions about the level of danger posed by this spider cannot be drawn. Diversity 3 species Species H. hainanum H. huwenum H. schmidti Chinese Bird Spider is an English name given to several species of old-world tarantulas which are found in the Peoples Republic of China and Vietnam. ... Ornithoctoninae, also known as Earth tigers, are a sub-family of old-world tarantulas, which were first described in 1895 by Reginald Innes Pocock. ... Mice may refer to: An abbreviation of Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions. ...


Yellow sac spiders (Chiracanthum)

Main article: Yellow sac spider

The yellow sac spiders, Chiracanthum sp., take shelter in silk tubes during the daytime and generally come out to hunt at night. These pale yellow or whitish spiders are often found in houses at the top of walls, or wandering across ceilings. They are also commonly found outdoors on foliage. The draglines they leave while hunting are one of the most common "spiderwebs" that are removed with broom and vacuum cleaner. People may unintentionally make contact with them in the dark and so be bitten if the spider is irritated or provoked. However, many people will live their entire lives in close proximity to them and never suffer a bite. Nevertheless, the spider's bite is considered toxic. Binomial name Hentz, 1847 The Yellow sac spider (Cheiracanthium inclusum and Chiracanthium mildei), alternately known as the black-footed spider, is not a true sac spider (of the family Clubionidae), but a long-legged sac spider, that is, a member of the family Miturgidae that was formerly classified in that...


Huntsman spiders (Heteropoda)

Main article: Huntsman spider
Huntsman spider (Heteropoda venatoria) eating a cricket
Huntsman spider (Heteropoda venatoria) eating a cricket

The huntsman spiders have a worldwide reputation for scaring people. They are large, defend their nests, and may move toward people and make threat displays. They frequently enter houses and hunt over the walls and ceilings where they may run rapidly for long distances without pausing. When they actually do bite people, the bites are very unpleasant, but these spiders are not regarded as dangerous. They are quite common in parts of Australia. Australian huntsman spiders are typically non-aggressive except when defending their nests or their young. Diversity 82 genera, 1009 species Genera Delena Heteropoda Holconia Isopeda Isopedella Leucorchestris Micrommata Neosparassus Olios Pediana Pseudopoda Thelcticopis Many others Huntsman spider is a common name given to the family Sparassidae (formerly Heteropodidae). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (730x612, 435 KB) A huntsman spider. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (730x612, 435 KB) A huntsman spider. ...


There is one spider in California and Japan, probably a huntsman (tentatively identified as a member of the Sparassidae family, Heteropoda venatoria), which might run over and bite your finger if you touch the wall that it is clambering over.[citation needed] That behavior may well occur because its eyesight is good enough to see movement and general shape, but not sufficient to avoid mistaking something else for its natural prey. In general, however, members of this genus scramble wildly to escape when they become aware of a human moving into their vicinity.


Redback jumping spiders (Phidippus johnsoni)

Female Phidippus johnsoni (?) 14 mm
Female Phidippus johnsoni (?) 14 mm

Some people have reported being bitten by redback jumping spiders, one of the visually most prominent species among the genus Phidippus. Many reports come from California, although their range is much wider, and people elsewhere may have unpleasant contacts with them. These relatively large, alert but slow-moving jumping spiders have bright red abdomens (the females have a black stripe), and should be clearly visible. It is unclear how bites to humans occur. Accidental contact seems rather unlikely since jumping spiders have excellent vision and can easily avoid being brushed by a human hand. It is also unlikely that they would mistake a human finger for their natural prey. One source suggests that, since they are quite attractive, children may try to pick them up and in that way elicit a defensive bite. Since these spiders are quite large, their body length being around 12 mm (1/2 inch), the volume of their available venom is accordingly rather large. Fortunately, however, the worst consequences reported have been three to four days of discomfort, with no permanent damage. Like most of the larger spiders, the consequences of a bite seem little different from those of a wasp or bee sting. Since they do not frequent human habitations it should ordinarily be easy to avoid unpleasant contact with them. Even when encountered the ability of jumping spider to detect and track human movement should prevent most potential bite situations. Binomial name Phidippus johnsoni (Peckham & Peckham, 1883) Synonyms Attus johnsonii Dendryphantes johnsoni The redbacked jumping spider (Phidippus johnsoni) is one of the largest and most commonly encountered jumping spider of western North America. ... Image File history File linksMetadata P_johnsoni_PEM1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata P_johnsoni_PEM1. ...

Comparative analysis

It is often asked which type of spider is the most "dangerous" in the world. There isn't a simple answer to this question, as there are many things which must be taken into account when considering the amount of danger posed by spider bites:

  • First, it is often the case that a spider bite is "dry" – the skin may be pierced, but little or no venom is injected into the victim. In such an instance, little or none of the spider's dangerous potential for harm is manifested.
  • Second, there have been reports of spider bites (by spiders considered otherwise harmless) causing allergic reactions in some individuals, up to and including anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening condition (much the same as a sting from an ant, bee, or wasp may produce a harmful effect apart from the toxic quality of its venom).[38]
  • Third, many spiders listed as dangerous are seldom encountered, or have dispositions that make them unlikely to bite despite the high toxicity of their venom.
  • Finally, little is known about the toxicity of many spiders, due to their infrequent encounters with humans; the list of venomous spiders is limited to those that are linked to medical events in humans or who otherwise have been extensively studied.

