The spider is a spiny orb weaver. Spiny orb weaving spider or horned spider Spiny spider

The spiny orb spider (Gasteracantha cancriformis) belongs to the class Arachnids.

Distribution of the spiny orb weaving spider.

The spiny orb weaving spider is found in many parts of the world. It is found in the southern United States from California to Florida, as well as Central America, Jamaica and Cuba.

Habitats of the spiny orb spider

They inhabit forested areas and bush gardens. Spiders are especially abundant in citrus groves in Florida. They are often found on trees or around trees and bushes.

External signs of a spiny spider - an orb weaver.

In spiny orb-weaving spiders, pronounced sexual dimorphism in size was observed. Females are 5 to 9 mm long and 10 to 13 mm wide. Males are 2 to 3 mm and slightly smaller in width. Six spines on the abdomen are present in all morphs, but color and shape are subject to geographic variability. Most spiders have white spots on the underside of their abdomen, but the coloration of the upper carapace can be red, orange or yellow. In addition, some spiny orb weaving spiders have colored legs.

Reproduction of the spiny spider - orb weaver.

Reproduction of spiny orb weaving spiders has been observed in captivity. Mating took place in laboratory conditions, where only one female and one male were present. It is assumed that a similar mating system occurs in nature. However, scientists are not sure whether these spiders are monogamous or polygamous.

Laboratory studies of mating behavior show that males visit a female's web and use a 4-fold rhythmic drumming call to attract the female spider.

After several cautious approaches, the male approaches the female and mates with her for 35 minutes or more. After mating, the male remains on the female’s web, and mating can be repeated.

The female lays 100 to 260 eggs in a cocoon, which is placed on the underside or upper side of the leaves next to the web. The cocoon has an oblong shape and is formed by loose, loosely fitting thin threads; it is firmly attached to the leaf blade using a special disk. On top, the cocoon is protected by another covering of several dozen coarse, hard, dark green threads. These threads form various longitudinal lines on the cocoon. After laying eggs, the female dies, the male dies even earlier, six days after mating.

Young spiders emerge from eggs and survive without the care of adults; they remain in place for several days to learn how to move. Then the spiders disperse in the spring, when they are already able to weave webs and lay eggs (females). Both males and females are able to reproduce between 2 and 5 weeks of age.

Spiny spiders - orb weavers - do not live long. The life span is short and lasts only until reproduction.

Behavior of the spiny orb weaving spider.

Reproduction of spiny spiders - orb weavers - occurs at the end of the year. Cobweb nets are built mainly by females every night; males usually hang on one of the cobweb threads near the female’s nest. The web trap hangs at a slight angle to the perpendicular line. The network itself consists of a base warp, which is formed by one vertical thread, it is connected to a second main line and radial threads.

The structure forms an angle formed by three main radii. Sometimes, a web has more than three main radii.

Having built the base, the spider begins to build a large outer radius, and then continues to attach secondary radii, which are attached in a spiral.

Females live solitarily in separate areas. Up to three males may hang on silken threads nearby. Females can be found at any time of the year, but are mostly found from October to January. Males are caught during October and November. Spider webs hang at a distance of 1 to 6 meters above the ground. They are active during the day, so these spiders easily collect prey at this time.

Diet of the spiny orb weaving spider.

Females build a web that they use to capture prey. They sit on the web with the outer side of the body turned downward, waiting for prey on the central disk. When a small insect or fly sticks to the web, the spider accurately determines the position of the victim and rushes to it to bite, then transfers it to the central disk, where it eats the prey.

If the prey is smaller than the spider, it simply paralyzes the caught insect and moves it to eat. If the prey is larger than the spider, then the victim is first wrapped in a web, and only then does it move to the central disk.

If several insects are caught in the net at once, the spiny orb weaving spider finds all the insects and paralyzes them. If the spider is well-fed, then the victims hang on the web for some time and are eaten later. The spiny orb weaving spider absorbs the liquid contents of its prey, the internal organs dissolving under the influence of the poison. Dry carcasses, covered with a chitinous shell, are thrown out of the net. There are often mummified remains lying around the web. The spiny orb spider eats whiteflies, beetles, moths and other small insects.

The spiny orb spider got its name due to the presence of spines on its back. These spines provide protection against attacks from predators. These spiders are very small and unnoticeable in the environment, which increases their chances of survival.

The karakurt spider is one of the most dangerous creatures on earth. Despite its small size and non-threatening appearance, the karakurt's venom is 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake and 50 times stronger than that of a tarantula. For a horse or camel, a karakurt bite is often fatal.

The karakurt spider is one of the most dangerous creatures on earth

Without prompt medical intervention and professional help, a meeting with a person can also result in death, although such cases are extremely rare. The black spider evokes mystical associations due to the presence of 13 bright red spots on the body and cannibal family traditions. Kalmyk shamans use a dangerous creature in some rituals. There is a common belief that karakurts live only in deserts and do not pose a danger to residents of the central and even southern steppe and forest regions, but this is not true. Recently, the migration of biting “robbers” to the north has been obvious, and climate warming has led to the fact that karakurts are recorded in regions where they have never been observed before.

The poisonous karakurt spider belongs to the order of spiders of the family of web spiders from the genus of black widows. Translated from the Turkic language, the name is literally translated as a black worm. The Latin name Latrodectus tredecimguttatus reflects the external characteristics - 13 points on the back and the essence of the spider (biting robber). What does the karakurt spider, which is sometimes called the steppe spider, look like? In terms of size, the spider belongs to the medium arachnids. The size of the male is 4-7 mm, the female karakurt is 2-3 times larger and can reach 20 mm. The body of the eight-legged spider is black, with a pronounced abdomen. Both males and females have red spots or dots on the upper side of the abdomen. On the lower part of the abdomen a clear scarlet pattern is visible, similar to the outline of an hourglass. The spot on the abdomen often has a snow-white halo. Adults (males) can be completely black. Karakurt is a predator; it feeds on insects, which it uses a web to catch.

Despite its small size and non-threatening appearance, the karakurt's venom is 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake and 50 times stronger than that of a tarantula.

