The Wrath of Spiders

Recently, I've heard that there was a poisonous spider at my local cinema, that bit a girl's hand, and later on, they cut A CHUNK OF HER HAND OFF. Now this person is at heart someone who likes to think hurting animals is cruel. That once watched a bizarre row of caterpillars all crawling across the road to their deaths and painstakingly picked each on up and lead them back to the safe side of the street (despite my efforts, they continued down the road, so I eventually gave up and left them to their suicidal tendencies). But spiders are the exception to my pacifist rule on animals. Can't stand them. Getting an itchy feeling at the back of my neck thinking about them. So here is my post on all the poisonous spiders out there so we all know where they are and how to stay away from them (unless of course, your local cinema has its false black widows lurking about!) 

Top Poisonous Spiders 

• The Brazilian Wandering Spider

Their Greek name Phoneutria actually means "murderess" - an indication of their deadly bite. Found in South American, they do not build webs but rather walk the jungle floor at night looking for prey. What makes them so dangerous is that they are nocturnal so find places to hide during the day - places that humans can easily disturb. When they defend themselves, they lift their body up on their hind legs in a defensive display.It is the world's most venomous spider.The venom itself causes extreme inflammation and pain, loss of muscle control and breathing problems that can lead to asphyxiation if not treated. It can also cause unwanted erections in men, leading scientists to test the venom in the hopes of using it as treatment for erectile dysfunction. And yes, I'm afraid they can come in to the UK and have done a few times through banana shipments. 

• The Australian Funnel Web Spider

Found in Australia in urban areas and forests. They burrow in sheltered sites under logs or rocks where they can find a cool and humid climate. They have a habit of crawling into gardens and falling into swimming pools where they can survive for hours and sometimes enter and become trapped in houses. Their venom attacks the nervous system but can be treated with antivenom.

• The Black Widow Spider

Found around North America and only 1.5 inches long, they are identified by their coloured hourglass shape on their abdomens. Its venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than a rattlesnakes. In humans, bites produce muscle aches, nausea, and a paralysis of the diaphragm that can make breathing difficult; however, contrary to popular belief, most people who are bitten suffer no serious damage—let alone death. But bites can be fatal, usually to small children, the elderly, or the infirm. Fortunately, fatalities are fairly rare; the spiders are nonaggressive and bite only in self-defense, such as when someone accidentally sits on them. Females sometimes kill and eat their counterparts after mating in a macabre behavior that gave the insect its name. Black widows are solitary year-round except during this violent mating ritual. To feed, black widows puncture their insect prey with their fangs and administer digestive enzymes to the corpses. By using these enzymes, and their gnashing fangs, the spiders liquefy their prey's bodies and suck up the resulting fluid.

• The Red Black Spider

Found in Australia, they will live almost anywhere as long as there is adequate food, a sheltered web site and warm enough for breeding.  They are especially common in disturbed and urban areas, in association with human habitation. Once the female has mated, she can store sperm and use it over a period of up to two years to lay several batches of eggs. Only the female bite is dangerous. The venom acts on the nerves, resulting in a release and depletion of neurotransmitters, causing pain, sweating, muscular weakness, nausea and vomiting.

• The Brown Recluse 

Found in south and central America, it is solitary in nature and often hides in dark, secluded places. It is part of the recluse (Loxosceles) genus of spiders. Members of this group are well known for their violin-shaped markings on the top of their cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) and may be casually referred to as fiddleback or violin spiders. Reactions to a brown recluse bite vary depending on the amount of venom injected and the individual’s sensitivity levels. Some people may experience a delayed reaction, others an immediate reaction, and others no reaction at all. Many brown recluse bites leave a small red mark that heals quickly, and the vast majority of bites do not leave scars. In severe reactions, the bite can create a 'volcano lesion'. 

• The Yellow Sac Spider

Found in North America, they are not always yellow but can span from yellow to tan to brown. They feed and prey at night, and during the day they retreat to silk nests. A new nest is built every day in under 10 minutes. They are infamous for their vertical travelling attached to a silk string in order to catch airborn prey. Their venom is cytotoxic and causes moderate pain and itching. Symptoms usually resolve itself in 7 to 10 days.   

• The Fringed Ornamental Tarantula

Found in Sri Lanka, they exhibit a beautiful intricate pattern and live in holes of large trees. Their prey consists of flying insects which they catch manually and paralyses. Their venom may cause intense pain and extreme muscle cramping but has never been recorded as fatal.  

• The Chinese Bird Spider

Found in China and Vietnam, it builds and lives in burrows up to several feet deep and emerges to capture prey. It preys on numerous insects and other creatures such as cockroaches. It is rather an aggressive species that will attack if disturbed. Its venom is frequently lethal in mice and rats.  

• The Mouse Spider

Found in Australia, they have distinctive heads bulbous and jaw regions. They create large, silken 'mouse' burrows' that can vary from 20 cm to 55 cm deep. It provides a refuge from predators and a safe place for the egg sac and spiderlings. The burrow's most unusual feature are the two surface trapdoors set at right angles to each other. The silk and soil trapdoors often merge well with the ground, making them hard to see. They may be thin and wafer-like or thick and plug-like. Having two doors probably increases both prey catching area and efficiency. They bite and their venom is similar to the funnel-web spider, and its antivenom makes it treatable. 

• The Six-Eyed Sand Spider

Found in deserts in southern Africa, they bury themselves in the ground and strike from ambush at prey that wanders too closely. Sand particles adhere to their cuticle on their abdomen and so works as camouflage. It has a poor sense of direction. The venom causes blood vessel leakage, thinning of the blood and tissue, and antivenom exists for it. However, its bites are uncommon.

Well, this post was harder than I thought it would be to write. I think I'm going to go and rock myself in a corner now. Thanks for reading!