Brazilian wandering spider breeding. Death in Furry Paws: Brazilian Soldier Spider. What does the Brazilian wandering spider eat?

25.10.2019

The Brazilian wandering spider has been recognized as the most venomous spider in the world by the Guinness Book of Records. He got his nickname due to his eternal wandering and the abandonment of weaving a web in favor of an endless search for food.

A wandering poisonous spider never lives in one place, but always roams. It is unpleasant for a person that sometimes he enters houses. In South America, these spiders are often found in clothes or in boxes with things and food.

A wandering spider is found only in America, and even then most often in tropical and subtropical regions. There are two types of Brazilian stray poisonous spiders - these are jumping spiders, which pursue their prey with jerky jumps, and running spiders. The latter run very fast, but lead a nocturnal lifestyle, and during the day they sit under stones or hide in some other place, including in people's houses.

The Brazilian venomous wandering spider loves to feast on bananas, and will not miss the opportunity to climb into a box with this fruit. For his predilection, this spider received another name - a banana spider. But the main food for him is still not fruits. It hunts mainly on other spiders and insects, and it also happens that it attacks birds and lizards that are larger than it.

He himself is a rather medium-sized poisonous predator - only some 10 cm. But his small size does not prevent him from being an excellent hunter and a serious problem for people, and all from the fact that he is able to release a solid dose of toxic poison when biting, which is formed at the ends of chelicera , in the channels of poisonous glands.

Perhaps the venom of a wandering spider is less dangerous than that of snakes. He is unlikely to be able to kill an adult healthy person - he will only cause a serious allergic reaction, which modern medicine is able to quickly cope with. But if a Brazilian wandering poisonous spider bites a sick person or a small child, then the poison can work faster than an ambulance arrives. Some specimens of this spider are so dangerous that the death of a person can occur within 20-30 minutes if immediate help is not provided.

Fortunately for the inhabitants of Russia, wandering spiders do not live here and are unlikely to ever appear: the climate is not quite suitable. But you still need to remember to be careful when handling these arthropods, in case you still have to meet them.

By itself, a wandering poisonous spider does not attack a person. It bites only in self-defense. But the problem is that these spiders love to hide and are very hard to spot. If you find a wandering poisonous spider, try to take it out of the house as soon as possible and look through all the boxes and cabinets to see if there is another one in them. If possible, you must be as careful as possible and in no case take it into your hands.

It is ranked among the most dangerous and poisonous spiders in the world. However, a group of Brazilian scientists found that the venom of this spider is effective in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The scientists who discovered these properties of the deadly poison conducted experiments on rats, and the results of the tests were published in a journal called Sexual Medicine. The report provided information that the introduced spider toxin PnTx2-6 into the experimental animal caused a long erection after twenty minutes due to the release of nitric oxide in the body of the animal, which is a substance that dilates blood vessels and improves blood flow.

Habitat: tropical and subtropical regions of South America.
Type: terrestrial, also lives in trees.
Food: young spiders eat fruit flies, small crickets. Adults eat crickets and other large insects, as well as small lizards and mice.
Size: 10-12.5 cm.
Growth rate: fast.
Temperature: 23.8-26.6'C.
Humidity: about 80%.
Personality: active and excited.
Housing: Young spiders can live in a clear plastic container with holes for fresh air. Adults require a terrarium with a volume of 17-35 liters. The area of the bottom of the terrarium is more important than the height.
Substrate: 5-8 cm of sphagnum or potting soil.
Decoration: live plants, tree bark, fin, etc., anything that creates good hiding places.

In this topic, I would like to talk about a spider that has nothing to do with tarantulas, but it is very interesting. Phoneutria fera is one of the most venomous spiders on the planet, so I decided to post about it on my blog.

Wandering Soldier Spiders are one of the most venomous spiders on Earth.

