Brown spider. Brown recluse spider (lat. Loxosceles reclusa). White karakurt - Latrodectus pallidus

The brown recluse spider, whose Latin name is Loxosceles reclusa, is a highly venomous arthropod.

The consequences of its bite can be extremely dangerous for human health. In this article, we will look at what a hermit spider looks like, what threatens its bite, and how to help the victim of its poison.

Appearance and dimensions

Recognizing a recluse spider is relatively easy:

1. Despite the name, the body of Loxosceles reclusa is not always brown in color - it is gray or brown-yellow. The females of this species are slightly larger than the males.
2. Representatives of this species of spiders have an unusual mark - a brown spot in the form of a violin. This is a feature of adult hermits, but sometimes it is also present in younger individuals.

   Did you know? Arachnophobia is the fear of representativessquad of spiders. This phobia is one of the most common in the world and affects approximately 10% of men and 50% of women. The severity of the phobia can vary in one direction or another.

3. A clear difference between the brown hermit and other arachnoids is the number of eyes. He has only three pairs of them, while other spiders have four, that is, 8 pieces.
4. In a calm state, the paws of the hermit are placed on the sides of the body, but in case of alarm, he immediately becomes in a protective position: he pulls his front legs under him, raises the pedipalps and straightens his hind limbs.
5. The dorsal coloration of adult Loxosceles reclusa ranges from tan to dark brown.
6. The belly and legs are evenly colored, without stripes or spots. The legs are long and thin, without noticeable spines. The abdomen is covered with fine, short hairs that, when viewed without magnification under a microscope, may appear as soft fur.
7. The joints of the limbs are slightly lighter in color than the legs.

Where does it live

Loxosceles can be found almost all over the world in warm, tropical regions. This species is distributed in some areas of the United States of America (Southern California, Colorado, New Mexico).

The appearance of these spiders in other countries can happen by accident - they are transported along with cargo by air or across the ocean. In Russia and Ukraine, they have not yet been seen. In nature, brown recluse spiders live outdoors under rocks, logs, and wood debris.

The spider can also live in the same room with people. Hermits are resilient enough to temperature extremes to endure winters in unheated basements or suffocating summer heat in attics, going months without food or water.

During the daytime, brown recluse spiders usually hide in dark, secluded places, living up to their nickname. Adult females rarely travel far from their hiding place, while males and young females are more mobile and prone to long-distance travel.

Video: about the hermit spider It is they who often get into shoes, clothes or bed at night and bite people when there is an accidental contact between a spider and a person.

Occasionally, Loxosceles reclusa can be seen during the daytime moving on floors, walls and other open surfaces. This behavior may be caused by hunger, pesticide use, or other factors.

How it hunts and what it eats

Loxosceles reclusa hunts at night for insects. It does not use a web to capture prey - webs on walls, ceilings, bushes, or trees almost always belong to harmless spiders.

Their presence in the house is also unpleasant for many people, but these spiders also prey on brown recluses, thereby bringing benefits.

Loxosceles reclusa is a medium-sized spider, does not produce hunting nets, so it hunts prey in the classical way: it catches up, attacks, injects poison and immobilizes, killing the victim with poison.
The poison of the brown hermit is deadly to insects - it is a very toxic substance, the nature of which is not fully understood. Loxosceles reclusa hunts only for small insects, whose sizes are much smaller than its own.

Did you know? With the exception of one family (Uloboridae), all spiders are venomous. They use venom to forage for food and when they bite their prey, they constrict the venom glands, sending the venom through their fangs into the victim's body. Spider venom paralyzes prey.

reproduction

Spiders lay their eggs on a bed of silk, which they prepare immediately after mating. As soon as the laying is finished, the female covers it with a large amount of cobwebs, which makes the cocoon dense and waterproof. Cocoons look like whitish rounded bags, the size of which does not exceed 7–8 mm.

Each cocoon contains about 40–50 eggs. After hatching, little spiderlings grow, gradually increasing in size, going through a molt five to eight times as they mature before reaching sexual maturity.
Loxosceles reclusa become adults about a year after birth, live from 2 to 4 years. Females lay up to 5 egg cocoons during their lifetime. The levels of infestation by these spiders in homes vary greatly, from the presence of one or a few specimens to several hundred.

Consequences and help with a bite

Like other spiders, the brown recluse is not aggressive. The bulk of accidents occur if a person accidentally crushes a spider and the arachnoid comes into contact with bare skin.

Some people may be bitten in bed, other bites occur when moving things and pieces of furniture, or when a person puts on clothes that the spider has recently chosen for its daytime shelter.

Loxosceles reclusa have very small mandibles and cannot bite a person through clothing. Initially, the bite is painless. Often the victim is not aware of the bite until after 3-8 hours the bitten area becomes reddened and swollen.
Most spider bites remain localized, with recovery occurring in 3 weeks without major complications or the need for medical attention.

In other cases, the victim may develop a necrotic lesion that appears as a dry bluish patch on the skin, with jagged edges, a pale center, and peripheral redness.

Often there is an ulcer inside the lesion. As the venom continues to destroy tissue, the wound may enlarge over several days or weeks.

In the case of the onset of subcutaneous fat necrosis, healing may take up to three years. Complications include local nerve injury and secondary infection. A necrotic ulcer leaves a deep scar after healing.

Often, bites in the early stages (in the first 72 hours) cause people to:

• fever
• chills;
• dizziness;
• rash;
• vomiting;
• weakness;
• headache;
• myalgia;
• arthralgia;
• maculopapular rash and leukocytosis.