It should also be noted that, for healthy adults, a bite by even the most toxic spiders on the list may require hours before death ensues; if timely appropriate emergency medical treatment is administered, victims may be expected to recover. The scenario given in movies such as Arachnophobia, where bite victims die within minutes, does not occur. One exception to this picture occurs because in the case of very small children the amount of venom dispersed throughout the body is many times the concentration in an adult. There is at least one recorded case of a small child dying within 15 minutes of a bite from a Sydney funnel-web spider; that event occurred before the development of an antivenom. Since the antivenom was developed there have been no fatalities due to this species. Pancreatitus can be caused by an Allergic Reaction to a food. ... Anaphylaxis is an acute systemic (multi-system) and severe Type I Hypersensitivity allergic reaction in humans and other mammals. ... For other uses, see Ant (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Western honey bee and Bee (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Wasp (disambiguation). ... Arachnophobia is a 1990 American horror and comedy film[1] directed by Frank Marshall and starring John Goodman and Jeff Daniels. ... Binomial name Atrax robustus Pickard-Cambridge, 1877 The Sydney funnel-web spider, also called a funnel-web tarantula, (Atrax robustus) is regarded by some to be the most dangerous spider in the world. ... Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ...


The spiders believed to be most dangerous to humans, in terms of the risk posed by a bite, are the Sydney funnel-web spiders and Brazilian wandering spider. These spiders are potentially more dangerous than widow spiders because they have longer fangs and possess greater quantities of venom, thus they are capable of injecting far more venom to greater depths. Phoneutria nigriventer has approximately 2 mg of venom, but frequently gives dry bites or at least does not deliver all of its available venom. Atrax robustus has approximately 1.7 mg of venom. Bites of six-eyed sand spiders are thought likely to be even more dangerous to humans than any of the others, but fortunately there have been very few bites. Two instances of human envenomation are known; one was fatal, and the other involved the loss of an arm. This, along with venom testing in rabbits, leads some experts to believe that Sicarius may be the most harmful spider envenomation known, as no other species has an observed 50% lethality rate. Genera Atrax Hadronyche Australasian funnel-web spiders are venomous spiders of the family Hexathelidae. ... Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ... Species Approx. ... Binomial name Sicarius hahnii Walckenaer, 1847 The six-eyed sand spider (Sicarius hahnii) is a medium-sized spider of deserts and other sandy places in southern Africa. ...


By general agreement, spiders of the genus Latrodectus (of which the Black Widow spider is the most notorious) kill more people per year, worldwide, than any other spider.[citation needed] Because they are so small, they are much harder to detect than a large Brazilian Wandering Spider or a Tarantula. Though their venom is extremely potent, these spiders are not especially large. Compared to many other species of spiders, their chelicerae are not very large. In the case of a mature female, the hollow, needle shaped part of each chelicera, the part that penetrates the skin, is approximately 1 mm (approx. .04 in) long, sufficiently long to inject the venom to a dangerous depth. The males, being much smaller, can inject far less venom and inject it far less deeply. The actual amount injected, even by a mature female, is very small in physical volume (.02–.03 mg). When this small amount of venom is diffused throughout the body of a healthy, mature human, it usually does not amount to a fatal dose. Deaths in healthy adults from Latrodectus bites are rare in terms of the number of bites per thousand people. Only sixty-three deaths were reported in the United States between 1950 and 1989 (Miller, 1992). On the other hand, the geographical range of the widow spiders is very great. As a result, far more people are exposed, worldwide, to widow bites than are exposed to bites of more dangerous spiders, so the highest number of deaths worldwide are caused by members of the genus Latrodectus. Widow spiders have more potent venom than most spiders, and prior to the development of antivenom, 5% of bites resulted in fatalities.[39] The scientific term for the widow spider is a member of the spider genus Latrodectus. ... Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ...


Measurements

The LD-50 figures have limited utility since the effects of venoms differ widely from species to species. The University of California at Riverside reports that prior to the development of an antivenom, 5% of victims of widow spiders would die, but comparable figures are not available for the other species. Before an antivenom was developed, deaths from Atrax and Hadronyche were very common. Some deaths from Phoneutria bites are reported, but much of their range is in the Amazon so reporting of bites may not be very complete.


Most LD-50 figures are based on experiments with laboratory mice. There are great differences in the sensitivities of various kinds of organisms to various kinds of venom. The relative sensitivities of mice to various venoms may not allow prediction of the exact degree of human sensitivity. So most of these figures can only give a rough approximation of the medical consequences of various spider bites to humans. Nevertheless, any venom capable of killing other organisms in small doses should be avoided by humans. A case in point are the Sicarius spp. The venom of these spiders is extremely active in laboratory animals, but there are few if any documented reports of Sicarius bites in humans.