It is correct to call: "Brazilian soldier spiders", or "Brazilian wandering spiders". In books and publications, we often see the “banana spider”, a name denoting many of the most diverse spiders of the genus Nephila (N. clavipes) and Phoneutria, which owns Brazilian soldier spiders. It is the representatives of the genus Phoneutria that are the most poisonous spiders. Their favorite habitat is the banana plantations of Latin America, so they have another name given to them by the people: "banana spider".
The genus of spiders Phoneutria Perty is common in the Americas. Habitats of species of this genus:

Phoneutria bahiensis - east of Brazil, forests on the coast;

Phoneutria boliviensis - South and Central America;

Phoneutria eickstedtae - Brazil;

Phoneutria fera - Suriname, Peru, Ecuador, Guyana, Brazil;

Phoneutria keyserlingi - forests of the east coast of Brazil;

Phoneutria nigriventer - northern Argentina, eastern Brazil, Uruguay;

Phoneutria pertyi - the east coast of Brazil;

· Phoneutria reidyi - Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana.

"Wandering" spiders were also called because of their dietary preferences, which were reflected in their lifestyle. Soldier spiders do not weave webs. These fast creatures are very active. They constantly move, do not stay in one place for a long time. Do not use or weave a web. They spend their days searching for food. The most poisonous spider, oddly enough, loves to feast on bananas. Therefore, there are many of them on the banana plantations of the tropical part of America.
In search of food, a banana spider often enters residential buildings, turning into a formidable source of mortal danger. The poisonous spider, whose photo you see, meets a person not only in the wild. Quite often, they enter people's homes directly with a bunch of bananas from the store. In the house, he can meet anywhere. They find temporary shelter in the folds of clothing, fruit boxes, inside furniture.
Although bananas are a delicacy for the most poisonous spiders, soldier spiders are still predators. Their main diet is insects and other types of spiders. The size of the spider is small, with elongated legs they reach about ten centimeters. But despite its modest size, the most poisonous spider is an excellent hunter. It attacks small reptiles: lizards, snakes, frogs. It can even attack small birds that are much larger than it.
Therefore, we can say that soldier spiders are aggressive and very dangerous creatures for humans. Death from a spider bite occurs after 2-6 hours. Although the banana spider is one of the most venomous spiders on Earth, fatalities from their bites are fortunately not the rule.
The fact is that the toxicity of its venom is inferior to that of, for example, poisonous snakes. And its effect is highly dependent on the body weight of the victim. The larger the mass, the weaker the action. The dose of poison in the human body of the spiders of the species Phoneutria fera can be quite decent. But this does not always lead to death.
The poison is produced by special glands located at the tips of the chelicerae. Getting under the skin, it causes a strong allergic reaction. If a person is healthy and adult, then usually the bite of the most poisonous spider does not lead to death. But when a child is bitten, or a sick person with a weakened immune system, death can occur quickly if medical assistance is not provided.
The most powerful neurotoxins contained in the poison, extremely aggressive, fearless behavior provided the banana spider with a reputation not only as the “most poisonous spider”, but also “the most dangerous” to humans.
The bite of a spider is very painful. The poison causes symptoms of severe intoxication, then, after a certain period of time, the respiratory muscles are paralyzed. A few hours after the bite, the person dies.
But, if medical assistance is immediately provided, then death can be avoided. This is how the lucky ones who received such help on time describe the bite of the most poisonous spider. Doctors injected them with an antidote that saved their lives. The bite is compared to the prick of a sharp thorn that has penetrated very deep. Dizziness sets in. There is a strong pressure in the chest, which makes it difficult to breathe normally. The pressure in the vessels of the circulatory system rises sharply. There is a strong beating of the heart.
But in the countries of Latin America, tragedies still happen now. A case that occurred in Brazil: children played, climbed into the attic of their house, where they saw a spider. But they were not afraid, but decided to play with him. Spider soldier bit the girl. Her brother rushed to her aid. He wanted to throw it aside, but he was also bitten by the most poisonous spider. The parents of the children immediately called an ambulance by phone, which arrived half an hour later. But for the girl, this time turned out to be fatal. Only thirty minutes, but she could not be saved.
The behavior of the most poisonous spider is aggressive, but at the same time it does not attack large animals and humans. Bites occur more often due to the fact that a person simply does not notice a spider that is hiding in a shelter. Or out of ignorance that the spider is poisonous, they are caught, picked up.
It is well known that snake venoms are used in medicine. They make effective medicines. The banana spider has venom, which has some interesting properties. According to the testimony of men who suffered from the bite of the most poisonous spider, during the action of the poison they felt a strong, painful erection (priapism). And after recovery, they claimed that the quality of their sex life had improved a lot.
This gave rise to scientists to start researching the poison of soldier spiders. Research is underway, it is assumed that the spider toxin Tx2-6, which causes such a reaction in the body, can be used to create drugs to stimulate erections.