Sometimes hemolytic anemia, hemoglobinuria and kidney failure develop, which can lead to death of a person. The wound must be washed, a sterile bandage and a cold compress applied.

Important!Severe reactions to Loxosceles reclusa venom are more common in children, the elderly, and patients in poor health.

The affected limb should be immobilized, it should be given an elevated position, if necessary, analgesics and antibiotics should be administered. Serum against spider poisoning is effective, but not allowed in all countries for use. The drug can be used only after the removal of inflammation.

Difficulties in diagnosis

Spider bites are difficult to diagnose even for doctors. It is especially difficult to do this, relying only on the appearance of the wound.

Outwardly, a necrotic wound is very similar to the consequences of other diseases:

• bacterial and fungal infections;
• gangrene;
• diabetic or peptic ulcer;
• an outbreak of the bacterial infectious disease Staphyloccus aureus.

Spiders (arachnids) are silent killers, causing instant death of their victim in the event of an attack. Patient and prudent arachnids (all spiders belong to this class) weave trapping murderous nets from invisible sticky threads. Up to 30 thousand species of spiders are known. They live next to a person - in the house, forests, fields, reservoirs. And, of course, a spider bite is not uncommon, especially if a person is in the habitats of spiders.

All spiders are poisonous. Poison glands are located on two head appendages - chelicerae. They need poison to kill and digest the victim. The main prey is insects. In some tropical spiders, the net reaches 2 m in diameter and can even interrupt the flight of a small bird. They feed on frogs, mice, small birds, fish, and even their brethren - cannibalism among spiders is quite common. Most spiders are not capable of causing significant harm to humans. Although the poison is strong, its small amount and underdeveloped injection mechanism limit the number of species dangerous to humans. For people, only those that can pierce the skin are dangerous. The most common species include karakurt (black widow), tarantula, scorpion, hermit spider, cross spider, tarantula spider, house spider.

spider bite the next day

Most spider bites share common characteristics such as a small blister in the middle, swelling and swelling surrounding the bite site, and a large circle of redness. On the outside of the bite, the redness is paler. It's important to note that a spider can only bite once, so if you have multiple bites, it's likely that the spider didn't bite, but someone else, or several spiders at once. A typical spider bite resolves within a few days and, in most cases, does not require special attention.
However, if the bite site looks different - a large bubble appears, bright redness spreads quickly to the sides, blueing of large areas of the skin - these are serious signs that you need to respond to immediately and go to a medical facility urgently.
In the photo you can see the differences - what a bite of a safe spider looks like and a bite that is dangerous to health.

What to do if bitten by a spider

1. First of all, don't panic! Although all spiders look scary, there are only about 12 species whose bite has a serious effect on humans or animals. The two most dangerous are the black widow spider and the brown recluse.
2. Check the wound. After the bite, pay attention to the bite site for redness, swelling, and burning pain. There may be abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, fever, dizziness. The most dangerous reactions are shortness of breath and shock. If there is anything more than just a bite mark, slight redness and pain, you need to call an ambulance or see a doctor.
3. Spider identification - if it is possible and safe to do so. Some spider bites require serious treatment, including antitoxins. If you are unable to identify the spider, this will be helpful in determining the appropriate treatment. It will help a lot if you can catch the spider in a jar or box (just remember about safety). Or at least take a picture of him and show the photo to the doctor.

First aid for a spider bite

1. To reduce blood flow in the affected area, it is necessary to fix the arm or leg with a belt or scarf - as in a fracture. This will prevent the poison from spreading rapidly into the bloodstream and spreading throughout the body.
2. Wash the bite with soap and water. Whether the spider is harmless or poisonous, rinse thoroughly as soon as possible. Even an ordinary spider can infect a wound when bitten.
3. Apply a cold compress or ice to the bite site.
4. Drink plenty of fluids - this will ensure that the poison is quickly eliminated through the kidneys.
5. Take a pain reliever such as analgin or ibuprofen.
6. As well as an antihistamine drug that will reduce allergic symptoms - itching, burning, rash.

If you suspect you've been bitten by a venomous spider, you can put a tight bandage over the bite if it's on an arm or leg, making sure you haven't completely cut off the circulation.

The goal is to slow the spread of the poison, not stop blood flow to the limbs. If the bite is on another part of the body, apply cold and get to a medical facility immediately. Hospitalization is required for most of these types of bites.

recluse spider bite

One of the four spiders whose bite is dangerous to humans is the recluse spider. The brown recluse is generally not aggressive and generally bites people as a defense mechanism, usually when a person's leg or hand is accidentally brought too close.

The brown recluse has a clear violin pattern on its back in the middle part of the body - pictured.

Recluse spider venom contains powerful cytotoxins and hemolytic enzymes that destroy red blood cells. Although the sting is usually not painful at first, there is a burning sensation similar to a bee sting during the first few minutes after the sting.
A small white blister may also appear at the site of the bite.

Additional symptoms usually develop two to eight hours after a recluse spider bite. Sometimes it takes up to 12 hours before bite symptoms develop. Signs:

• severe pain at the bite site
• severe itching
• nausea
• vomit
• fever
• muscle pain

local symptoms

Initially, you can see slight signs of redness at the site of the spider bite.

In most cases, after the skin at the site of the bite hardens, the formation of scar tissue can take several days. More severe local reactions also occur and can cause blistering, discoloration of the skin, and necrosis of the skin area.

Treatment

Because The reaction to the bite of a hermit spider can be sudden and severe, it is necessary to contact specialists for treatment. A visit to the doctor should not be delayed until symptoms appear, see a doctor as soon as possible.
If possible, capture the spider and bring it to a doctor or emergency room for evaluation.