Genus Species Common name Body length Venom amount LD-50 Alternate LD-50 Deaths reported
Atrax robustus Venomous funnel-web 24–32 mm. [38] 0.25 mg (F) and 0.81 mg (M) [40] 2 mg [41] .16 mg/kg [42] unknown 1927–1980 13 deaths
Hadronyche species Venomous funnel-web 24–32 mm. [38] 0.25 mg (F) and 0.81 mg (M) [40] 2 mg [41] .16 mg/kg [42]
Latrodectus mactans Black widow 8–15 mm [38] 0.02–.03 mg. [43] [44] 0.002 mg/kg [43]* 0.9 mg/kg 5% of reported bites prior to antivenom availability [38]
Latrodectus tredecimguttatus Malmignatte (approx. same) (approx. same) 0.68 μg/kg [45] 16.25 μg/kg [45]
Loxosceles Reclusa Brown recluse 1.2 cm (0.75 in) [38]6–10 mm [38] .13–.27 mg. [46] [45] (rare) [38]
Loxosceles intermedia 0.48 mg/kg [47] unknown
Loxosceles laeta Chilean recluse 1.45 mg/kg [47]
Loxosceles gaucho 0.74 mg/kg [47]
Phoneutria bahiensis Brazilian wandering spider 30 mm 1.079 mg [48] .00061–.00157 mg/kg [48]
Phoneutria boliviensis Brazilian wandering spider 30 mm 1.079 mg. [48] .00061–.00157 mg/kg [48]
Phoneutria fera Brazilian wandering spider 30 mm [38] 1.079 mg [48] .00061–.00157 mg/kg [48] occasional deaths even after antivenin treatment[38]
Phoneutria nigriventer Brazilian wandering spider 3–5 cm (1.25–2 in) [49] 2.15 mg [46] 1.079 mg. [48] 15.20 ng/mg [46] .00061–.00157 mg/kg [48] 200 µg/kg (0.2 ng/mg) [46]
Phoneutria reidyi Brazilian wandering spider 30 mm .00061–.00157 mg/kg [48] 0.3 mg/kg
Sicarius (Africa & S.A. species) Six-eyed sand spider 17 mm
Haplopelma huwenum (previously Selenocosmia huwena) Chinese bird spider 0.70 mg/kg [50] One infant death reported. [51]
Poecilotheria ornata Fringed ornamental tarantula Instances of coma reported. [51]
Poecilotheria fasciata ** Sri Lankan ornamental tarantula Instances of cardiac failure reported [51]
Tegenaria agrestis Hobo spider 7–14 mm [38] (1 reported) [38]
Cheiracanthium species Yellow sac spider 6–10 mm (No severe consequences) [38]
Cheiracanthium japonicum Japanese sac 6–10 mm
Macrothele holsti, gigas, taiwanensis [44] Primitive burrowing spiders No deaths reported in Taiwan.[29]
Steatoda grossa Cupboard spider Mild widow-like symptoms reported, no severe consequences

* This value is based on experience with human exposures.
** Several other kinds of tarantulas in the pet trade are regarded as giving non-trivial bites. Tarantulas are typically far larger than spiders with the most toxic kinds of venom. However, the sheer volume of the venom may compensate for its lesser toxicity. The effects of a full envenomation are probably unknown for many species of tarantulas, so due caution is advisable. Genera Atrax Hadronyche Australasian funnel-web spiders are venomous spiders of the family Hexathelidae. ... Genera Atrax Hadronyche Australasian funnel-web spiders are venomous spiders of the family Hexathelidae. ... The scientific term for the widow spider is a member of the spider genus Latrodectus. ... Species Fabricius, 1775 Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935 Walckenaer, 1837 The black widow spider () is a spider notorious for its neurotoxic venom. ... Antivenom (or antivenin, or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. ... The scientific term for the widow spider is a member of the spider genus Latrodectus. ... Binomial name Latrodectus tredecimguttatus Rossi, 1790 Male The spider Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, commonly known as the European or Mediterranean black widow, malmignatte spider, or karakurt (Russian: КАРАКУРТ, or steppe spider), is one of the widow spiders in the genus Latrodectus. ... A brown recluse spider The brown recluse spider is a venomous spider of the family Sicariidae and the genus and species Loxosceles reclusa. ... Binomial name Loxosceles laeta (Nicolet, 1849) The Chilean recluse spider is a venomous spider, Loxosceles laeta, of the family Sicariidae (formerly of the family Loxoscelidae). ... Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ... Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ... Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ... Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ... Diversity 5 species Type species Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 Species The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp. ... Binomial name Sicarius hahnii Walckenaer, 1847 The six-eyed sand spider (Sicarius hahnii) is a medium-sized spider of deserts and other sandy places in southern Africa. ... Species See article Haplopelma is a genus of old-world tarantulas which are found in Southeast Asia. ... Diversity 3 species Species H. hainanum H. huwenum H. schmidti Chinese Bird Spider is an English name given to several species of old-world tarantulas which are found in the Peoples Republic of China and Vietnam. ... Binomial name {Walckenaer, 1802} The hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis) is a member of the genus of spiders known colloquially as funnel web spiders. ... Binomial name Hentz, 1847 The Yellow sac spider (Cheiracanthium inclusum and Chiracanthium mildei), alternately known as the black-footed spider, is not a true sac spider (of the family Clubionidae), but a long-legged sac spider, that is, a member of the family Miturgidae that was formerly classified in that... Diversity 122 species Species S. grossa S. nobilis S. triangulosa  many more The spider genus Steatoda, in the family Theridiidae, includes over 120 recognized species, distributed around the world (including many cosmopolitan species which are found among human populations worldwide). ... Binomial name Steadoda grossa C. L. Koch, 1838 Approx. ...