White karakurt, also related to web spiders, has a white or yellowish color. There is no hourglass pattern or spots on the body, but there are 4 indentations forming a rectangle. White spiders are much less poisonous, their bite is not dangerous to people, although the venom of the white karakurt is similar in its toxicological properties and effects on the human body and animals to the venom of the black widow. White karakurts can be found in Russia and neighboring countries, but the main habitat is located further south - in North Africa, the Middle East, and also in Central Asia. Let's focus on the black widow karakurt as the most dangerous representative of the swindlers, which you can meet at domestic resorts.

Karakurts are distinguished by their fertility; in the southern regions there are periodic surges in the birth rate, which entail an increase in the number of casualties among people and loss of livestock. Poisonous spiders in Kazakhstan and Crimea attack dozens of people every year, but serious consequences occur extremely rarely. The female lays more than 1,000 eggs per year, which are placed in a protective cocoon. The newly born spiders continue to live inside the cocoon and emerge from there only next spring. Puberty occurs 2-3 months after the spiderlings leave their original home. Eggs are laid in holes on the ground or in rodent burrows. Fertilization occurs during the hottest months of summer. After mating, the female karakurt eats the male, although there are exceptions - for unknown reasons, the female can either destroy the male before mating or leave him alive after fertilization.

Gallery: karakurt spider (25 photos)

Black widow spider or karakurt (video)

Habitat and biological enemies

The zone of residence of the Karakurts covers the Crimea, southern Russia and Ukraine, the Astrakhan steppes, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. When migrating north, spiders reach the Saratov region, the Southern Urals and even the Moscow region, but they cannot settle in the northern regions; in winter the spiders die. For living, karakurts choose dry steppe areas and arable lands, wastelands, salt marshes, slopes of ravines, ditches, ruins of abandoned villages, cracks in adobe houses. The spider can also be found in populated areas, in summer cottages, and sometimes it penetrates into a person’s home. The peak of activity occurs during the fertilization period - June-August.

The natural enemies of karakurts are:

• sheep and goats, which are not affected by the karakurt bite;
• sphex wasps that inject their venom into spiders, which paralyzes them;
• insect riders that lay their eggs in karakurt cocoons;
• hedgehogs that are not vulnerable to spider attacks.

Flocks of sheep or herds of goats are used to trample down the nests of karakurts; the Crimean peninsula is thus cleared of poisonous creatures during periods of sharply increased reproduction or when clearing pastures for horses, cows and other livestock. During outbreaks of spider births, they can cause significant harm to livestock, so preventive measures are necessary.

Danger to humans

As a rule, males and young individuals do not pose a danger to humans, since they cannot bite through the skin with their weak jaws, although isolated cases of attacks are known. Adult females pose a danger, especially in July-August. You can distinguish the female by its color. Males have red spots with white rims, while females have no edging. Sometimes in females the red spots change to yellow stripes. Females have long legs up to 30 mm and are significantly larger than males.

The attack happens very quickly. Karakurt attacks only in self-defense. Nature has endowed the spider with such a strong poison so that it can capture the burrows of small rodents, which do not come into conflict with it and immediately vacate their territory. A predator can attack when it first seems to be in danger, so it is better to avoid contact with it. The difficulty in detecting danger lies in the fact that karakurts do not weave their net in the classical way. The threads are arranged horizontally, the web does not have a characteristic pattern and is chaotic. Attacks occur most often at night and on vacation, when you can accidentally crush the karakurt or disturb the web.

A spider bite is not painless, but it does not cause much concern. The bite site is marked with a small red spot, which disappears after a few minutes. After the poison has taken effect, the bitten person begins to experience severe pain in the damaged area. Specific psychological and physiological reactions arise.

In the first minutes and hours after the bite, poisoning is characterized by the following symptoms:

• strong mental agitation;
• feeling of fear of death, panic;
• spasms and suffocation;
• severe pain in the abdomen, chest and lower back;
• feeling that the legs are being taken away;
• bluish complexion;
• shallow breathing, dizziness;
• sometimes cramps of the arms and legs, tremors, vomiting;
• increased heart rate, arrhythmia;
• retention of urination and defecation;
• increased protein content in urine.

After the body’s initial reaction, a person experiences lethargy, apathy, weakness, depression, and sometimes delirium, but severe pain persists. After a few days, a red rash appears on the body. Death is possible in especially dangerous cases with general weakness of the body and lack of qualified medical care, especially if the victim has diseases of the cardiovascular system. If the course is favorable, recovery occurs within 3-4 weeks.

Beware of karakurt (video)

Treatment and prevention

The most elementary and well-known since ancient times method of treating a poisonous spider bite, supported by official medicine, is cauterization. The predator's venom is sensitive to heat and is destroyed when heated, losing its toxic properties. Therefore, immediately, within 2 minutes after the attack, the damaged area must be burned with a cigarette, match or other method. The spider does not have powerful jaws, the bite depth does not exceed 0.5 mm, so immediate cauterization has a strong effect. In any case, you should contact a medical facility as soon as possible.

As special measures, anti-caracourt serum is used, which is administered intramuscularly. The serum relieves the main symptoms of poisoning, and recovery time is reduced to 3-4 days.

The disadvantage of this product is its high cost. In the absence of a special substance, the following is administered intravenously:

• novocaine;
• calcium chloride;
• magnesium hydrogen sulfate.
• 33% ethyl alcohol;
• 2-3% solution of potassium permanganate.

The victim must be given water, rubbed with alcohol, and enemas are recommended. Universal remedies can be used as painkillers: Analgin, Diphenhydramine, Ketanol.

In cases of living in the territory inhabited by karakurts, it is necessary to be careful when cleaning residential premises, especially in adobe houses, and pay attention to the presence of cobwebs in personal areas. When going outdoors, you should follow certain rules:

• do not spend the night in the open air in habitats of poisonous spiders;
• do not come into contact with the inside of the tents;
• examine the place where you spend the night or rest, paying attention to holes and natural depressions in the ground, rodent burrows, and if there are any, cover them with earth;
• use covering clothing and wear a hat;
• periodically, and without fail before going to bed, carefully inspect the tent, sleeping places, clothes, shoes and other property;
• use the canopy, tucking it under the sleeping place;
• dig around the tent, making a shallow ditch;
• do not take off your shoes;
• If you find a karakurt, do not touch it; if the spider is on your clothes, shake it off or knock it down with a click.