There are no known antidotes for brown recluse stings, so a doctor may prescribe pain relievers, antihistamines to relieve itching, or recommend ice packs to reduce pain and swelling.

spider bite

The cross is a small creature harmless to humans that lives quietly, preying on insects that fall into their nets. The sharp poisonous fangs of the cross are primarily a hunting tool and serve as a defense against other spiders. The victim, falling into a trap, is quickly paralyzed by poison, and then the spider devours it.
The cross spider looks quite harmless - it is distinguished by its characteristic pattern of a cross on its back. The color varies from green to gray, depending on the habitat. The cross is very common - it lives almost everywhere.

A human bite can only be accidental. Their teeth are unable to cut through hard skin, but thinner areas of the body are not a problem. Most often, this situation can occur during a walk in the forest, picking mushrooms or trips. Crosses grow quickly and at the end of summer they can grow to an impressive size.

They stretch webs between trees at the height of a human face. An inattentive mushroom picker gets into the net being laid and completely destroys it. Then the insect willy-nilly tries to escape or hides under the clothes. At the moment, we can inadvertently pin down an insect and that's when the spider bites.

Sometimes these situations occur during sleep. Spiders are nocturnal creatures and often move in search of good hunting grounds. A sleeping person, feeling a slight tingling on the body, instinctively trying to scratch, crushes it, exposing himself to a bite. Erythema or swelling may occur on the body in the spider bite area. Usually these symptoms go away on their own.

The poison of the cross does not cause any harm to a person. However, people who are allergic and sensitive to spider toxins should consult a doctor.

tarantula bite

The bite of a tarantula (Lycosa, Theraphosidae) is not dangerous to humans, but may be accompanied by pain and swelling. After being bitten, the animal performs a defensive maneuver, shedding hairs from its abdomen. Fine hairs, falling into the eyes and on the skin, cause pain and an urticarial rash. A variation of the tarantula is the tarantula spider.

The bite of a tarantula spider

There are 400 species of tarantulas of different colors. Cobalt blue to gray or dark brown, sometimes black. The tarantula reaches sizes from 9-10 to 17-23 cm, although its body is no more than 10 cm. The rest falls on the legs.
Tarantulas live a very long time - from 25 to 40 years, but this depends on the sex of the spider. He is one of the most terrible spiders (outwardly) - his weight is 80 grams! The tarantula does not weave a web like other spiders, but pursues its prey with its long legs and paralyzes it with poison. It feeds on small insects - grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, even small lizards.

Incredibly, the spider has eight eyes - two in front and two each on the left, right side and back! They usually dig holes in the ground and build a house there.

Tarantulas are venomous, but most types of venom are not strong enough to seriously harm someone.

The bite of a tarantula can be compared to the stings of a wasp or a bee. In most cases, it is harmless, although an allergic person may react like a bee sting.
Recently, some began to start a tarantula spider as a pet. A human bite can happen through negligence when trying to escape a spider from a terrarium.
First aid for a tarantula bite is no different from other bites - you should consult a doctor if there is an allergy or signs of infection of the wound.

Karakurt bite

Karakurt (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) - a poisonous spider, lives in Moldova, Crimea, Central Asia. For humans, females are dangerous, which have a pair of tubular poisonous glands located on the upper jaw. The poisonous segment (chelicer) ends in a movable sharp claw with an opening for the duct of the poisonous gland. The female has a spherical dense black abdomen with reddish spots. The length of the karakurt is about 10 mm.

Symptoms of poisoning with karakurt poison

After a bite, a small, quickly disappearing speck forms. After 10-20 minutes, severe pain develops at the site of the lesion, which spreads to the abdomen, lower back, and chest. Observe strong mental agitation, headache, dizziness, suffocation, nausea, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, cyanosis, tachycardia, arrhythmia. There may be severe salivation. Respiratory arrest is possible.

Black widow bite

The black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) lives in the United States. The females of this species are very large: the paw span reaches 5 cm, and the body length is 1.5 cm. There is a red hourglass pattern on the black back.

Males are smaller, with a white mark on the back, the small size of the poisonous apparatus and mild aggressiveness make them practically harmless to humans. When disturbed, they fall to the ground, tuck their paws in and pretend to be dead. Black widow females are poisonous from the moment they are born. If they guard the laid eggs or feel imminent danger, they prefer to attack. Spiders use their venom to paralyze prey, from which they then suck out the hemolymph.

The period of postcopulatory passivity of the female allows the male to escape from the partner if she is not very hungry. If the female is hungry, then after mating she eats her "wife", which is why she is called a "widow".

Karakurt poison is a protein with a molecular weight of 130,000. Under the action of the poison, ion channels are formed in the presynaptic membranes of nerve cells, through which Ca 2++ ions enter the cell. Under the influence of the toxin, exocytosis of synaptic vesicles is facilitated and the release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), norepinephrine, and acetylcholine is enhanced.

Changes in intracellular homeostasis and an increase in the content of biologically active substances in the blood affect the functional state of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

In case of poisoning with karakurt poison, clinical manifestations develop within 30 minutes. The victim usually feels the sting and describes it as a "puncture". Severe pain is noted in the spider bite area, erythema and increased local sweating gradually increase.

Bite karakurt degree

When bitten by a black widow, there are three degrees of severity of the disease.

