Poisonous Spiders
A Quick Look At Poisonous Spiders
Poisonous spiders abound the world over, each species with his own set of behaviors, mating rituals, climactic tolerances, and degrees of venomous toxicity. The hundreds of species of tarantula, for instance, are all poisonous spiders, yet none of them is capable of killing a human being. With the exception of rare allergic reactions, victims of tarantula bites feel a hefty sting and a lengthy burning sensation at the injection site, but generally walk away unscathed.
The banana spider, whose name is actually the Brazilian Wandering Spider, tends to hide quietly in banana bunches and fares well during the shipment overseas to North America. Considerable research and chemical testing have placed the venom of these poisonous spiders at the highest degree of toxicity to humans. Even so, this spider has the distinct ability to bite without releasing venom, and statistics show that only 33% of banana spider bite victims are actually injected with it. Of this 33%, a reported 2% of humans are actually injected with enough venom to paralyze and kill the vital organs. This tells scientists that banana spiders, though quite aggressive, use their highly deadly venom on very few occasions, and that they can control the amount of venom released per bite.
Among the most common species of poisonous spiders are the widows, of which there are four strains indigenes to the southern regions of North America. The members of this spider family tend to be quite sizable, at 1 ½ inches of length with legs fully stretched at rest. The four species of this North American genus are the southern black widow, the northern black widow, the red widow, and the brown widow.
The northern and southern black widow widows differ from one another only by way of markings, with the latter species adorning red striped spots on the middle of his back, and the former having a red tipped abdomen. The under area of these species is similar as well, whereas the northern has two small hourglass shaped markings and the southern has only one hourglass marking of greater size.
Poisonous spiders falling into the recluse family are of a far larger genus known as loxosceles. The dreaded and much fabled brown recluse spider is actually considered to be the most rare, and as few as 20 specimens have been collected over a four decade period in California where they are thought to run rampant. The most prevailing feature of the recluse family are his eyes, of which he has six. This species is also known for his smooth legs, which lack the spines commonly found on all spiders. A recluse spider by any name is a venomous one just the same, and treatment should be sought quickly following a bite.