To prevent the death of domestic animals, the soil is treated with hexachlorane and other poisons.

Attention, TODAY only!

Spiders live all over the globe, but in warm regions there are the most species. Almost all spiders are terrestrial animals. The exception is the silverback spider, which lives in water. A number of spider species hunt on the surface of the water. Some spiders build nests, shelters and burrows, while others do not have a permanent habitat. For the most part, spiders are nocturnal animals.

Description

Arachnida (Arachnida) is a class of arthropods that includes spiders, mites, scorpions and other lesser-known subtypes of chelicerates. Scientists estimate that more than 100,000 species of arachnids live on the planet today. Arachnids have two main body sections (the cephalothorax and abdomen) and four pairs of legs. Arachnids differ from insects in that they lack wings and antennae.

It should be noted that some orders of arachnids, for example, mites and ricinules, have only three pairs of legs in the larval stage, and the fourth appears in the nymphal stage. Arachnids have an exoskeleton that periodically moults to allow the animal to grow. In addition to four pairs of legs, they have two additional pairs of appendages (chelicerae and pedipalps), which they use for various purposes, such as feeding, defense, locomotion, reproduction, or sensing the environment. Most arachnid species are terrestrial animals, although some representatives (especially mites) live in fresh and sea water.

Internal construction

The internal structure of arachnids includes the nervous, respiratory, digestive, excretory, reproductive systems, special venom-bearing and spinning organs. The organization of the nervous system is relatively complex and varies among species. Its main feature is the abdominal nerve chain and the brain, which has anterior and posterior sections.

The respiratory organs are tracheas and pulmonary sacs in spiders; representatives of other orders may have only tracheas or exclusively pulmonary sacs, which open on the underside of the abdomen with respiratory openings. Tracheas are tubes that penetrate the body of the animal and are adapted for air gas exchange.

The digestive system consists of the esophagus, stomach and hindgut, ending in the cloaca. The ducts of the excretory Malpighian glands flow into the cloaca. All arachnids are dioecious, fertilization is internal, and development is direct. Most species are oviparous, only a few are viviparous. Many arachnids have venom glands and/or arachnoid glands. The latter release liquid, which is drawn into a thread and quickly hardens. Spiders build a fishing net from webs or line their burrows with it.

Types of spiders

Scientists have described more than 42,000 species of spiders. About 2,900 varieties are known in the CIS countries. Let's consider several varieties:

• Blue-green tarantula (lat. Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens)– one of the most spectacular and beautifully colored spiders. The tarantula's abdomen is red-orange, its limbs are bright blue, and its carapace is green. The size of the tarantula is 6-7 cm, with a leg span of up to 15 cm. The spider’s homeland is Venezuela, but this spider is found in Asian countries and on the African continent. Despite belonging to tarantulas, this type of spider does not bite, but only throws special hairs located on the abdomen, and only in case of severe danger. The hairs are not dangerous for humans, but they cause minor burns on the skin, similar in effect to nettle burns. Surprisingly, female chromatopelma are long-lived compared to males: the lifespan of a female spider is 10-12 years, while males live only 2-3 years.

• Flower spider (lat. Misumena vatia) belongs to the family of side-walking spiders (Thomisidae). Color varies from completely white to bright lemon, pink or greenish. Male spiders are small, 4-5 mm long, females reach sizes of 1-1.2 cm. The species of flower spiders is distributed throughout European territory (excluding Iceland), and is found in the USA, Japan, and Alaska. The spider lives in open areas with an abundance of flowering herbs, as it feeds on the juices of butterflies and bees caught in its “embraces.”

• Grammostola pulchra (lat. Grammostola Pulchra)- a type of tarantula spider that naturally lives only in Uruguay and the southern regions of Brazil. A rather massive spider, reaching a size of 8-11 cm, with a dark color and a characteristic “metallic” sheen of hairs. In nature, it prefers to live among the roots of plants, but almost never digs its own burrows. Pulhra often becomes a pet among connoisseurs of exotic pets.

• Argiope Brünnich or wasp spider (lat. Argiope bruennichi) – a spider with an unusual coloring of the body and limbs - yellow, black and white stripes, for which it received its name. True, the male wasp spiders are not so bright, and they are smaller in size than the females: the “young ladies” reach a size of 2.5 cm, and together with the legs - 4 cm, but the male rarely grows more than 7 mm in length. The species is widespread in Europe, Asia and southern Russia, the Volga region and North Africa. The Argiope spider lives in meadows with an abundance of grass, on the edges of forests. The web of the argiope is very strong, so it is difficult to tear it, it will only stretch under pressure.

• Hunter bordered (lat. Dolomedes fimbriatus) widespread on the Eurasian continent and found along the shores of bodies of water with standing or very slowly flowing water. Often settles in swampy meadows, shady forests or gardens with high humidity. The body length of the female edge hunter varies from 14 to 22 mm, the male is smaller and rarely larger than 13 mm. The color of spiders of this species is usually yellowish-brown or almost black, with light yellow or white stripes on the sides of the abdomen.

• Apulian tarantula (lat. Lycosa tarantula)– a species of spider belonging to the family of wolf spiders (lat. Lycosidae). It lives in the vast expanses of Southern Europe: it is often found in Italy and Spain, and digs burrows half a meter deep in Portugal. The size of the tarantula is impressive - up to 7 cm in length, individuals are usually colored red, less often - brown, the body has several light-colored transverse stripes and one longitudinal one.

• Spiny orb-weaving spider or "horned spider" (lat. Gasteracantha cancriformis) distributed in the tropics and subtropics, in the southern part of the USA, Central America, the Philippines, and Australia. The size of the female is 5-9 mm, the width reaches 10-13 mm. Males are 2-3 mm long. The legs of the spiny spider are short, and there are 6 spines along the edges of the abdomen. The color of the spider is very bright: white, yellow, red, black. On the abdomen there is a pattern of black dots.

• Peacock spider (lat. Maratus volans). The color of this spider comes in all sorts of colors: red, blue, light blue, green, yellow. The coloring of females is paler. An adult reaches a size of 4-5 mm. Males attract females with their beautiful outfit. The peacock spider lives in Australia - in Queensland and New South Wales.