• I degree; moderate soreness at the site of the bite, there are no general clinical manifestations of intoxication, all laboratory parameters are normal.
• II degree: muscle pain in the bitten limb. Spread of pain to the abdomen when a leg is bitten or to the chest when a hand is bitten. Profuse sweating at the site of the bite. Vital signs are normal.
• III degree: generalized muscle pain in the back, chest, abdomen. Strong mental excitement. Headache, dizziness, suffocation, nausea, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, cyanosis, arterial hypertension, tachycardia, arrhythmia. General profuse sweating. Strong salivation. Respiratory arrest is possible. In blood tests, an increase in the content of creatine phosphokinase (CPK), leukocytosis, proteinuria is noted. In the absence of treatment, the maximum severity of symptoms lasts for 12 hours, the duration of intoxication is 48-72 hours.

in the photo on the left - a bite at the beginning, on the right - on day 3

Muscle spasms and tension in the musculature of the anterior abdominal wall sometimes lead to an erroneous diagnosis of peritonitis and the performance of unnecessary laparoscopy.

scorpion sting

The scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) is a venomous spider that is widespread throughout the world. In Russia, lives in the southern latitudes. A feature of the structure of the scorpion, unlike other arthropods, is the presence of pedipalps with claws, at the end of the abdomen there is a curved sharp sting, where the duct of poisonous glands opens. The most dangerous is the black scorpion, its size is 50-100 mm.

Scorpion venom binds to sodium channels in cell membranes, causing reactivation of neurons. This is accompanied by an elongation of the neuronal action potential in the synapses of the autonomic nervous system, which leads to an increase in the content of catecholamines, renin and aldosterone in the blood.

Symptoms of poisoning from a scorpion sting

The bite causes severe pain, which quickly spreads along the nerve trunks. The victim screams in pain, severe weakness develops, convulsions of individual muscle groups occur, blood pressure rises, the body is covered with cold sticky sweat. An urticaria rash appears in the bite area. In severe cases, motor excitation develops, arterial hypertension turns into hypotension, tachyarrhythmia, ventricular extrasystoles, vomiting, profuse sweating, priapism, salivation occur.

There is a growing visual impairment, ptosis, involuntary contractions of the muscles of the tongue, speech becomes slurred. Within 2-3 hours after the introduction of poison into the body, breathing is disturbed, pulmonary edema develops. Death occurs with symptoms of increasing acute cardiovascular and respiratory failure.

When assessing the degree of toxicity of arthropod venom, the following was noted:

Spider bite treatment

To reduce the spread of poison from the bite site throughout the body, immobilization of the limb is indicated. Pain is relieved by novocaine blockade, painkillers are administered: non-narcotic and narcotic analgesics. Cold is applied to the bite area.

Hormones, antihistamines are administered: H1 receptor blockers (promethazine (diprazine), chloropyramine (suprastin), etc. and H2 receptors (cimetidine, ranitidine (acylok), etc.), vitamins. Benzodiazepines are prescribed when excited. Serum In severe cases, equine immunoglobulin (IgG) is administered.Antitoxin (from horse serum) prevents the venom from binding to presynaptic membranes and remains effective even 46 hours after the bite.

With a scorpion sting, Ca-channel blockers, ACE inhibitors are prescribed. Propranolol (anaprilin) ​​effectively and quickly stops tachyarrhythmia, but does not improve hemodynamic parameters. With respiratory depression, oxygen is supplied, with the development of acute respiratory failure, artificial lung ventilation (ALV) is performed.

Gardeners, summer residents, tourists and travelers often encounter representatives of arachnids - spiders that hide in old pantries, in dry grass, in tree crevices. By accidentally disturbing their habitat, you can provoke a bite. Spider venom can cause local swelling and pain, a severe allergic reaction, and in the event of an attack by a hermit or karakurt, general intoxication of the body and even death. How to determine the degree of damage and what to do if bitten by a spider?

How dangerous is a spider bite

Spiders are predatory insects, each of them can be called poisonous, since the poison helps them defend themselves and get their own food.

The poison of a large spider can cause serious damage to health, while small representatives of arthropods, as a rule, do not pose a danger. Due to their size, they are not able to damage the skin, and the dose of their poison will not be enough for a person to feel its effect on the body.

Among the dangerous spiders, the following types are most common:

1. Karakurt (black widow) - lives in the forest-steppe zone, on the slopes of rocky ravines, in fields and wastelands. Likes dry sheds and cellars. It is found in the countries of Central Asia, in Kyrgyzstan, in the south of Europe and Russia. The body of the karakurt is smooth, black, without hairline, relatively small. A distinctive feature is the characteristic red-orange spots on the back. This representative of arthropods is deadly. The venom of the female karakurt is extremely toxic, its components cause pathological changes in soft tissues and have a neurotoxic effect, followed by paralysis of the nervous system. The black widow poses the greatest danger to children, pregnant women and the elderly, a fatal outcome is likely in patients with severe concomitant diseases. A bite to the face, neck or lip can cause severe swelling of the mucous membranes, which is fraught with serious complications.
2. Brown Recluse - It can be found in tree roots, under rocks, in basements and garages, behind furniture and baseboards. There are representatives of this species in the United States of America. The body of the hermit is not always brown, there are yellow and even gray ones. Their distinguishing feature is the pattern on the back in the form of a violin. Such spiders do not show aggression towards humans, however, if you accidentally disturb its habitat, the insect will begin to defend itself. The danger of the poison lies in its hemolytic effect - it causes soft tissue necrosis with penetration into the internal organs.
3. Yellow spider Sak - weaves web bags under stones and logs. Lives in most European countries. Despite its small size, its bite is extremely dangerous, as it causes tissue death at the injection site.
4. Brazilian wandering spider - does not weave a web, hides in crevices, under logs and stones, as well as in fruit boxes and in people's dwellings (including old blankets). Found in the southern regions of America. Poison can provoke a severe allergic reaction. And in a fragile child's body will cause severe consequences (up to death).
5. Birdeater - lives in the crowns of trees, shrubs and in burrows. Found in Africa, South America, Italy and Spain. All its subspecies are poisonous, but the degree of toxicity of their poison is very small.
   

