Black Widow Spider, Latrodectus Variolus, Latrodectus Mactans, Family Theridiidae
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False Black Widows and Other Household Spiders
False Black Widows and Other Household Spiders Spiders can quite unnecessarily evoke all kinds of dread and fear. The Press does not help by publishing inaccurate and often alarmist stories about them. Spiders are in fact one of our very important beneficial creatures. Spiders in the UK devour a weight of insect 'pests' equivalent to that of the nation's human population! During the mid-late summer, many spiders mature and as a result become more obvious as they have then grown to their full size. One of these species is Steatoda nobilis. It came from the Canary and Madeiran Islands into Devon over a 100 years ago, being first recorded in Britain near Torquay in 1879! However it was not described from Britain until 1993, when it was known to have occurred since at least 1986 and 1989 as flourishing populations in Portsmouth (Hampshire) and Swanage (Dorset). There was also a population in Westcliff-on-Sea (Essex) recorded in 1990, and another in Littlehampton and Worthing (West Sussex). Its distribution is spreading more widely along the coast in the south and also inland, with confirmed records from South Devon, East Sussex, Kent, Surrey and Warwick. The large, grape-like individuals are the females and the smaller, more elongate ones, the males. These spiders are have become known as False Widows and, because of their colour, shape and size, are frequently mistaken for the Black Widow Spider that are found in warmer climes, but not in Britain (although some occasionally come into the country in packaged fruit and flowers). Black Widow Spiders belong to the world-wide genus Latrodectus. -
The Behavioural Ecology of Latrodectus Hasselti (Thorell), the Australian Redback Spider (Araneae: Theridiidae): a Review
Records of the Western Australian MIISellnl Supplement No. 52: 13-24 (1995). The behavioural ecology of Latrodectus hasselti (Thorell), the Australian Redback Spider (Araneae: Theridiidae): a review Lyn Forster McMasters Road, RD 1, Saddle Hill, Dunedin, New Zealand Abstract - Aspects of the biogeographical history and behavioural ecology of the AustralIan Latrodectus hasseIti provide support for the endemic status of this species. Cannibalism, prey stealing and short instar lengths are growth strategies for. female spiders whereas early maturation, small size, hiding and scavengmg are useful survival tactics for males. Moreover male complicity is an important component of sexual cannibalism which is ~hown to be a highly predictable event. Latrodectus hasseIti males hybridize with female L. katlpo (a New Zealand species) and fertile Fl and F2 generations Imply genetic relatedness. Hence, it is likely that L. hasselti and L. katipo evolv~d from a common ancestor in ancient Pangaea, a feasible explanation only If L. hasseItl IS endemic to Australia. It is concluded that L. hasseIti would have been able to persist in outback Australia for millions of years, with ItS mtraspeClfJc predatory habits aiding subsistence and the evolution of sexual cannibalism providing a way of coping with infrequent meeting and matmg opportunities. INTRODUCTION indigenous status, Main (1993) notes that, (as a Many stories and articles have been written consequence of its supposed introduction), "the about the redback spider (McKeown 1963; Raven absence of Latrodectus in the Australian region, 1992) with considerable attention being devoted to prior to human habitation, poses a curious its venomous nature (Southcott 1978; Sutherland zoogeographic dilemma". This comment raises an and Trinca 1978). -
Antivenin(Latrodectus Mactans)
ANTIVENIN- latrodectus mactans Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. ---------- ANTIVENIN (LATRODECTUS MACTANS) (Black Widow Spider Antivenin) Equine Origin DESCRIPTION Antivenin (Latrodectus mactans) is a sterile, non-pyrogenic preparation derived by drying a frozen solution of specific venom-neutralizing globulins obtained from the blood serum of healthy horses immunized against venom of black widow spiders (Latrodectus mactans). It is standardized by biological assay on mice, in terms of one dose of Antivenin neutralizing the venom in not less than 6000 mouse LD50 of Latrodectus mactans. Thimerosal (mercury derivative) 1:10,000 is added as a preservative. When constituted as specified, it is opalescent, ranging in color from light (straw) to very dark (iced tea), and contains not more than 20.0 percent of solids. Each single-dose vial contains not less than 6000 Antivenin units. One unit of Antivenin will neutralize one average mouse