Spiders and similar creatures with unsupported reputations

There are several species of spider (and a few other arachnids which are not spiders, but are frequently confused with them), who have had unsupported reputations for being harmful to humans. In some cases, that the species is now considered harmless is a settled matter for arachnologists and other professionals; in other cases (such as the hobo spider), prior scientific belief that a spider is harmful to humans is now being questioned. For other uses, see Arachnid (disambiguation). ... Binomial name {Walckenaer, 1802} The hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis) is a member of the genus of spiders known colloquially as funnel web spiders. ...


Hobo spiders (Tegenaria agrestis)

Male Hobo Spider - note the large pedipalps
Male Hobo Spider - note the large pedipalps
Main article: Hobo spider

The hobo spider, Tegenaria agrestis, may wander away from its web, especially in the fall, and thus come into contact with people and potentially bite. This spider is found in the northwestern United States, western Canada and throughout much of Europe. Studies performed by arachnologist Darwin Vest reported that this spider's venom caused significant necrotic effects in laboratory animals[52][53], and medical authorities in the Pacific Northwest have blamed this spider for at least one fatality. Many agricultural authorities have published the advice that this species is potentially harmful, and medical personnel in the western United States and Canada have been advised to consider hobo spider bites when patients present with necrotic wounds. Many brown recluse bites have been reported in the U.S. west coast states (Washington, Oregon, and northern California) where populations of brown recluse spiders have not been found; some of these alleged bites have been attributed to hobo spiders instead.[54] Originally from: [1] Used with permission of Dr. Lee Ostrom, as explicitly stated on his website provided attribution is given. ... Originally from: [1] Used with permission of Dr. Lee Ostrom, as explicitly stated on his website provided attribution is given. ... Male European garden spider with swollen pedipalps Pedipalps are a pair of feelers on a spiders face. ... Binomial name {Walckenaer, 1802} The hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis) is a member of the genus of spiders known colloquially as funnel web spiders. ... Darwin Kenneth Vest (born April 22, 1951, presumed dead March 2004) was an internationally renowned expert on hobo spiders and other poisonous spiders and snakes. ... For the capital city of the United States, see Washington, D.C.. For other uses, see Washington (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S state. ... Binomial name Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940 The brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, is a well-known member of the family Sicariidae (formerly placed in a family Loxoscelidae). It is usually between 6–20 mm (¼ in and ¾ in) but may grow larger. ...


However, in Europe, where the spider originates, the species is considered a harmless outdoor relative of the common house spider (Tegenaria domestica), and no other spider in the genus Tegenaria is considered to be harmful to people. Attempts to replicate Vest's study that reported necrotic effects of the venom have failed, thus casting the "dangerous" status of this spider into doubt. In addition, Vest's methodolgies have been questioned; he has been accused of incorrectly attributing symptoms to hobo spider bites when no positive identification of the spider was made. The one fatality attributed to the spider by medical authorities has also been questioned, and there are no documented cases where an otherwise-healthy person has developed a necrotic lesion from a positively-identified hobo spider bite. Many scientists now question whether or not the spider is harmful at all. [55][56] Diversity 101 species Species T. agrestis T. atrica T. domestica T. duellica (gigantea) T. ferruginea T. parietina T. silvestris  many others The genus Tegenaria has several famous members, including the notorious hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis), the domestic house spider (Tegenaria domestica) and the giant house spider (Tegenaria duellica). ...


Lycosa tarantula

Lycosa tarantula. Its back is covered with recently hatched spiderlings.
Lycosa tarantula. Its back is covered with recently hatched spiderlings.

Lycosa tarantula, a species of wolf spider which is found near Taranto, Italy, Serbia, Montenegro (and the origin of the name tarantula, which today refers to a completely different kind of spider), was once blamed for a condition known as tarantism. Workers in the fields would suffer bites, and observe large, conspicuous, hairy spiders in the area. That spider, L. tarantula, was blamed for the pain and suffering (and occasional death) associated with tarantism. It is known that the bite of L. tarantula, while sometimes painful, has no serious medical consequences for humans. It is also suspected that the real culprit was another spider, Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, a type of widow spider, and one which is now known to be very dangerous to people. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 600 × 450 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 450 pixel, file size: 106 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Note that the abdomen of this spider is covered by her young. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 600 × 450 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 450 pixel, file size: 106 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Note that the abdomen of this spider is covered by her young. ... Binomial name Lycosa tarantula (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms Aranea tarantula Lycosa tarantula Lycosa rubiginosa Tarentula apuliae Tarentula rubiginosa Tarentula fasciiventris Wikispecies has information related to: Lycosa tarantula The Tarantula spider whose scientific name is Lycosa tarantula is a wolf spider from the area around a city in Italy now called Taranto... Diversity 107 genera, 2320 species Genera Adelocosa Alopecosa Arctosa Geolycosa Hogna Lycosa Pardosa Pirata Sosippus Trochosa many more Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, so named because their method of hunting is to run down their prey. ... Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, southern Italy. ... Anthem:  Serbia() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, Rusyn 1 Albanian 2 Demonym Serbian Government Parliamentary Democracy  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica    -  First state 7th century   -  Serbian Kingdom3 1217   -  Serbian Empire 1345   -  Independence lost... This article is about the country in Europe. ... For other uses, see Tarantula (disambiguation). ... Tarantism is, allegedly, a deadly envenomation resulting from the bite of a kind of wolf spider called a tarantula (Lycosa_tarentula). ... Binomial name Latrodectus tredecimguttatus Rossi, 1790 Male The spider Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, commonly known as the European or Mediterranean black widow, malmignatte spider, or karakurt (Russian: КАРАКУРТ, or steppe spider), is one of the widow spiders in the genus Latrodectus. ... Species Approx. ...