   Tarantulas are often kept at home as exotic pets.

6. Steatoda - lives in forests, in crevices of trees and in hollows. It is a close relative of karakurt, found in Asia, Europe and America. It has a black or dark brown color with characteristic light spots on the back. Attacks a person rarely, only in case of self-defense. The venom contains neurotoxins that can cause partial paralysis.
7. Tarantula - found in the steppe, desert and other arid places, as well as in the forest-steppe zone. Found in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Russia. Tarantula venom does not have a lethal effect, despite the fact that this spider is considered one of the largest representatives of arachnids. With a bite, violations of the nervous and cardiovascular systems are possible.

Black widow, tarantula, steatoda, tarantula, Sak, Brazilian wanderer and other poisonous spider species - photo gallery

Tarantula
Steatoda
tarantula
Yellow spider Sak
Brazilian wandering spider
brown recluse spider
Karakurt, or Black Widow

Non-dangerous spiders include:

• common cross - it is distributed throughout the world, its bites do not harm a person;
• house spider - live in the crevices of windows and walls, indoors, their bites do not cause severe intoxication of the body;
• an ordinary horse - they are found in gardens and summer cottages, they like to bask in the sun and are not at all dangerous for humans;
• flower side walker - live in flowers and feed on insects, cases of human bites are not described;
• knitter spider - they build cobwebs near the water, they do not pose a danger to humans.

Brownie, cross and other spiders harmless to humans - photo gallery

flower sidewalk
Spider knitter
spider
brown house spider
Common cross

Consequences and manifestations of a bite

Suspecting a bite, first of all, one should try to determine whether it was inflicted by a spider and what kind of arthropod could attack.

Local clinical manifestations have certain similarities regardless of the type of spider. They are presented:

• pain of varying degrees of intensity;
• severe redness of the skin;
• swelling, burning and itching in the area of ​​​​the bite.

Initially, only the bites of the hermit spider are painless, swelling and itching appear only on the second day, after which an ulcer and a black scab (spot) form in the damaged area.

Other characteristic symptoms of a spider bite include:

• rash on the body;
• rise in temperature to critical levels;
• intense headaches until loss of consciousness;
• increased heart rate and heart rate, jumps in blood pressure;
• muscle spasms and even cramps;
• general weakness with increased sweating;
• ache in the joints;
• nausea and vomiting;
• anxiety, overexcitation and delirium;
• uncharacteristic color of urine;
• pain in the abdomen and chest.

Pain in the right side, as with appendicitis, with numbness of the bite area are characteristic of the attack of karakurt. A bluish puncture site surrounded by white and red rings is a sign of a recluse attack.

If you are allergic to spider venom, you may experience:

• swelling in the bite area;
• difficulty breathing up to suffocation;
• dizziness;
• loss of consciousness;
• anaphylactic shock.

The general morbid condition and local manifestations of intoxication persist for a week, after which a small scar remains at the site of injury, which becomes invisible over time. However, in the event of an attack by a dangerous poisonous spider, the skin in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe bite may become dead. Tissue necrosis is sometimes complicated by infection, as a result of which its length increases, and the healing process stretches for months.

Treatment

First aid at home

At the time of first aid, as well as with the bites of non-dangerous spiders, you can alleviate the effects of intoxication at home. For this, the following algorithm of action is provided:

1. In order not to bring an infection into the wound, the bite site must be washed with running water and soap, and then lubricated with an antiseptic solution.
2. In order for the poison, along with the blood, to be more slowly transferred throughout the body, the bitten limb (leg / arm) should be fixed and immobilized. It is strictly forbidden to take a hot bath - heat, expanding blood vessels, will contribute to the spread of poison.
3. With the help of a pressure bandage, it is necessary to localize the site of the spread of the poison, pulling the damaged area just above the bite. In this case, the material must not be tightened too much, otherwise the general blood supply to the tissues will be disturbed.
4. Apply ice or any cold compress to the bite.
5. It is recommended to drink as much liquid as possible - this will speed up the elimination of toxins from the body.
6. With a slight allergy to spider venom, you can take an antihistamine, for example, Suprastin or Tavegil.

If a child or an elderly person has been bitten, or the condition of the victim is rapidly deteriorating, it is urgent to consult a surgeon. Immediate medical attention should also be resorted to when there is a suspicion that the attacker is a hermit spider or karakurt. Treatment in this case will be provided by the introduction of antivenom.

Relieve signs and symptoms

As part of the hospital, immediately after the attack of dangerous spiders, a specific serum is introduced for medicinal purposes to prevent severe intoxication of the body.

Further drug therapy depends on the degree of damage and the individual's response to a toxic poison. It may include treatment with the following drugs:

• calcium gluconate - an intravenous solution with mandatory cardiac monitoring will quickly relieve the patient of pain;
• glucocorticosteroids - hormonal agents will help in the treatment of a severe allergic reaction to the toxic spider venom;
• antihistamines of local and general action - ointments and tablets will reduce swelling, relieve itching and burning in the bite area;
• antibacterial ointments - necessary for the treatment of ulcerated areas.

With soft tissue necrosis, surgical intervention is indicated to excise the damaged area.

Folk remedies and homeopathy

Spider bites without severe complications can be treated with folk remedies. For example:

• parsley or tea tree juice will help relieve irritation and itching - a couple of drops to the puncture site;
• An infusion of crushed garlic with vinegar can reduce pain.

