On planet Earth there are approximately 50 thousand species of spiders which frighten a huge number of people with their appearance. Among them there are both huge creatures like tarantulas and tiny spiders like horses. It is believed that many species of spiders are not poisonous, but in fact this is not the case – all species, with a couple of exceptions, have poison-producing glands. When we talk about poisonous species, we most often mean that they are dangerous to people. For example, the increasingly commonblack widowsThey can bite so much that pain will torment the victim for two weeks. Other types of spiders, even the smallest ones that live in our houses and apartments, are also poisonous. But the composition and concentration of the poison are such that it cannot harm us. This can be a big revelation for many, so let's talk about it in more detail.
Venom glands are absent only in a couple of species of spiders
Contents
- 1 The most dangerous spiders for people
- 2 What is spider venom made of
- 3 Why are spiders poisonous
< li>4 Are house spiders dangerous for people
The most dangerous spiders for people
Almost all spiders are poisonous, but only a few dozen species are dangerous to humans. The above-mentioned black widow used to be found only in the warm corners of our planet, but for several years in a row residents of Russia have come across it. They are not aggressive by themselves, but if provoked, the bite can rarely be avoided. They inject substances into the victim's body that cause severe pain at the site of the bite, nausea, convulsions and even paralysis.
Black widow spider
Another dangerous creature is thebrown recluse spider. These poisonous little ones are most often found in the United States and are about 2 centimeters long. They like to crawl into cracks in the walls of houses, so they often go unnoticed. Their bite is not immediately noticeable – it feels like a mosquito. However, after 3-4 hours headaches and nausea occur. Subsequently, necrosis begins, that is, body tissues begin to break down. Without medical care, a person may die.
Brown recluse spider
One of the most famous spiders that pose a great threat to humans are tarantulas. This is not a species, but an entire genus, which includes approximately 200 species. Most tarantulas are not dangerous, but there are species that can cause terrible pain with their bite.
Some tarantulas are less poisonous than others
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What is spider venom made of
The venom of spiders, like that of snakes, consists of a mixture of different substances. For example, it often contains neurotoxins – they affect the nervous system of victims and often make them unable to move. Also, the venom of some spiders contains cytotoxins that cause necrosis, that is, death of body cells. Often, after a spider bite, chemical compounds enter the body that make the blood thick, which often leads to death.
The structure of a spider
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Why are spiders poisonous
Spiders do not produce poison to kill people. They need it only in order not to die of hunger – the poison helps to quickly kill insects, which most spiders feed on.
Spider hunting for insects is a process consisting of many steps. They primarily catch prey using traps made from spider webs. Some types of spiders attack insects and other creatures from hiding.
Each type of spider has its own hunting strategy
After this, the spiders plunge their fangs (chelicerae) into the body of the prey. The substances contained in the poison immobilize insects and also turn the insides into a liquid pulp. Spiders simply absorb this mixture of nutrients into themselves. After eating, the spider either throws out the remains of its prey or leaves them directly on the web.
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< h2>Are house spiders dangerous for people
Even small spiders that live in our home hunt in this way. And they also have poison in their bodies, but its concentration is so low that it only affects tiny insects. In addition, small spiders have chelicerae so small that they cannot bite through human skin. Representatives of some species manage to bite, but due to the low concentration of the poison, a person will at most feel pain and experience swelling.
House spider close-up
According to statistics, every year people die from spider bites in the world only a few dozen people. If this is true, then spiders are no more dangerous creatures than bees and wasps. In some cases, these buzzing insects can be more deadly because the substances contained in their venom sometimes cause severe allergies that can lead to death.
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The science of studying spiders is called arachnology. Experts in this field often share interesting discoveries. For example, they know a lot of interesting things about spiders that weave webs underwater and eat females after mating.