• Smiling spider (lat. Theridion grallator) or a spider with a happy face is completely harmless to humans. This unusual spider lives in the Hawaiian Islands. Its body length is 5 mm. The color of the spider can be varied - pale, yellow, orange, blue. This species feeds on small midges, and the bright color of the individual helps confuse enemies, especially birds.

• Black Widow (lat. Latrodectus mactans)- This is a very dangerous and poisonous species of spider. It lives in Australia, North America, and is also found in Russia. The size of females reaches 1 cm, males are much smaller. The body of the black widow is black, and on the abdomen there is a characteristic red spot in the shape of an hourglass. Males are brown with white stripes. A black widow's bite is deadly.

• Karakurt (lat. Latrodectus tredecimguttatus)- This is a type of deadly poisonous spider from the black widow genus. The female karakurt has a size of 10-20 mm, the male is much smaller and has a size of 4-7 mm. There are 13 red spots on the abdomen of this scary spider. In some varieties, the spots have borders. Some mature individuals are devoid of spots and have a completely black shiny body. The karakurt lives in Kyrgyzstan, the Astrakhan region, the countries of Central Asia, southern Russia, Ukraine, the Black Sea and Azov regions, southern Europe, and North Africa. Karakurt was also spotted in the Saratov region, Volgograd region, Orenburg region, Kurgan region, and in the south of the Urals.

Lifestyle

All arachnids, with the exception of some mites, are carnivores, usually eating insects and other small animals, which they in most cases catch alive. Only the liquid tissues of the prey are sucked out (external digestion), no solid particles are ingested. Most arachnids are armed with venom glands, although only a few are dangerous to humans.

Of the spiders in the United States, the most poisonous species is the “black widow” ( Latrodectus mactans) and those close to him; their bite is very painful and sometimes leads to death. Some large tropical tarantulas are considered dangerous, but the bites of members of this group living in the southern and western United States are generally comparable to the sting of a wasp. Scorpions, of which only a few are highly poisonous, inflict painful stings with a poisonous sting at the end of their tail. Contrary to popular belief, the large nymphs found in the southwestern United States are not venomous. Some ticks carry pathogens, such as Rocky Mountain fever.

Arachnids, like insects, live everywhere. They are distributed up to 80° N, to the altitudinal limit of life in the mountains, and are even found in the air, thousands of meters above the ground, where they are carried by the wind along with pieces of cobwebs.

Nutrition

The front part of the arachnids' intestine (the pharynx), with strong muscles, acts as a pump. The midgut usually has lateral protrusions, increasing its capacity. The secretion of the liver and salivary glands of arachnids breaks down proteins. It is injected into the body of killed prey and turns its contents into a semi-liquid state, and then such food is absorbed through the pharynx (this method is called extraintestinal digestion).

Spider Reproduction

As spiders grow, from time to time they shed their tight chitinous shell and acquire a new one. They can molt up to 10 times in their entire life. Spiders are dioecious, with the female being much larger than the male. During the mating season, which lasts from mid-autumn to early spring, the male fills the bulbs located at the ends of his pedipalps with sperm and goes in search of a female. After performing the “mating dance” and fertilization, the male spider hastily retreats and dies after some time.

After two and a half months, the female spider lays eggs, and after 35 days small spiderlings appear, living in the web until the first molt. Females reach sexual maturity at 3-5 years of age.

Among spiders, only poisonous ones pose a danger to humans. In the CIS countries there is one such species - the karakurt, or black widow. With a timely injection of a special serum, the bite goes away without consequences.

How do spiders weave webs?

All spiders weave webs. It is used not only for hunting, but also for movement, creating smooth walls in burrows, and building egg sacs. Most spiders have four openings on their abdomen called spinnerets. When a spider releases a web, it appears to consist of a single thread.

In fact, one web consists of many thin threads glued together with a special liquid. Once this liquid enters the air, it hardens. Many spiders use the web thread to climb back into the hole.

Different species of spiders have different webs. It may be sticky, dry, or rubbery. The threads of the web are so strong that some spiders use it to travel many kilometers through the air. Spiders can eat their web if they no longer need it and begin to weave a new one.

Male spiders are smaller in size than females. During mating, males must be very careful. The female may not accept courtship and decide to simply eat her partner. Even if mating has occurred, the female can attack later, so males usually try to retreat faster. But this doesn't happen too often.

Spiders lay from 2 to 1000 eggs depending on the species. Almost all females spin a web and place the eggs in a "blanket", then hang the sacs somewhere safe and guard it. When the little spiders hatch, they often stay inside the sac to grow a little more. Some females immediately leave the egg sacs unattended and do not monitor them.

What is arachnophobia?

Arachnophobia, as the fear of arachnids is called, is a completely new disease, manifesting itself as a special case of isectophobia (fear of insects in general). Since ancient times, man has experienced fear of the unknown, of something unlike him. A certain fear of insects is inherent in every person on an instinctive level. We are all initially afraid of what seems to us unidentified and unexplored. Someone, having learned more about spiders, ceases to be afraid of them, realizing the harmlessness of most species. And some people remain with their insectophobia for a long time; spiders begin to seem like something that poses a huge danger and threat.

Arachnophobia is very common, affecting almost half of all women and a fifth of all men. Scientists suggest that fear of spiders is so common in women because they are more sensitive to tactile sensations and have more sensitive skin. The sensation of being touched by an insect leaves a greater impression on them, which plays into their fears.

Arachnophobia is often combined in a person with other fears:

• myrmecophobia – fear of ants;
• blattophobia – fear of cockroaches;
• Lepidopterophobia – fear of butterflies.

All these fears have the same root causes; often they are not separated, but are generalized into one disease - insectophobia (fear of insects is also called entomophobia).

Causes of phobia

Arachnophobia is a disease that is very common in the modern world. This is due to the large number of urban residents. This part of the population rarely comes into contact with spiders, which is why it is not always possible to distinguish a dangerous species from a harmless one.

The practical significance of spiders, given the current level of our knowledge about them, actually comes down to the harm caused by the poisonous bites of some forms. However, many spiders are undoubtedly useful as exterminators of harmful insects, but this role has not yet been accurately assessed. There are also some prospects for the technical use of spiders.