Spiders are not very dangerous insects, but some of them pose a threat to humans because they can bite through the skin and inject a poisonous substance that causes non-fatal, but unpleasant toxic poisoning of the human body. What is it - the most dangerous spider on the planet, where does it live and how dangerous is it for people's lives?

How dangerous is a spider bite

Spider (arachnoid) - a predatory insect, which nature has endowed with a special poisonous weapon. The secret that insects secrete and then inject into their prey affects the nervous system of the prey or contributes to the destruction of its tissues.

Even the largest and most dangerous spiders do not attack a person for no reason. They may bite only in self-defense or in case of imminent danger. By itself, the bite of a poisonous spider is not fatal, and negative consequences can only occur in situations where:

delay in providing medical care;
the human body is weakened due to illness;
an allergic reaction to the poison is manifested;
bitten by a small child or an elderly person.

According to statistics, 5% of the world's population suffers from "fear of spiders" (arachnophobia), although there is no real reason for such a phobia, since almost all poisonous individuals live in tropical climates or deserts. However, every traveler, going to another country, must imagine what animals or insects he can meet and what to do.

Brazilian wandering spider

Opens the list of the most dangerous arachnids for humans - the Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria - from the Greek. "Killer"). Sometimes it is also called "banana" because of the love of eating these fruits. Officially (according to the Guinness Book of Records) he is the most poisonous spider on the planet.

The poison that he injects into the victim is a strong neurotoxin (they are 20 times more toxic than the toxin that the Black Widow secretes).

Signs of a brazilian spider bite:

problems with the respiratory system, sometimes leading to suffocation;
insufficient muscle control;
severe pain in the muscles and the bite site;
in men, the poison can cause many hours of erection, which causes very strong pain.

In nature, the Brazilian wandering spider lives in the tropical jungles of South America (most of all in Brazil). He spends his life wandering in search of food: he hunts other spiders, small birds and lizards. The size of his body is quite large (about 10 cm).

These spiders often live near human habitation, can hide in clothes, like to climb into fruit boxes, especially bananas. Therefore, the most frequent cases of human bites by them are found among pickers.

It is also unusual and dangerous that Brazilian spiders can travel around the globe in banana packages. One of the most recent accidents occurred in the UK in 2016 with a man who bought fruit at a nearby supermarket and was attacked by such a spider.

Fortunately, a very effective antidote was developed several years ago, which can reduce the number of deaths after being bitten by such a spider.

Sydney leukopautinous (funnel) spider

The second most dangerous and most unpleasant bully in the spider world is the Sydney funnel-web spider. He is considered a bully because when attacking a person, this insect tries to make as many bites as possible and introduce more poison, although its effect is much weaker than other toxins.

In addition to such a persistent character, the Sydney funnel-web spider has very large fangs: long and sharp, like needles. It is believed that with such fangs he may well bite through leather shoes and human nails. Moreover, males are 6 times more poisonous than females.

Signs of a bite that develop in a person (appear after a few seconds):

muscle spasms;
strong frequent heartbeat;
confusion or loss of consciousness;
brain tumor.