White-tailed spider

The white-tailed spider, a species indigenous to Australia, has long been blamed for a necrotic bite, producing symptoms similar to a brown recluse. However, recent studies into this spider have led many to believe that its bite produces no serious effects in humans; in particular, necrotic ulcers were not observed. White-tail bites do cause localized pain and lesions. [17] Nonetheless, the white-tailed spider still is rather infamous in Australia, and frequently referred to as a dangerous spider. Binomial name Lampona cylindrata L. Koch, 1866 Lampona murina L. Koch, 1873 The white-tailed spider, (common species are Lampona cylindrata, Lampona murina) are a medium-sized spider from southern and eastern Australia, so named because of the whitish tips at the end of their abdomens. ... A brown recluse spider The brown recluse spider is a venomous spider of the family Sicariidae and the genus and species Loxosceles reclusa. ...


Harvestman (Daddy-long-legs)

Opiliones (harvestman)
Opiliones (harvestman)

The spider-like arachnids known as Opiliones (also known as harvestmen or daddy long-legs), are a species often handled by humans. They are the subject of an urban legend which claims that they possess venom which is deadly to humans. This is untrue on several counts. None of the known species have venom glands or fangs, instead having chelicerae.[57] In addition, incidents of opiliones biting people are rare, and no reported bites by these species have had any lasting effects. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 138 KB) Other versions of this file none File links The following pages link to this file: Opiliones ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 138 KB) Other versions of this file none File links The following pages link to this file: Opiliones ... Diversity 4 suborders Suborders Cyphophthalmi Eupnoi Dyspnoi Laniatores Harvestmen (also known as daddy long-legs) are eight-legged invertebrate animals belonging to the order Opiliones (formerly Phalangida) in the class Arachnida, in the subphylum Chelicerata of the phylum Arthropoda. ... For other uses, see Urban legend (disambiguation). ... Types of chelicerae: jackknife (in green), scissor (in blue) and 3-segmented chelate (in red) The Chelicerae are mouth parts of the Chelicerata, an arthropod subphylum that includes arachnids, Merostomata (horseshoe crabs), and Pycnogonida (sea spiders). ...


The term "daddy long-legs" also can refer to the similar-looking cellar spider. This species (a true spider) can bite humans, but its venom is not known to have any effects beyond mild discomfort at the site of the bite. The Daddy long-legs spider, also called the cellar spider or house spider, is a true spider and not a harvestman. ...


"Sun spiders"

Solifugae (sun spider)
Solifugae (sun spider)

The arachnids of the order Solifugae, also known as wind scorpions or sun spiders, are neither spiders nor scorpions. In the Middle East, it is common belief among some American soldiers stationed there that Solifugae will feed on living human flesh. The story goes that the creature will inject some anesthetizing venom into the exposed skin of its sleeping victim, then feed voraciously, leaving the victim to awaken with a gaping wound. Solifugae, however, do not produce such an anesthetic, and do not attack prey larger than themselves unless threatened. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1399x1130, 486 KB) Solfuga, gatunek nieznany Autor: CM PrzesÅ‚aÅ‚: pl:Wikipedysta:Radomil, za zgodÄ… autora Irak 2004 File links The following pages link to this file: Solifugae Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1399x1130, 486 KB) Solfuga, gatunek nieznany Autor: CM PrzesÅ‚aÅ‚: pl:Wikipedysta:Radomil, za zgodÄ… autora Irak 2004 File links The following pages link to this file: Solifugae Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... Families see text The order Solifugae is a group of arachnids, containing more than 1,000 described species in about 140 genera. ... Superfamilies Pseudochactoidea Buthoidea Chaeriloidea Chactoidea Iuroidea Scorpionoidea See classification for families. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Anesthesia (AE), also anaesthesia (BE), is the process of blocking the perception of pain and other sensations. ...


Further, Solifugae are known to not possess any venom (other than one species in India, which may possess venom according to one study [58]), but do produce, on some occasions, a strong anti-coagulant[citation needed]. Moreover, due to the large size and insanitarity of their jaws, bites by Solifugae can cause significant wounds, which should be treated accordingly to avoid infection from its previous meals.[9] An anticoagulant is a substance that prevents coagulation; that is, it stops blood from clotting. ...