The biological significance of spider venom is mainly to kill prey, so the venom is usually toxic to insects. There are few species of spiders whose venom has a strong effect on warm-blooded animals, but among them there are some that are extremely dangerous for humans and domestic animals. Poisonous spiders vary in the nature of the poisoning they cause. The venom of some causes mainly local necrotic reactions, that is, necrosis and destruction of the skin and deeper tissues in the bite area. The poison of others has a strong effect on the entire body, in particular on the nervous system.

The death of people and domestic animals bitten by some large tropical tarantulas has been noted more than once, but the poisonousness of most of these spiders has not been precisely determined. Among them, Phormic-topus has poison in its venom glands that is sufficient to kill 20 mice. It is known that the Bushmen in South Africa used the venom of spiders from this genus, mixed with the juice of amaryllis bulbs, to poison arrows.

The venom of the spider Mastophora gasteracanthoi-des (family Araneidae), found in Peru, has a strong necrotic effect, where it infects people involved in caring for vineyards. The bitten person feels a sharp pain, then severe swelling appears and subsequently tissue destruction occurs in the affected area, so that internal organs may be exposed. Death, noted in a number of cases, probably occurred from secondary wound infection. A similar picture is caused by the bite of the Brazilian Lycosa gar-toria (family Lycosidae).

The general effect on the body is characteristic of the venom of the Brazilian Ctenus nigrivent-ris (family Ctenidae), whose bites are dangerous. Even more dangerous is the small (4–5 mm) racer Dendjyphantes noxiosus, found in Bolivia. Its bite causes inflammation and severe pain, as if from a hot iron; Blood appears in the urine, and death occurs within a few hours.

The venom of spiders of the genus Latrodectus (family Theridiidae) has a very strong general effect, which includes the karakurt (L. tredecimguttatus), which is found in the desert and steppe zones of Central Asia, the Caucasus, Crimea and is also common in Iran, Afghanistan and along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. In America, an equally poisonous species of the same genus is widespread - L. mactans, which there received the name “black widow”. Other species are found in tropical countries.

The most terrible spiders in the world

Yellow (Golden) Sak

The main habitat is Europe. Do not grow more than 1 cm in volume. The color is golden, translucent. Yellow Sak can crawl around in a residential building for quite a long time, while remaining unnoticed, because its nondescript appearance and small dimensions allow this. In natural conditions, he always builds himself a house that looks like a pipe bag. A necrotic wound causing severe pain is guaranteed from the bite of this animal. These symptoms are very similar to the effects of violin spider venom. Saki are prone to self-defense; they attack only when they feel in danger.

Wandering Brazilian spider

It was no coincidence that this nickname was given– constantly change their location in search of prey. These spiders live mainly in South America. This species is considered one of the most dangerous. The wanderers already have quite impressive volumes - about 10 cm. The amount of poison contained in one individual is enough to kill 225 mice. An antidote to it already exists. But its bite, one way or another, will lead the human body to a severe allergic reaction.

The Wanderer is difficult to notice in nature due to its discreet sandy coloring. As funny as it may sound, it is usually found in baskets of bananas, which is why it got the nickname “banana”. The wanderer chooses prey that is an order of magnitude larger than its own size - these can be birds, lizards, or even other arachnids.

Brown recluse (violin)

This type poses a very great danger to humans, since after a bite the poison disperses throughout the body in just one day. If the victim is not hospitalized in time, the outcome will be very disastrous. This spider, like the Yellow Sac, will not attack first unless it feels a threat to itself, but in any case, contact with it should be avoided.

Hermits grow to a maximum of 2 cm, and usually hide in dry and dark places. They can be found in California and other US states. This species can be distinguished by its characteristic shaggy “antennae”; they also have only 3 pairs of eyes, unlike most spiders, which have 4 pairs, i.e. 8 eyes.

Black Widow

As mentioned earlier, the most dangerous spider on earth is female black widow. Its poison is deadly. In size, like the hermit, it can reach a maximum of 2 cm. It is easy to recognize: black, with small spots on the back. And a widow, because after mating she takes the life of her partner. For comparison, the venom of a rattlesnake is 15 times less dangerous than the venom of this terrible arthropod. The female's bite is so dangerous that if the victim is not injected within half a minute, death may well occur. Black widows are not limited to one country; they can be found in deserts all over the globe.

Tarantula (Tarantula)

Found in desert and steppe areas where they dig deep holes for themselves. Nature has endowed this species with a unique beauty. Its body is colored gray, brown, and orange. Sometimes striped individuals are found. Unlike hermits, tarantulas are completely furry. They usually grow up to 3-4 cm. It has a second name - tarantula, as it feeds on small birds. They hunt at night thanks to their excellent night vision.

Water spiders

Their usual home is ponds in Northern Asia and Europe. They do not grow more than 1.7 cm. They swim very well, which is why they have this name. They live underwater, where they weave their nets in the algae. They eat a variety of small aquatic life. Its poison is absolutely not dangerous for humans, but it looks scary.

Crab spider

There are over 3 thousand species in the world. They are large in size and have a wide variety of colors, which, oddly enough, are similar to their habitat. They are like chameleons and can blend into almost any surface, be it greenery or sandy terrain.

Rooted in three places:

• Southern Europe
• North America

Crab spiders do not pose a strong threat to people, but they are often mistaken for poisonous hermits, so they are feared no less than other truly dangerous species. They were named after crabs, as they are similar in appearance and very mobile, like these decapod crustaceans. Like Brazilian spiders, they do not weave webs, but prefer to hunt. I can only move backwards and to the sides.

Wall tegenaria

Quite a rare species today, however, it is the largest species in Europe. Its dimensions range from 12.5 to 16 cm in straightened limbs.

The abode of this spider is as follows:

• Uruguay
• North Africa
• central Asia

You can accidentally stumble upon tegenaria in caves or old buildings. In England, this spider was called “cardinal”: according to legend, the once-living Cardinal Wolsey, seeing this spider, experienced a very strong fright. Tegenaria move very quickly. The structure of their web is very thick, so the caught insects have practically no chance of escape.

Cerbal Arabian

It was first found at the end of 2010 in Israel. It can be found in sand dunes. It has a large, silver-gray body with distinctive stripes on its legs. The coloring is quite scary. To date, little is known about their lifestyle. According to scientists, they are especially active during the hottest time of the year.