Without medical attention, death can occur in 15 minutes, but an effective antidote was created in 1981, so there have been no deaths since then.

brown recluse spider

Recluse spiders are also known by various names: "Violin Spider", "Violin on the back", refer to the Loxosceles variety. Their size is only 2 cm, outwardly they are completely inconspicuous. Such insects are found in different countries, they are very common in the eastern United States, where they even settle in the homes of local residents (in clothes or shoes), and in South America (Chile and other countries).

The venom of these spiders is a necrotic species that destroys tissues. The bite of a recluse spider can cause a condition called "loxoscelism", which in some cases is expressed in the death of tissues in the area of \u200b\u200bthe bite and the formation of an open wound that does not heal, which can even lead to amputation. Skin grafting is needed to treat such wounds.

Black Widow

The black widow is a family of spiders and a separate species of them (Latrodectus mactans), in the United States is considered the most poisonous representative of arachnoids. He became famous for the fact that females sometimes eat their partners.

The North American black widow gets its name from the color of its body, but its belly has red or orange spots. The size of the spiders is small: about 4 cm, however, they have a very toxic poison, a bite can end badly for a person.

Such spiders pose a danger to children, debilitated and elderly people, as well as allergy sufferers. Their poison causes severe muscle pain, increases blood pressure, pain in the lymph nodes, interrupted breathing, nausea and vomiting. Unpleasant symptoms can be felt for up to 7 days.

The redback spider also belongs to the black widow family and is considered an iconic spider in Australia, easily identified by the red stripe on its back. It is smaller in size than the black widow and is less common.

However, in Australia, such spiders can settle indoors, live in some areas of cities and suburbs in the tropical climate zone. They have recently been seen in Japan as well.

The red-backed spider is small: females are up to 10 mm long, males are 3 mm smaller. These insects are nocturnal, hiding in old sheds or under stones, among plants. They hunt other insects and small animals (mice, birds, lizards, beetles, etc.).

The consequences of the bite of such a spider appear only after a day, and they are very toxic: acute pain and swelling of the bitten place, abdominal cramps, severe sweating. The most severe systemic condition, called "latrodectism" (50% of cases), can be fatal if an antidote injection is not used in time.

Karakurt

Karakurt is the most poisonous and most dangerous spider that lives on the territory of Russia in the Astrakhan region, in Asian and European regions and Africa. He is one of the representatives of the black widow family. Due to climatic changes, karakurts began to appear even in the suburbs.

One of the species, called the steppe widow, is black and decorated with 13 bright red spots on top. Its size is small: females are 1-2 cm long (more poisonous), males - up to 7 mm.

The most dangerous are sexually mature females of karakurt, whose poison is 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake. They pose a danger to some domestic animals (horses, cows, sheep are considered an exception) and people. They bite only in case of pressure, more often at night in the summer, and the bite is not painful, which is why they often do not immediately pay attention to it.

The action of the poison is manifested in muscle pain, paresthesia of the limbs, abdomen and chest. There is a strong fear of death, tears flow, a sick person cannot stand on his feet due to muscle weakness. Also, there are symptoms similar to the picture of an acute abdomen: nausea, vomiting, fever. However, convulsions and tremors of the limbs, respiratory failure, confusion, a sharp increase in pressure help to determine the exact diagnosis.

One of the effective ways to provide first-line assistance: cauterization of the bitten place with a burning match, which acts destructively on the poison (if there is no medical care nearby), subsequent hospitalization is essential so that there is no death.

sand spider

The six-eyed sand spider has 8 legs and 6 eyes and lives in the deserts of South Africa and western South America. Its scientific Latin name Sicarius translates to "killer". By nature, he is a hunter who waits a long time for his prey (other spiders and scorpions), buried in the sand. When prey runs past, it attacks - bites it, and within a few hours the insect or animal dies. Its size is about 5 cm, the abdomen is light brown or red-brown.