In homeopathy, there is a remedy - Latrodectus mactans, which can be taken as an adjunct to general detoxification therapy.

Precautionary measures

In most cases, spiders attack a person in self-defense, therefore, first of all, you should not provoke an insect into self-defense: you can’t pick them up, play with cobwebs, or stir up their home.

To avoid accidental encounters with arthropods, you can follow the following recommendations:

• when relaxing in nature, it is necessary to wear clothing that covers all parts of the body and use a headdress;
• before going to bed, you should carefully inspect the tent and use a special canopy that needs to be tucked under the bed;
• in dachas and gardens, it is recommended to carefully inspect clothes and shoes before putting them on;
• you can’t walk without shoes in forest glades and in the habitats of spiders;
• at home, it is better to use plastic containers for storing things, rather than cardboard boxes, which spiders can easily get into;
• the premises must be kept clean, in this case, spiders are less likely to hide;
• in dark corners, you can hang glue traps or apply an insecticidal spray, such as Bros aerosol to control spiders or Raid to instantly kill insects.

Brown recluse spider bite - video

To avoid a poisonous spider bite, you need to take precautions both at home and in nature. And if an attack occurs, you should immediately provide emergency assistance and, if necessary, consult a doctor.

Spiders are arthropods that belong to the arachnid class. Representatives of this class, today, there are about 40 thousand species. They differ from each other in the way of life, appearance, type of food. A wide variety of spider species are found in nature: the smallest and harmless spiders (0.37 mm), as well as the most dangerous spiders and even the most poisonous spiders in the world (up to 25 cm). And in this article we will tell you about several amazing and interesting species.

Spider tarantula - Theraphosidae

The tarantula spider is perhaps the largest spider in the world, or rather the family of tarantula spiders (Theraphosidae). Some members of this family can reach 30.5 cm in leg span, such as the king baboon, black and purple tarantula. The body of tarantulas is always densely covered with long and short hairs. The body color can be either gray-brown or bright colors (red, blue, red). Tarantulas live in countries with a hot climate (Africa, South America, Oceania, Australia). These spiders inhabit abandoned bird and rodent nests or burrow near tree trunks. Active mainly in the evening. Then they go hunting or catch a running prey nearby. Tarantulas feed on insects, small birds and rodents. These spiders breed in late summer. The female lays her eggs in a web cocoon, which she carries with her and does not lose sight of. They protect the offspring, so that the spiders that come out of the cocoon sit on the mother's abdomen for some time. But soon they begin to lead an independent life. The poison of the tarantula paralyzes the victim and decomposes its insides, then the spider sucks out the contents of the victim's body. For humans, the poison of the tarantula is not dangerous, but quite painful. The bite site bakes, hurts and swells, sometimes turns yellow. But these symptoms go away after a few weeks.

Spider spider - Araneus

Crosses are members of the Orb Weaver family (Araneidae). They belong to the contract reticulum spiders. They have an egg-shaped convex abdomen, on which there is a pattern in the form of a cross. Body color from gray to red. They are covered with long setae, sparsely located along the body and densely covered with short, fine hairs. The length of the body in the male is 10-11 mm, in the female - 17-40 mm. About 30 species of crosses live on the territory of the CIS and Russia. These spiders are active in the evening. They deftly weave a web, where many small insects come across. Mating and oviposition occurs in autumn. The female lays her eggs in a web cocoon and hides it under the bark or other secluded place. In the spring, spiderlings emerge from the cocoon. By the end of summer, a new generation of spiders grows up, and their mother dies. The cross spider is poisonous, but it is not dangerous for humans. His bite is painful, but the burning and swelling at the bite site disappears after a few hours.

Karakurt spider - Latrodectus tredecimguttatus

This is not a big black spider at all. The body of the female (10-20 mm) is completely black, from which she is also called the black widow, the body of the male (4-7 mm) is also black, but with bright red spots on the abdomen (usually 13 spots ). The karakurt spider lives in Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, in North Africa, Southern Europe, Kazakhstan, in southern Russia and Ukraine. They prefer the slopes of ravines, virgin sagebrush, wastelands, banks of ditches. Karakurts populate abandoned rodent burrows and ventilation systems, braiding the entrance with cobwebs. In such dens, females and males mate in late summer. The female lays her eggs in a cocoon of cobwebs and hangs it in her lair. In spring, spiderlings emerge from cocoons. Karakurt feed on small insects. Their venom is toxic to large animals and humans. There is burning and swelling at the site of the bite. After 10-15 minutes, the poison spreads throughout the body and the person experiences pain in the chest and abdomen. Dizziness, nausea, sweating, palpitations, delirium also occur. And if you do not provide medical assistance in time, a fatal outcome is possible (in most cases). Karakurt bites the skin only by 0.5 mm, therefore it is recommended to burn the bite site with a lit match within 2 minutes after the bite.

White karakurt - Latrodectus pallidus

Image of white karakurt

This is a white spider, with long legs and a round abdomen. The abdomen is white or milky, with 4 depressions. Legs and cephalothorax yellow or light brown. The white spider has a body 10-20 mm long. Females are larger than males. White spiders weave a web in the form of a cone, which is connected to a trapping net. They live in North Africa, the Middle East, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. The white karakurt spider is not aggressive, but its venom is toxic and can cause complications. Children and the elderly are most affected by the poison. Toxicological studies have shown that the venom of the white karakurt resembles the venom of the karakurt (Latrodectus tredecimtugattus). If you are bitten by this spider, you should consult a doctor.