Giant baboon spider

Has a second name – Red Cameroon. The length of the body is 10 cm, and the legs are approximately 20 cm, which in general gives the spider a size of as much as 30 cm. The baboon spider belongs to the tarantula family and loves subtropical forests.

Quite a few colors predominate in color:

• orange
• grey
• brown
• black

Its legs, unlike its body, are covered with small hairs. The diet is quite large, it can feed on insects, but will not refuse mice and other similar living creatures. It injects a killing poison into its prey.

Of all the above, the title of the most deadly spider on earth was awarded to the “Black Widow”. The title of the most terrible, without a doubt, belongs to the wandering Brazilian spider.

Spider (Araneae) belongs to the phylum arthropod, class Arachnida, order Spiders. Their first representatives appeared on the planet approximately 400 million years ago.

Spider - description, characteristics and photographs

The body of arachnids consists of two parts:

• The cephalothorax is covered with a shell of chitin, with four pairs of long jointed legs. In addition to them, there is a pair of claws (pedipalps), used by mature individuals for mating, and a pair of short limbs with poisonous hooks - chelicerae. They are part of the oral apparatus. The number of eyes in spiders ranges from 2 to 8.
• Abdomen with breathing holes located on it and six arachnoid warts for weaving webs.

The size of spiders, depending on the species, ranges from 0.4 mm to 10 cm, and the span of their limbs can exceed 25 cm.

The coloring and pattern on individuals of different species depend on the structural structure of the integument of scales and hairs, as well as the presence and localization of various pigments. Therefore, spiders can have both dull, monochromatic and bright colors of various shades.

Types of spiders, names and photographs

Scientists have described more than 42,000 species of spiders. About 2,900 varieties are known in the CIS countries. Let's consider several varieties:

• Blue-green tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens)

one of the most spectacular and beautifully colored spiders. The tarantula's abdomen is red-orange, its limbs are bright blue, and its carapace is green. The size of the tarantula is 6-7 cm, with a leg span of up to 15 cm. The spider’s homeland is Venezuela, but this spider is found in Asian countries and on the African continent. Despite belonging to tarantulas, this type of spider does not bite, but only throws special hairs located on the abdomen, and only in case of severe danger. The hairs are not dangerous for humans, but they cause minor burns on the skin, similar in effect to nettle burns. Surprisingly, female chromatopelma are long-lived compared to males: the lifespan of a female spider is 10-12 years, while males live only 2-3 years.

• Flower spider (Misumena vatia)

belongs to the family of side-walking spiders (Thomisidae). Color varies from completely white to bright lemon, pink or greenish. Male spiders are small, 4-5 mm long, females reach sizes of 1-1.2 cm. The species of flower spiders is distributed throughout European territory (excluding Iceland), and is found in the USA, Japan, and Alaska. The spider lives in open areas with an abundance of flowering herbs, as it feeds on the juices of butterflies and bees caught in its “embraces.”

• Grammostola pulchra (Grammostola Pulchra)

Sidewalk spiders (crab spiders) spend most of their lives sitting on flowers waiting for prey, although some members of the family can be found on tree bark or forest floors.

Representatives of the family of funnel-web spiders place their webs on tall grass and bush branches.

Wolf spiders prefer damp, grassy meadows and swampy wooded areas, where they are found in abundance among fallen leaves.

The water (silver) spider builds a nest underwater, attaching it to various bottom objects with the help of webs. He fills his nest with oxygen and uses it as a diving bell.

What do spiders eat?

Spiders are quite original creatures that eat very interestingly. Some types of spiders may not eat for a long time - from a week to a month or even a year, but if they start, there will be little left. Interestingly, the weight of food that all spiders can eat during the year is several times greater than the weight of the entire population living on the planet today.
How and what do spiders eat? Depending on the species and size, spiders forage and eat differently. Some spiders weave webs, thereby organizing clever traps that are very difficult for insects to notice. Digestive juice is injected into the caught prey, corroding it from the inside. After some time, the “hunter” draws the resulting “cocktail” into his stomach. Other spiders “spit” sticky saliva while hunting, thereby attracting prey to themselves.

The main diet of spiders is insects. Small spiders happily eat flies, mosquitoes, crickets, butterflies, mealworms, cockroaches, and grasshoppers. Spiders that live on the surface of the soil or in burrows eat beetles and orthoptera, and some species are able to drag a snail or earthworm into their home and quietly eat them there.

The queen spider hunts only at night, creating a sticky web bait for unwary moths. Noticing an insect next to the bait, the queen spinner quickly swings the thread with her paws, thereby attracting the attention of the prey. The moth happily hovers around such a bait, and having touched it, it immediately remains hanging on it. As a result, the spider can calmly attract it to itself and enjoy its prey.

Large tropical tarantula spiders happily hunt small frogs, lizards, other spiders, mice, including bats, as well as small birds.

And this type of spider, such as the Brazilian tarantula, can easily hunt small snakes and grass snakes.

Aquatic species of spiders get their food from the water, using their webs to catch tadpoles, small fish or midges floating on the surface of the water. Some spiders, which are predators, due to the lack of victims, can also get enough of plant food, which includes pollen or plant leaves.

Haymaking spiders prefer cereal grains.

Judging by numerous notes by scientists, a huge number of spiders destroy small rodents and insects several times more than the animals living on the planet.

How does a spider weave a web?

In the back of the spider's abdomen there are from 1 to 4 pairs of arachnoid glands (arachnoid warts), from which a thin thread of web stands out. This is a special secret, which today many call liquid silk. Coming out of thin spinning tubes, it hardens in air, and the resulting thread turns out to be so thin that it is quite difficult to see with the naked eye.

In order to weave a web, the spider spreads its spinning organs, and then waits for a light breeze so that the spun web catches on a nearby support. After this happens, he moves along the newly created bridge with his back down and begins to weave a radial thread.

When the base is created, the spider moves in a circle, weaving thin transverse threads into its “product”, which are quite sticky.

It is worth noting that spiders are quite economical creatures, so they absorb damaged or old webs, after which they reuse them.

And the web becomes old very quickly, since the spider weaves it almost every day.