The venom of the six-eyed spider is a strong cytotoxin (similar to the effect of sulfuric acid), producing a hemolytic and necrotic effect, which means rupture of blood vessels and tissue decomposition. There are only 2 cases when such spiders have bitten people, but both are fatal.

golden spider

Spider sack, or golden spider (Cheiracanthium), has a size of only 10 mm, but is able to cause extensive necrosis (necrosis) of tissues with its bite, which is very painful. Its habitats: European countries, Australia and Canada.

Outwardly small, yellow or greenish spider produces a strong cytotoxin poison. In the bite area, redness and sharp pain first appear, the place swells, gradually turning into a bubble or wound.

According to experts, it is these spiders that cause the most trouble to people compared to other types of arachnoids.

tarantulas

Tarantula spiders (Theraphosidae) are a whole family of arachnoids found in Africa, Australia and on oceanic islands in South America. These are the largest spiders (up to 20 cm), which some exotic lovers are fond of and even keep them at home in terrariums.

Tarantulas do not pose a danger to an adult, although they can cause muscle pain and fever. However, for pets or children, the poison can be fatal.

Their bright beautiful fur is actually poisonous hairs. The spider combs hairs from the abdomen and throws them at its prey. If it comes into contact with the skin or eyes, the poison causes pain, itching, severe visual impairment.

Pecilotheria (tarantula)

This family also includes tarantulas - large hairy spiders, whose name comes from the Spanish dance tarantella. The spider has double fangs with which it pierces its prey. Tarantula is the most dangerous spider and one of the largest living in Russia (5 cm). The most famous is the South Russian tarantula, common in the forest-steppe zone of Eurasia.

Due to the small size and the amount of poison released when bitten, the consequences for humans are not very toxic, but the poison acts on the nervous system, provoking minor convulsions and severe shortness of breath. Their toxicity is highest in July, when the females are sexually mature and mating.

mouse spider

The red-headed mouse spider is Australia's most dangerous spider, with 12 species. Its name comes from its soft, furry abdomen, and its bite is very dangerous to humans, although it is not very aggressive and often bites without the use of venom.

Nature endowed him with bright coloring: males have a red head and a gray-blue abdomen, females are black. Size - from 1 to 3.5 cm.

The poison has a neuroparalytic effect similar to that of the Sydney spider, but they live far from human settlements. A serum has long been made for their venom, acting against many funnel-web spider species.

Conclusion

The species of poisonous spiders discussed in this article differ in their habitats and in their toxicity. In Russia, such insects are found in the southern part of the country, in the North Caucasus and in the Crimea. Knowing the appearance and dangerous species of spiders for humans, their habitat conditions will help prevent meeting them, avoiding a bite, or learning about the degree of danger to humans.

The Brazilian wandering spider lives in South and Central America. This large hairy spider is considered the most venomous spider in the world. Brazilian wandering spiders occasionally wander into populated areas and are caught among tropical fruit shipments, so it's good to know their appearance and habits, especially if you happen to be in their range. If bitten by this spider, emergency medical attention is required. However, don't panic! Brazilian wandering spider bites are almost always treatable.

Steps

Appearance and habits of the Brazilian wandering spider

The length of the spider, together with its paws, is approximately 15 centimeters. An adult Brazilian wandering spider has a body about 5 centimeters long. At a glance, it is easier to determine the total length, that is, the distance from the end of the hind legs to the end of the front legs, which reaches about 15 centimeters. Be careful if you come across such a large spider.

The spider is most likely to be brown and hairy. Although the color of Brazilian wandering spiders varies, most of them are a dirty brown color, and some have a black spot on the abdomen. The body of all Brazilian wandering spiders is covered with hair.

Brazilian wandering spiders move quickly. They got their name from the fact that they quickly move through the land of the rainforest. Spiders are capable of attacking their victims with lightning speed, so be careful if you come across a fast moving spider in the range of the Brazilian wandering spider.