References

  1. ^ Spider Bite First Aid. firstaidkits.org. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
  2. ^ a b Diaz, James H (2004). "The global epidemiology, syndromic classification, management, and prevention of spider bites". American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 71 (2): 239–250. PMID 15306718. 
  3. ^ Vetter, R.S. (2008) Spiders of the genus Loxosceles (Araneae, Sicariidae): a review of biological, medical and psychological aspects regarding envenomations. The Journal of Arachnology 36:150–163
  4. ^ a b Swanson D, Vetter R (2005). "Bites of brown recluse spiders and suspected necrotic arachnidism.". N Engl J Med 352 (7): 700-7. doi:10.1056/NEJMra041184. PMID 15716564. 
  5. ^ Rigby, Rhymer. "Tuck in to a tarantula", Sunday Telegraph, 2003-09-23. 
  6. ^ Foelix, Rainer F. (1996). Biology of Spiders (2nd edition). Oxford University Press. ISBN ISBN 0-19-509594-4. 
  7. ^ Simó, Miguel & Brescovit, D. Antonio, "Revision and cladistic analysis of the Neotropical spider genus Phoneutria Perty, 1833 (Araneae, Ctenidae), with notes on related Cteninae" - Bulletin British Arachnology Society (2001) 12 (2) 67-82
  8. ^ Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo - A clinico-epidemiological study of bites by spiders of the genus Phoneutria
  9. ^ a b Punzo, Fred (1998). The Biology of Camel-Spiders. Kluwer Academic Publishers. 
  10. ^ Marcus V. Gomez, Evanguedes Kalapothakis, Cristina Guatimosim, 2 and Marco A. M. Prado. "Phoneutria nigriventer Venom: A Cocktail of Toxins That Affect Ion Channels". Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology 22 (5-6). 
  11. ^ Greta J. Binford and Michael A. Wells (2003). "The phylogenetic distribution of sphingomyelinase D activity in venoms of Haplogyne spiders" (pdf). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B 135: 25–33. 
  12. ^ Schenone H, Saavedra T, Rojas A, Villarroel F. (1989). "Loxoscelism in Chile. Epidemiologic, clinical and experimental studies". Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo 31: 403–415. 
  13. ^ a b Wasserman G, Anderson P (1983–1984). "Loxoscelism and necrotic arachnidism". J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 21 (4-5): 451–72. PMID 6381752. 
  14. ^ a b Wasserman G (2005). "Bites of the brown recluse spider.". N Engl J Med 352 (19): 2029–30; author reply 2029–30. doi:10.1056/NEJM200505123521922. PMID 15892198. 
  15. ^ Bennett, R. G. and R. S. Vetter. (2004). "An approach to spider bites: erroneous attribution of dermonecrotic lesions to brown recluse and hobo spider bites in Canada". Canadian Fam Physician 50: 1098–1101. 
  16. ^ James H. Diaz, MD (2005). "Most necrotic ulcers are not spider bites". American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 72 (4): 364–367. 
  17. ^ a b Isbister GK, Gray MR. "White-tail spider bite: a prospective study of 130 definite bites by Lampona species". Medical Journal of Australia 179 (4): 199–202. 
  18. ^ Isbister GK, Hirst D (2003-08). "A prospective study of definite bites by spiders of the family Sparassidae (huntsmen spiders) with identification to species level". Toxicon 42 (2): 163–71. doi:10.1016/S0041-0101(03)00129-6. 
  19. ^ Vetter, R. S. (2000). Myth: Idiopathic wounds are often due to brown recluse or other spider bites throughout the United States. Western Journal of Medicine 173:357-358
  20. ^ Wilkerson, James A., M.D. (1967). Medicine for Mountaineering, Seattle. p. 50
  21. ^ Peggy Peck (November 2004). If the patient says spider bite, think MRSA, says Assembly speaker. American Academy of Family Physicians. Retrieved on 2007 Oct 11.
  22. ^ Bryant S, Pittman L (2003). "Dapsone use in Loxosceles reclusa envenomation: is there an indication?". Am J Emerg Med 21 (1): 89–90. doi:10.1053/ajem.2003.50021. PMID 12563594. 
  23. ^ Anderson P (1998). "Missouri brown recluse spider: a review and update". Mo Med 95 (7): 318–22. PMID 9666677. 
  24. ^ Rees R, Altenbern D, Lynch J, King L (1985). "Brown recluse spider bites. A comparison of early surgical excision versus dapsone and delayed surgical excision". Ann Surg 202 (5): 659–63. PMID 4051613. 
  25. ^ Burton K. The Brown Recluse Spider: Finally stopped in its tracks. Retrieved on 2006-09-02.
  26. ^ Lowry B, Bradfield J, Carroll R, Brewer K, Meggs W (2001). "A controlled trial of topical nitroglycerin in a New Zealand white rabbit model of brown recluse spider envenomation". Ann Emerg Med 37 (2): 161–5. doi:10.1067/mem.2001.113031. PMID 11174233. 
  27. ^ Isbister G, Graudins A, White J, Warrell D (2003). "Antivenom treatment in arachnidism". J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 41 (3): 291–300. doi:10.1081/CLT-120021114. PMID 12807312. 
  28. ^ British Journal of Pharmacology - Phoneutria nigriventer spider venom activates 5-HT4 receptors in rat-isolated vagus nerve
  29. ^ a b Hung, Shin-Wen and Wong, Tzong-Leun. "Arachnid Envenomation in Taiwan". Ann. Disaster Med 3 Suppl. 1: S12–S17. 