Types of web

There are several types of webs, differing in shape:

• The orb web is the most common type, with the minimum number of threads. Thanks to this weaving, it turns out to be unnoticeable, but not always elastic enough. From the center of such a web radial threads-webs diverge, connected by spirals with a sticky base. Typically, round spider webs are not very large, but tropical tree spiders are capable of weaving similar traps that reach two meters in diameter.

• Cone-shaped web: This type of web is made by the funnel-web spider. Usually it creates its hunting funnel in tall grass, while it itself hides in its narrow base, waiting for prey.

• The zigzag web is its “author”, a spider from the genus Argiope.

• Spiders from the family Dinopidae spinosa weave a web directly between their limbs, and then simply throw it onto an approaching victim.

• Spider Bolas ( Mastophora cornigera) weaves a thread of web on which there is a sticky ball with a diameter of 2.5 mm. With this ball, impregnated with female moth pheromones, the spider attracts prey - a moth. The victim falls for the bait, flies closer to it and sticks to the ball. After which the spider calmly pulls the victim towards itself.

• Darwin's spiders ( Caerostris darwini), living on the island of Madagascar, weave giant webs, the area of ​​which ranges from 900 to 28,000 square meters. cm.

The web can be divided according to the principle of responsibility of its weaving and type:

• household - from such webs spiders make cocoons and so-called doors for their homes;
• strong - spiders use it to weave nets, with the help of which the main hunt will be carried out;
• sticky - it is used only for preparing jumpers in fishing nets and sticks so strongly when touched that it is very difficult to remove.

Spider Reproduction

As spiders grow, from time to time they shed their tight chitinous shell and acquire a new one. They can molt up to 10 times in their entire life. Spiders are dioecious, with the female being much larger than the male. During the mating season, which lasts from mid-autumn to early spring, the male fills the bulbs located at the ends of his pedipalps with sperm and goes in search of a female. After performing the “mating dance” and fertilization, the male spider hastily retreats and dies after some time.

After two and a half months, the female spider lays eggs, and after 35 days small spiderlings appear, living in the web until the first molt. Females reach sexual maturity at 3-5 years of age.

Among spiders, only poisonous ones pose a danger to humans. In the CIS countries there is one such species - the karakurt, or black widow.

With a timely injection of a special serum, the bite goes away without consequences.

Recently it has become fashionable to keep spiders at home. For beginners, we recommend the white-haired tarantula spider, which is a harmless representative of the arachnid class.

• According to statistics, 6% of the world's population suffers from arachnophobia - the fear of spiders. Particularly sensitive people panic when they see a spider in a photo or on TV.
• Frightening-looking tarantula spiders, with a paw span of up to 17 cm, are actually calm and non-aggressive, thanks to which they have earned the reputation of popular pets. However, owners must protect their pets from stress, otherwise the spider sheds its bright hairs, which cause an allergic reaction in humans.
• The most poisonous spiders are considered to be black widows, their variety is karakurt, as well as Brazilian soldier spiders. The venom of these spiders, containing powerful neurotoxins, instantly attacks the victim's lymphatic system, which in most cases leads to cardiac arrest.
• Many people mistakenly believe that tarantula venom is fatal to humans. In reality, a tarantura bite causes only a slight swelling, similar to a wasp sting.
• Wall crab spiders, named Selenopidae in Latin after the Greek goddess of the Moon, move sideways as well as backwards.
• Jumping spiders are excellent jumpers, especially over long distances. As a safety net, the spider attaches a silk web thread to the landing site. In addition, this type of spider can climb glass.
• When chasing prey, some species of spiders can run almost 2 km in 1 hour without stopping.
• Fishing spiders have the ability to glide across water like water striders.
• Most species of spiders have an individual form of woven web. House (funnel) spiders weave funnel-shaped webs; dictine weaver spiders are characterized by angular webs. The web of Nicodam spiders looks like a sheet of paper.
• Lynx spiders are distinguished by a property that is uncharacteristic of spiders: to protect the clutch, females spit on the threat of poison, although this poison does not pose a danger to humans.
• Female wolf spiders are very caring mothers. Until the children gain independence, the mother “carries” the cubs on herself. Sometimes there are so many spiders that only its 8 eyes remain open on the spider’s body.
• The New Zealand cellar spider was immortalized in cinema thanks to director Peter Jackson, who used this species as the prototype for the spider Shelob.
• Very beautiful flower spiders lie in wait for prey on flowers, and adult females, as a camouflage, change their color depending on the color of the petals.
• The history of mankind is closely intertwined with the image of the spider, which is reflected in many cultures, mythology and art. Each nation has its own traditions, legends and signs associated with spiders. Spiders are even mentioned in the Bible.
• In symbolism, the spider personifies deceit and immeasurable patience, and the spider’s venom is considered a curse that brings misfortune and death.

Spiders are arthropods that belong to the class of arachnids. Representatives of this class, today, there are about 40 thousand species. They differ from each other in their way of life, appearance, and type of nutrition. There are a wide variety of spider species in nature: the smallest and most 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.

Tarantula spider – 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 tarantula and purple tarantula. The body of tarantulas is always densely covered with long and short hairs. Body color can be either gray-brown or bright colors (red, blue, red). Tarantulas live in countries with hot climates (Africa, South America, Oceania, Australia). These spiders inhabit abandoned nests of birds and rodents or dig holes near tree trunks. They are active mainly in the evening. Then they go hunting or catch a prey running nearby. Tarantulas feed on insects, small birds and rodents. These spiders breed in late summer. The female lays eggs in a cobweb cocoon, which she carries with her and does not lose sight of. They protect the offspring, so that the spiderlings that emerge from the cocoon sit on the mother’s abdomen for some time. But soon they begin to lead an independent life. The tarantula's venom paralyzes the victim and decomposes its entrails, then the spider sucks out the contents of the victim's body. For humans, the tarantula's venom is not dangerous, but quite painful. The bite site bakes, hurts and swells, sometimes turning yellow. But these symptoms go away after a few weeks.

Cross spider – Araneus

Crossworts are members of the orb weaver family (Araneidae). They belong to the contract web spiders. They have an egg-shaped convex abdomen, on which there is a pattern in the form of a cross. Body color ranges from gray to red. They are covered with long bristles, sparsely distributed throughout the body and densely covered with short, thin hairs. Body length in males is 10-11 mm, in females – 17-40 mm. About 30 species of crosses live in the CIS and Russia. These spiders are active in the evening. They deftly weave webs that catch many small insects. Mating and egg laying occurs in the fall. The female lays 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 to humans. Its bite is painful, but the burning and swelling at the site of the bite goes away after a few hours.