Camel spider - Camel spider

The camel spider has many names: phalanxes, bihorks, salpugs, hairdressers, barbers, wind scorpion. Body (5-7 cm) slightly oblong, light and dark red, densely covered with long, fine hairs. The body shape of a camel spider is similar to a scorpion, especially with its chelicerae (pincers). With them, he is able to bite through a human nail and even small bones of birds. Also, with his chelicerae, he cuts hairs and feathers from his victims and puts them in his dwelling. The camel spider lives in the desert regions of Asia, Africa, America, and Europe. Phalanx spider nocturnal predator. It is practically omnivorous and carnivorous, feeding on various insects, rodents, lizards. The eyes of camel spiders are like those of scorpions: 2 compound eyes in the middle and one each on the sides of the cephalothorax. Compound eyes are highly responsive to movement, so these spiders are incredibly fast, up to 53 cm/s (1.9 km/h).
The camel spider is not venomous, but it has an incredibly painful bite. And also on its chelicerae, the remnants of the tissues of the previous victim can rot, which can cause serious inflammation.

Jumping spiders - Salticidae

Jumping spiders or jumping spiders are a family of araneomorphic spiders, which includes 610 genera and 5800 species. They live in tropical forests, deserts, semi-deserts, temperate forests and mountains. These are small spiders, up to 2 cm long. The body is pubescent. These spiders have well developed eyesight. They have 8 eyes, thanks to which they see 360º degrees. Jumping spiders differ among themselves in body shape, color and range. There are such types of jumping spiders:
- the golden horse spider lives in the southeast of Asian countries, and is characterized by a long abdominal part and a large first pair of legs. The body has a very peculiar golden coloration. The length of the male rarely exceeds 76 mm, and the females are larger;

- Himalayan jumping spiders are the smallest spiders. They live high above sea level, in the Himalayas, where their only prey is random small insects that are blown onto the mountain slopes by a strong wind;

- the green horse spider lives in New Guinea, New South Wales and Queensland. Often found in Western Australia. The male has a very bright color, and his body is decorated with long "whiskers" of white color;

- a red-backed species of a horse spider to settle in relatively dry areas. The red spider is often found on coastal dunes or oak woodlands in North America. These red spiders are unique in that they are able to build tubular-type silk nests under rocks and on the surface of vines;

- the Hyllus Diardi species has a body up to 1.3 cm long. Compared to other species of horse spiders, it does not weave a web, therefore, to catch prey, it attaches a silk thread to some support, and then jumps from such a kind of "bungee" to its sacrifice;

- the ant jumping spider looks very similar to an ant and is most often found in tropical zones from Africa to central Australia. Body color can vary from light yellow to black.

Jumping spiders are unique in that they can jump long distances (20 times their body size). Before jumping, they cling to the substrate with a web (thus securing their jump), then push their body out with their hind legs. Jumping spiders are absolutely harmless to humans. They have poison, but it does not affect humans, and their bite is almost painless.

Argiope Bruennichi or spider wasp - Argiope bruennichi

Argiope has a second name spider wasp, as the color of the body and the shape of the abdomen resembles a wasp. Body length 2-3 cm (leg span). The abdomen is elongated with bright stripes, the colors yellow, white, black predominate. The legs are long, thin, mostly in an X-shaped position. The wasp spider lives in Kazakhstan, Asia Minor, Central Asia, China, Korea, India and Japan, North Africa, South and Central Europe, in the Crimea, in the Caucasus. These spiders are also quite common in Russia. Argiope belongs to the family of orb-weaving spiders (Araneidae). It is typical for these spiders to weave a wheel-shaped web, and to have a stabilimentum (zigzag pattern) in the center. This is a forest spider. He very often settles on lawns, forests, gardens, in tall grass, between tree branches. The wasp spider feeds on various insects. Mating occurs after the female molts, while the integument of her body remains soft. The female lays her eggs in a large cocoon (outwardly resembling a seed box of plants) and places it next to the trapping web. Spiderlings emerge from the cocoon at the beginning of autumn and settle downwind on cobwebs. For humans, the wasp spider is not dangerous. Its venom may cause only slight redness, swelling and pain, but these symptoms pass very quickly.

Wolf spiders - Lycosidae

Wolf spiders are a family of araneomorphic spiders with 2367 species. The body color is usually gray-brown. The body is covered with small short hairs. Some species reach more than 3 cm (legspan). The wolf spider lives almost everywhere except Antarctica. He prefers moist forests, meadows, hiding under fallen leaves, stones, wood. They don't spin webs. These are earthen spiders, so they live in a hole, which is only covered with cobwebs inside. If this is a private sector, you can easily stumble upon it in the basement. If there is a garden nearby, it can easily get into your cellar. Active at night. The wolf spider preys on insects or catches those who run near its hole. This spider is a good jumper. He can jump on the victim, insuring himself with a cobweb. Mating takes place in summer. After mating, the female lays her eggs in a cocoon that she wears at the end of her abdomen. After 2-3 weeks, the spiderlings emerge from the cocoon and climb onto the abdomen of the mother's mother. So they sit until they learn to get their own food. The wolf spider is not dangerous to humans. Its sting is equivalent to a bee sting, which causes itching, swelling and redness, which quickly pass.

Harvest spiders - Pholcidae

This family contains about 1000 species of spiders. Harvest spiders have a small body and long thin legs. Body size 2-10 mm. Leg length reaches 50 mm. Body color grayish or reddish. Harvest spiders are ubiquitous. Some species live in people's homes. There they find warm and dry places, mostly near windows. They feed on small insects. These spiders weave a large web in a chaotic manner. The web is not sticky, but when the victim tries to get out of it, it becomes even more tangled. After mating, the females lay their eggs in a web cocoon, which they attach to the side of the trapping nets. For humans, spiders are absolutely harmless. Their venom is harmless and the bite cannot be felt.