  30. ^ Graudins A, Gunja N, Broady K, Nicholson G (2002). "Clinical and in vitro evidence for the efficacy of Australian redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti) antivenom in the treatment of envenomation by a Cupboard spider (Steatoda grossa)". Toxicon 40 (6): 767–75. doi:10.1016/S0041-0101(01)00280-X. PMID 12175614. 
  31. ^ Schenone H, Saavedra T, Rojas A, Villarroel F. (1989). "Loxoscelism in Chile. Epidemiologic, clinical and experimental studies". Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo 31: 403–415. 
  32. ^ Isbister G, Gray M, Balit C, Raven R, Stokes B, Porges K, Tankel A, Turner E, White J, Fisher M (2005). "Funnel-web spider bite: a systematic review of recorded clinical cases". Med J Aust 182 (8): 407–11. PMID 15850438. 
  33. ^ Ibister GK (2004). "Mouse spider bites (Missulena spp) and their medical importance". Medical Journal of Australia 180 (5): 225–227. 
  34. ^ Gabriel,, R. (2002). "Notes and Observations Regarding the Bite of Poecilotheria pederseni". British Tarantula Society Journal 17 (2): 61–64. 
  35. ^ Poecilotheria metallica - Arachnoboards
  36. ^ Phong's Tarantulas! - Tarantula bites
  37. ^ Schmidt, G. (1988): Wie gefährlich sind Vogelspinnenbisse ? Deutsches Ärzteblatt 85 Heft 28/29(2): 1424-1425. (u. a. Infos about Poecilotheria fasciata)
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Vetter, Richard S. and Visscher, P. Kirk, Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521 USA (1998-07). "Bites and Stings of medically important venomous arthropods". International Journal of Dermatology 37: 481–496. doi:10.1046/j.1365-4362.1998.00455.x. 
  39. ^ Bettini S. "Epidemiology of Latrodectism". Toxicon 104: 93–102. PMID 14301291. 
  40. ^ a b Atrax Robustus. IPCS INCHEM. International Programme on Chemical Safety (1989).
  41. ^ a b Sutherland SK, Duncan AW, and Tibballs J. (1980-10-18). "Local inactivation of funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) venom by first-aid measures: potentially lifesaving part of treatment". Medical Journal of Australia 2 (8): 435–437. 
  42. ^ a b Sheumack DD, Baldo BA, Carroll PR, Hampson F, Howden ME, Skorulis A (1984). "A comparative study of properties and toxic constituents of funnel web spider (Atrax) venoms". Comparative biochemistry and physiology 78 (1): 55–68. 
  43. ^ a b Stewart, Charles (1998). "Beyond the Road: Environmental Emergencies for Emergency Service Providers". Charles Stewart and Associates.
  44. ^ a b http://www.thudiv.com/variety/spider/spider1.htm) (Tung Hai University, Taiwan, article in Chinese broken link)
  45. ^ a b c Ori, Masahisa and Ikeda, Hiroyoshi (1998). "Spider Venoms and Spider Toxins". Jounal of Toxicology.Toxin reviews 17 (3): 405–426. 
  46. ^ a b c d M. F. Manzoli-Palma; N. Gobbi; M. S. Palma (2003). "Insects as biological models to assay spider and scorpion venom toxicity". Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases 9 (2). 
  47. ^ a b c Barbaro KC, Ferreira ML, Cardoso DF, Eickstedt VR, Mota I (1996-11). "Identification and neutralization of biological activities in the venoms of Loxosceles spiders". Brazilian Journal of Med Biol Res 29 (11): 1491–7. 
  48. ^ a b c d e f g h i Herzig V, John Ward R, Ferreira dos Santos W (2002). "Intersexual variations in the venom of the Brazilian 'armed' spider Phoneutria nigriventer (Keyserling, 1891)". Toxicon 40 (10): 1399–406. doi:10.1016/S0041-0101(02)00136-8. PMID 12368110. 
  49. ^ Lelle Petterson. The genus Phoneutria, Perty 1833, wandering spiders. Minax tarantulas.
  50. ^ Liang SP, Zhang DY, Pan X, Chen Q, Zhou PA (1993-08). "Properties and amino acid sequence of huwentoxin-I, a neurotoxin purified from the venom of the Chinese bird spider Selenocosmia huwena". Toxicon 31 (8): 969–78. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(93)90256-I. 
  51. ^ a b c http://www.spidertalk.net/SpiderTalk/post.php?action=reply&fid=1&tid=2165&repquote=16279
  52. ^ Vest, D. K. (1987). Envenomation by Tegenaria agrestis (Walckenaer) spiders in rabbits. Toxicon 25(2):221-4.
  53. ^ Vest, D. K. (1987). Necrotic arachnidism in the northwest United States and its probable relationship to Tegenaria agrestis (Walckenaer) spiders. Toxicon 25(2):175-84.
  54. ^ Vetter, R. S. (2000). Myth: Idiopathic wounds are often due to brown recluse or other spider bites throughout the United States. Western Journal of Medicine 173:357-358
  55. ^ Vetter R, Isbister G (2004). "Do hobo spider bites cause dermonecrotic injuries?". Ann Emerg Med 44 (6): 605–7. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2004.03.016. PMID 15573036. 
  56. ^ Bennett, R. G. and R. S. Vetter. (2004). An approach to spider bites: erroneous attribution of dermonecrotic lesions to brown recluse and hobo spider bites in Canada. Canadian Fam. Physician 50: 1098-1101.
  57. ^ Answers to commons questions about harvestmen - The Arachnology Home Page. Accessed 2008-04-01
  58. ^ Aruchami, M. & G. Sundara Rajulu (1978). "An investigation on the poison glands and the nature of the venom of Rhagodes nigrocinctus (Solifugae: Arachnida)". Nat. Acad. Sci. Letters (India) 1: 191–192. 