Karakurt spider - Latrodectus tredecimguttatus

This is not a large black spider at all. The body of the female (10-20 mm) is completely black, which is why she is also called a 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, North Africa, Southern Europe, Kazakhstan, southern Russia and Ukraine. They prefer the slopes of ravines, virgin wormwood, wastelands, and the banks of irrigation ditches. Karakurts inhabit abandoned rodent burrows and ventilation systems, entwining the entrance with cobwebs. In such dens, females and males mate at the end of summer. The female lays her eggs in a cocoon of cobwebs and hangs it in her den. In spring, spiderlings emerge from cocoons. Karakurts feed on small insects. Their venom is toxic to large animals and people. There is a burning sensation 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 abdominal area. Dizziness, nausea, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and delirium also occur. And if medical assistance is not provided in time, death is possible (in most cases). Karakurt bites through the skin only 0.5 mm, so it is recommended to cauterize 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 in color, with 4 indentations. The legs and cephalothorax are 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 shape 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 poison is toxic and can cause complications. Children and the elderly are most susceptible to the effects of the poison. Toxicological studies have shown that the poison of the white karakurt is similar to the poison 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: phalanges, bihors, salpugs, barbers, barbers, wind scorpion. The body (5-7 cm) is slightly oblong, light and dark red, densely covered with long, thin hairs. The camel spider's body shape is similar to a scorpion, especially with its chelicerae (claws). With them he is able to bite through a human nail and even small bird bones. He also uses his chelicerae to trim hairs and feathers from his victims and place them in his home. The camel spider lives in the desert regions of Asia, Africa, America, and Europe. Phalanx spider is a nocturnal predator. It is practically omnivorous and carnivorous, feeding on various insects, rodents, and lizards. Camel spiders have eyes like scorpions: 2 compound eyes in the middle and one on each side 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 poisonous, but it does have an incredibly painful bite. And also on its chelicerae the remains 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 that includes 610 genera and 5,800 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 vision. They have 8 eyes, thanks to which they see 360º degrees. Jumping spiders differ from each other in body shape, color and range. There are the following types of jumping spiders:
- the golden jumping spider lives in the south-east 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 color. 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 the occasional small insect that is blown onto the mountain slopes by strong winds;

- The green jumping 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 white “whiskers”;

- The red-backed species of jumping spider settles 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 tube-like silken nests under rocks and on the surface of vines;

- the species Hyllus Diardi has a body up to 1.3 cm long. Compared to other types of jumping 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 peculiar “bungee” onto its victim;

- 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 (up to 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 has no effect on humans, and their bite is almost painless.

Argiope bruennichi or spider wasp - Argiope bruennichi

Argiope has the second name of the wasp spider, since the color of the body and the shape of the abdomen resemble a wasp. Body length 2-3 cm (leg span). The abdomen is elongated with bright stripes, the predominant colors are yellow, white, and black. The legs are long, thin, and mostly in an X-shaped position. The spider wasp lives in Kazakhstan, Asia Minor, Central Asia, China, Korea, India and Japan, North Africa, Southern and Central Europe, Crimea, and the Caucasus. These spiders are also found quite often in Russia. Argiope belongs to the spiders of the orb-weaving spider family (Araneidae). It is typical for these spiders to weave a wheel-shaped web, and have a stabilimentum (zigzag pattern) in the center. This is a forest spider. It 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 has moulted, while her body remains soft. The female lays eggs in a large cocoon (outwardly resembling a plant seed pod) and places it next to the hunting web. The spiderlings emerge from the cocoon at the beginning of autumn and settle downwind on cobwebs. The wasp spider is not dangerous to humans. Its venom may only cause slight redness, swelling and pain, but these symptoms go away very quickly.

Wolf spiders – Lycosidae

Wolf spiders are a family of araneomorph spiders that number 2,367 species. The body color is usually gray-brown. The body is covered with small short hairs. Some species reach more than 3 cm (leg span). The wolf spider lives almost everywhere except Antarctica. He prefers damp forests, meadows, hiding under fallen leaves, stones, and wood. They don't weave webs. These are earth spiders, so they live in a hole, which is only covered with cobwebs inside. If this is the private sector, you can easily stumble upon it in the basement. If there is a vegetable garden nearby, he can easily get into your cellar. Active at night. The wolf spider hunts insects or catches those who run near its burrow. This spider is a good jumper. He can jump on the victim, securing himself with a web. Mating occurs in the summer. After mating, the female lays eggs in a cocoon that she carries at the end of her abdomen. After 2-3 weeks, the spiderlings emerge from the cocoon and climb onto their mother’s abdomen. They sit like this until they learn to get their own food. The wolf spider is not dangerous to humans. Its bite is equivalent to a bee sting, which causes itching, swelling and redness, which goes away fairly quickly.

Harvesting spiders – Pholcidae

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

Goliath tarantula - Theraphosa blondi

This giant spider is considered the largest in the world. The span of its legs reaches 30 cm. In Venezuela (1965), one of the representatives of this species was listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The span of its legs 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 compared to the massive goliath.
The body of the goliath is light or dark brown, 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, and 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 hairs from the abdomen into the enemy’s face, which cause swelling of the mucous membrane. The goliath tarantula also has large and sharp chelicerae (claws), with which it can bite very painfully. Their venom is not dangerous to humans; the symptoms are the same as after a bee sting.

Runner spider (soldier spider, banana spider, wandering spider) – Phoneutria

The Brazilian spider is the most poisonous 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, and small birds. Lives in burrows, under leaf litter. But very often, secluded places in people’s homes become its home. It is often called banana because it is often found in boxes of bananas. These scary spiders have 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 muscles in the human body, causing suffocation and then death. Only 2-6 hours pass between the bite and death. Old people and children are most exposed to the runner spider's venom. Today there is a vaccine that neutralizes the effect of the poison, so if you are bitten by a spider, you should immediately consult a doctor.

As you can see, representatives of arachnids are so different: some of them are pleasing to the eye, while the sight of others makes the blood freeze in your veins, some can be picked up or kept in your 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.