Goliath tarantula - Theraphosa blondi

This giant spider is considered the largest in the world. The span of his legs reaches 30 cm. In Venezuela (1965), one of the representatives of this species was listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Its leg span was 28 cm. It is believed that the leg span of Heteropoda maxima is even longer, up to 35 cm. But this species has a small body and long thin legs. So he is small against the backdrop of a massive goliath.
The body of the goliath is light or dark brown in color, densely covered with short hairs. They live in burrows, the entrance of which is covered with cobwebs. This huge spider lives in the tropical forests of Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, northern Brazil. It feeds on various insects, rodents, frogs, lizards and even snakes. The life expectancy of females is 15-25 years, males - 3-6. These spiders are amazing in that they are able to make a hissing sound by rubbing their chelicerae; the ability to shake off the hairs from the abdomen in the face of the enemy, which cause swelling of the mucosa. Also, the goliath tarantula has large and sharp chelicerae (pincers), with which it can bite very painfully. Their poison is not dangerous for humans, the symptoms are the same as after a bee sting.

Runner Spider (Spider Soldier, Banana, Wandering Spider) – Phoneutria

The Brazilian runner spider is the most venomous spider in the world. The length of its body reaches 15 cm. The body is pubescent, gray-brown in color. It lives in Central and South America. The runner spider feeds on insects, frogs, lizards, small birds. Lives in burrows, under leafy litter. But very often secluded places in people's houses become his dwelling. It is often called banana due to the fact that it is often found in banana boxes. These scary spiders have an incredibly toxic venom that causes instant death, which is why they are the most poisonous spiders in the world. Their venom contains the neurotoxin PhTx3, which paralyzes all the muscles in the human body, causes suffocation, and then death. Only 2-6 hours pass between bite and death. Old people and children are most affected by the venom of the runner spider. To date, there is a vaccine that neutralizes the effect of the poison, therefore, in the event of a bite by a runner spider, it is urgent to consult a doctor.

As you can see, the representatives of arachnids are so different: some of them are pleasing to the eye, and at the sight of others, blood freezes in the veins, some can be picked up or taken at home as a pet, and some sow fear and bring instant death. Now you know which types of spiders are absolutely harmless, and which ones you need to stay away from. The good news is that dangerous species of spiders are not found in our area, but mainly in tropical countries. But you never know what can happen... Nature is absolutely unpredictable.

Brown recluse spider, aka Brown recluse (in Latin: Loxosceles reclusa), lives mainly in the southeastern United States.
Theoretically favorable for its habitat may also be the Mediterranean, Georgia and southern Russia - Sochi. Fortunately, this representative of arachnids has not been brought to us yet, but in view of the upcoming Olympics in Sochi, this representative of arachnids may also be with us, and global warming may contribute to the further advancement of this species further north. So it will not be a sin to get acquainted with this arachnid in more detail.
This spider became famous primarily for its bites. At one time, photographs of a bitten person were already published on the network.

Bite site brown recluse after 5 days

Bite site brown recluse after 6 days

Bite site brown recluse after 8 days

Bite site brown recluse after 10 days

Color Brown recluse brown. The head and thorax are black, somewhat reminiscent of a violin (sometimes it is called the "violin spider"). The size of this spider is small - up to one centimeter in length and half a centimeter in width. The females are slightly larger. Both sexes are venomous. The life span of an individual is one to two years. Clearly structured trapping nets are not weaved, usually managed with the help of random threads. They feed on caught insects (I wonder why they need such a strong poison then?).

Feels great in a human-modified environment. Likes shady places, found in abundance in basements, sheds, garages, attics, toilets, pipe systems, manholes. Spiders can take refuge in shoeboxes, shoes, under furniture, behind baseboards and paintings. In general, they are found where there is a tree and twilight.
The brown recluse is not aggressive. He usually bites people when they encroach on his life and territory. Most people get bitten due to carelessness and carelessness in the process of cleaning the premises. The spider bites some people right in bed, other people - when they put on shoes or clothes in which this representative of arachnids lurks.

The bite very often goes unnoticed, but in most cases the sensations are similar to those of a needle prick. Then within 2-8 hours the pain makes itself felt. Further, the situation develops depending on the amount of poison that has entered the bloodstream. In most cases, it still does not reach what is shown in the photo. The venom of the brown recluse spider is hemolytic, which means it causes necrosis and tissue destruction, which is very clearly seen in the photographs and video below. A bite for young children, elderly and sick people can be fatal.

When bitten, it is necessary in any way to slow down the spread of poison from the bite site (you can put ice on the bite site), treat the wound with antiseptics and go to the hospital (preferably bring the spider that bit you). Previously, treatment was carried out by removing damaged human tissue, now with the help of antibiotics and hormones. With timely treatment, serum is used.

To avoid getting bitten, you must follow these recommendations:

• shake shoes and clothes every time before putting them on;

• inspect the bed before going to bed;

• remove boxes and other rubbish from under the bed, and move the bed itself away from the wall.

Below are video clips showing the life and "tricks" of this inconspicuous spider.
This is how we run

Information video for residents of the southern United States, where this spider is found

Spider bite damaged palm

Nomad spider bite on the shoulder

Guy squeezing out pus and semi-decomposed tissue from the bite site on the chin

Girl bitten in the face by a hermit spider

One-year-old child bitten by a spider

Spider bite treatment process