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... {| style=float:right; |- | |- | |} is the 235th day of the year (236th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

For other uses, see Spider (disambiguation). ... Arachnology is the scientific study of spiders and related organisms such as scorpions, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, collectively called arachnids. ... Ballooning is a term to describe the way many spider species disperse through the air. ... The behavior of spiders is an often neglected topic in the study of arachnology, stemming from the fact that it is much easier to collect dead specimens for later examination than to observe them in their often unaccessible habitat, or to create laboratory conditions suitable for the observation of natural... As with other animals, there are some species of cave-dwelling spiders that have lost their ability to see. ... eating a conspecific // Sweet and Sour Ballsack is a strange delicacy eaten by the small community of Pictou County. ... A spider in Baltic amber Todays 40,000 described species of spiders are members of the hugely diverse arthropod animal phylum. ... Diversity 111 families Families see table The Araneae are an order of the arthropod class Arachnida with about 40,000 described species, although there are probably many species that have escaped the human eye to this day, and lots of specimen stored in collections waiting to be described and classified. ... Diversity 111 families Families see table The Araneae are an order of the arthropod class Arachnida with about 40,000 described species, although there are probably many species that have escaped the human eye to this day, and lots of specimen stored in collections waiting to be described and classified. ... The Araneomorphae, previously called the Labidognatha, are a suborder of spiders. ... The Liphistiidae are the most primitive living spiders, placed in their own suborder, called the Mesothelae. ... Families Antrodiaetidae (folding trapdoor spider) Atypidae (atypical tarantula) Ctenizidae (trapdoor spider) Cyrtaucheniidae (wafer trapdoor spider) Dipluridae (funnel-web tarantula) Hexathelidae (venomous funnel-web tarantula) Mecicobothriidae (dwarf tarantulas) Theraphosidae (tarantula) The Mygalomorphae, (also called the Orthognatha), are an infraorder of spiders. ... Diversity 111 families, 40,000 species Suborders Mesothelae Mygalomorphae Araneomorphae  See table of families Wikispecies has information related to: Spiders A South American Argiope Spiders are predatory invertebrate animals with two body segments, eight legs, no chewing mouth parts and no wings. ... Spider anatomy: (1) four pairs of legs (2) cephalothorax (3) opisthosoma The anatomy of spiders is in some aspects similar, but also different from that of other arthropods. ... An insect leg The arthropod leg is a form of jointed appendage of arthropods, usually used for walking. ... A book lung is a type of respiration organ used for atmospheric gas exchange and is found in arachnids, such as scorpions and spiders. ... The cephalothorax is an anatomical term used of arachnid and malacostracan arthropods for the first major body section. ... Types of chelicerae: jackknife (in green), scissor (in blue) and 3-segmented chelate (in red) The Chelicerae are mouth parts of the Chelicerata, an arthropod subphylum that includes arachnids, Merostomata (horseshoe crabs), and Pycnogonida (sea spiders). ... The Cheliceral fang of a spider is so called because the chelicerae of spiders consist of two parts, one containing all or part of the glands that produce the spiders venom and the other part a kind of organic hypodermic needle through which the venom is injected into prey... A cribellum is a kind of comb-like device in certain spiders, used to separate fibers of silk drawn from its spinnerets into many extremely fine fibers, giving it a wooly structure. ... The epigyne or epigynum is the female genital opening in spiders. ... Exuvia of an Antarctic krill. ... The opisthosoma is the posterior portion of the arachnids body behind the prosoma. ... Thelyphonida, in dorsal view, with pedipalps highlighted in green Pedipalps, the second pair of appendages of the cephalothorax in Arachnida, is homologous with mandibles in Crustacea, and corresponding to the mandibles of insects. ... Scopula pads (pl. ... Spider silk is a fibre secreted by spiders. ... A spinneret is a spiders silk spinning organ. ... This article belongs in one or more categories. ... Spiders web redirects here. ... Argiope trifasciata Web decorations, sometimes termed stabilimenta, are conspicuous silk structures included in their webs by many species of orb-web spider. ... For other uses, see Arachnophobia (disambiguation). ... Precolumbian spider image from a conch shell gorget at the Great Mound at Spiro, Oklahoma. ... Fighting spider Used matchbox serves as stable for fighting spiders in between derbies Spider fighting (pahibag sang damang in Hiligaynon) is a popular blood sport among rural Filipino children. ... Spiders web redirects here. ... An experiment into spider webs in space was conducted in 1973 aboard Skylab involving two spiders called Arabella and Anita, two females of the cross variety. ...

  Results from FactBites:
 
Spider Bites (617 words)
Most spiders found in the United States are harmless, with the exception of the fl widow and the brown recluse spiders (sometimes called the violin spider).
A fl widow spider is a small, shiny, fl, button-shaped spider with a red hourglass mark on its abdomen, and prefers warm climates.
Black widow spider bites release a toxin that can cause damage to the nervous system, thus emergency medical treatment is necessary.
Spider Bites- Health Encyclopedia and Reference (697 words)
A spider bite is the puncture wound produced by the bite of a spider - an arachnid related to ticks and mites.
Spider bites are rare but can be very serious.
This spider is glossy fl with a body of approximately one-half inch in diameter, a leg span of about two inches, and a characteristic red hourglass mark on the abdomen.
  More results at FactBites »


 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.