If the spider shows its red jaws, back away slowly. When scared, the Brazilian wandering spider rears up on its hind legs. In this intimidating pose, some species of the Brazilian wandering spider show red hairs around their fangs. This defensive stance indicates that the spider is angry, in which case you should back away carefully and slowly.

Don't hesitate trying to get a better look at the spider. If you're traveling through South and Central America, or living in areas where Brazilian wandering spiders are found, don't hesitate if you spot a large spider. In case of any doubt, do not try to be sure that it is a Brazilian wandering spider, but move slowly to the side so as not to anger the animal.

Don't try to catch the spider. If you suspect a Brazilian wandering spider has wandered into your home or utility room, call wildlife management and leave the building before the experts arrive.

Be careful in dark places. The Brazilian wandering spider is nocturnal and skillfully hides in the forest floor of the tropical jungle. Such a "wandering" lifestyle sometimes leads to the fact that the spider wanders into settlements, where it tries to hide from sunlight in secluded places, for example:
- in dark closets, closets, and so on;
- under sheds and in garages;
- in cars;
- in unused clothes, shoes, gloves;
- in kitchen cabinets;
- in boxes and crates in the attic or garage;
- in wood.
Be careful when opening fruit packages. This spider is also called a banana spider, as it likes to climb into bananas and can end up in a package with these fruits. Although this happens quite rarely, be careful when unpacking fruit shipped from regions where the Brazilian wandering spider lives.

Biting Prevention

Wear protective gloves when working in dark areas or carrying firewood. If you live in the Brazilian wandering spider's range, wear long sleeves, a hat and gloves, and tuck your pants into your socks when working in the garage or near woods. It is advisable to use protective clothing also when working in the attic, utility rooms and basements.

If you have not worn gloves, clothes and shoes for a long time, shake them before use. The Brazilian wandering spider can hide in the folds of clothing and also climb into cozy places like gloves or boots. Shake clothes and shoes lightly before putting them on. However, don't push them too hard, or the hiding spider might get angry or scared.

Don't panic if a spider falls out of your clothes or shoes. Move slowly to the side and leave the room.

Before entering dark rooms, such as closets, check them. Turn on the light. If there is no light in the room, take a flashlight with you and inspect the corners and cluttered places.

Install mosquito nets and doors that close tightly to keep spiders out of your home. The best way to avoid getting bitten in your own home is to keep spiders out! Check all mosquito nets and doors for cracks and holes through which spiders could get into your home. Replace any broken or loose screens and doors.
- You can also spray insect and spider repellant around doors and windows to keep intruders out.
Do not keep firewood near the house itself. Spiders love to hide among firewood, so don't keep them close to your house. Keep firewood and dry branches in the yard and handle them carefully.

Walking through the favelas (the so-called slums) of Rio de Janeiro at night is suicide! There are creatures with whom you will be very uncomfortable. Look at this creature - in front of you is an ominous Brazilian traveler spider and jokes are bad with him.

These spiders are very aggressive. In danger, spiders raise their paws, exposing their fangs - this warning should be taken seriously. It is known to be one of the most venomous spiders in the world. Its bite can be deadly, but its venom also has a strange effect on the human genital area.

If you are a man and if you are bitten by such a spider, you will suffer a very painful and lasting erection. Scientists are still debating what effect it has on women, but a man's brain mistakes the chemicals in this spider's venom for the chemicals the brain produces to cause an erection.

Please note that this spider has been able to cause such an effect for millions of years, and people have only recently developed drugs that cause a similar reaction.

This spider has successfully changed its habitat from the jungle to the city and doesn't seem to be leaving Rio anytime soon.

Reference:

The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria, banana spider, Brazilian traveler spider) made it into the 2007 Guinness World Records for being responsible for the highest number of human deaths caused by spider bites. Importantly, these spiders are dangerous not only for their poison, but also for their behavior: they do not sit still and do not weave a web, they wander the earth, hide in buildings, clothes, boots, cars, anywhere; which significantly increases the risk of unexpectedly meeting them and being bitten.