lethal dose of black widow spider venom when the Antivenin and the venom are injected simultaneously in mice under suitable conditions. CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY The pharmacological mode of action is unknown and metabolic and pharmacokinetic data in humans are unavailable. INDICATIONS AND USAGE Antivenin (Latrodectus mactans) is used to treat patients with symptoms due to bites by the black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans). Early use of the Antivenin is emphasized for prompt relief. Local muscular cramps begin from 15 minutes to several hours after the bite which usually produces a sharp pain similar to that caused by puncture with a needle. The exact sequence of symptoms depends somewhat on the location of the bite. The venom acts on the myoneural junctions or on the nerve endings, causing an ascending motor paralysis or destruction of the peripheral nerve endings. -
Western Black Widow Spider
Arachnida Western Black Widow Spider Class Order Family Species Arachnida Araneae Theridiidae Latrodectus hesperus Range Reproduction Special Adaptations The genus is worldwide. Growth: gradual, molts several times. Venom: Although never Western Texas, Okla- Egg: produced in bunches of 40 or more, wrapped in silk and sus- aggressive, the females homa and Kansas north pended from the web, can hatch within a week of being laid. occasionally bite hu- to Canada and west to the Immature: pure white after hatching and slowly gaining color with each mans but only in self defense (males do not Pacific Coaststates molt. Adult: may live for several years. The female can store sperm for many bite humans). They months. It is a fallacy that the female always eats the male after can cause a serious but Habitat mating. rarely fatal result. The venom is neurotoxic and Found in tropical, temper- Physical Characteristics is reported to be 15 times ate and arid zones in a as poisonous as that of the rattlesnake. Symptoms multitude of habitats. Mouthparts: chelicerate, fangs are perpendicular to body line. Duct from a include a painful tight- poison gland opens from the base of each fang. The mouth and ening of the abdomenal jaws are on the underside of the head. Niche wall muscles, increased Legs: 8 long, narow legs. blood pressure and body Eyes: 8 eyes. Usually found in temperature, nausea, lo- Egg: their eggs are layed in clusters and covered with silk to undisturbed places like calized edema, asphyxia form an egg sac. wood piles, outhouses, and convulsions. Medical Immature: white at first , gaining color with each molt. -
Emergency and Urgent Care Livestream Course April 22-25, 2020 3/27/2020
Emergency and Urgent Care Livestream Course April 22-25, 2020 3/27/2020 Day 4 - Saturday, April 25, 2020 - (Session times are based off the Eastern Time Zone) CME Credit 7:55 – 8:00 am Announcements – Alan Ehrlich, MD 8:00 – 9:00 am Interventions to Abandon in the ER & UC – Paul D. Simmons, MD, FAAFP; Mark A. Graber, 1.00 MD, MSHCE, FACEP 9:00 – 10:00 am Acute Abdominal Pain - Paul D. Simmons, MD, FAAFP 1.00 10:00 – 10:15 am Break 10:15 – 11:15 am Animal Bites and Stings – Paul D. Simmons, MD, FAAFP 1.00 11:15 am – 12:15 pm Assessment of the Acutely Ill Elderly Patient – Alan Ehrlich, MD 1.00 12:15 pm Course Adjourns Copyright© 2020 American Academy of Family Physicians. All rights reserved. Interventions to Abandon in the ER & UC Paul D Simmons, MD, FAAFP Mark A. Graber, MD, MSHCE, FACEP Disclosure It is the policy of the AAFP that all individuals in a position to control content disclose any relationships with commercial interests upon nomination/invitation of participation. Disclosure documents are reviewed for potential conflicts of interest and, if identified, conflicts are resolved prior to confirmation of participation. Only those participants who had no conflict of interest or who agreed to an identified resolution process prior to their participation were involved in this CME session. • Vu Kiet Tran, MD, MBA has disclosed a relationship with Elvium on the topic “Acute Pain Management”. All individuals in a position to control content for this session have indicated they have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. -
Accidents Caused by Spider Bites
Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 2014, 4, 113-117 Published Online June 2014 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojas http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojas.2014.43015 Accidents Caused by Spider Bites Annelise Carla Camplesi1*, Sthefani Soares Albernaz1, Karina Paes Burger1, Carla Fredrichsen Moya-Araujo2 1School of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, Sao Paulo State University—UNESP, Jaboticabal, Brazil 2School of Veterinary Medicine—FIO, Ourinhos, Brazil Email: *[email protected] Received 9 April 2014; revised 15 May 2014; accepted 22 May 2014 Copyright © 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Abstract Accidents caused by spider bites occur in many countries and represent a public health problem due to their high severity and occurrence of fatal accidents. In Veterinary Medicine, the incidence of arachnidism is considered nonexistent in large animals, as their thick skin cannot be pierced, rare in cats and common in dogs, particularly due to their exploratory and curious habit, and the habitats of venomous animals, such as the arachnids, located close to urban areas. The aim of this review is to describe the characteristics and distribution of spiders, the mechanism of action of the venom, clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment of accidents caused by arachnids of genera Loxos- celes sp., Phoneutria sp., Latrodectus sp., and suborder Mygalomorphae. Keywords Arachnids, Clinical Signs, Diagnosis, Treatment 1. Introduction Spiders are the second largest order of arachnids, with more than 41,000 species described. Practically all of them are venomous, but only some of them have potential significance to human medicine and veterinary medi- cine, due to their venom toxicity, habitat of species, among other factors [1]. -
Beach Dynamics and Recreational Access Changes on an Earthquake-Uplifted Coast
Beach dynamics and recreational access changes on an earthquake-uplifted coast Prepared for Marlborough District Council August 2020 Marine Ecology Research Group University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800 Christchurch 8140 ISBN 978-0-473-54390-7 (Print) ISBN 978-0-473-54392-1 (Online) For citation: Orchard, S., Falconer, T., Fischman, H., Schiel, D. R. (2020). Beach dynamics and recreational access changes on an earthquake-uplifted coast. Report to the Marlborough District Council, 42pp. ISBN 978-0-473-54390-7 (Print), ISBN 978-0-473-54392-1 (Online). Available online from https://hdl.handle.net/10092/101043 This work is made available under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. For further information please contact: [email protected] Ph: +64 3 369 4141 Disclaimer Information contained in report is provided in good faith based on the preliminary results of field studies, literature review and third party information. Assumptions relied upon in preparing this report includes information provided by third parties, some of which may not have been verified. The information is provided on the basis that readers will make their own enquiries to independently evaluate, assess and verify the information’s correctness, completeness and usefulness. By using this information you acknowledge that this information is provided by the Marine Ecology Research Group (MERG). Findings, recommendations, and opinions expressed within this document relate only to the specific locations of our study sites and may not be applicable to other sites and contexts. MERG undertakes no duty, nor accepts any responsibility, to any party who may rely upon or use this document. -
Tarantulas and Social Spiders
Tarantulas and Social Spiders: A Tale of Sex and Silk by Jonathan Bull BSc (Hons) MSc ICL Thesis Presented to the Institute of Biology of The University of Nottingham in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Nottingham May 2012 DEDICATION To my parents… …because they both said to dedicate it to the other… I dedicate it to both ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost I would like to thank my supervisor Dr Sara Goodacre for her guidance and support. I am also hugely endebted to Dr Keith Spriggs who became my mentor in the field of RNA and without whom my understanding of the field would have been but a fraction of what it is now. Particular thanks go to Professor John Brookfield, an expert in the field of biological statistics and data retrieval. Likewise with Dr Susan Liddell for her proteomics assistance, a truly remarkable individual on par with Professor Brookfield in being able to simplify even the most complex techniques and analyses. Finally, I would really like to thank Janet Beccaloni for her time and resources at the Natural History Museum, London, permitting me access to the collections therein; ten years on and still a delight. Finally, amongst the greats, Alexander ‘Sasha’ Kondrashov… a true inspiration. I would also like to express my gratitude to those who, although may not have directly contributed, should not be forgotten due to their continued assistance and considerate nature: Dr Chris Wade (five straight hours of help was not uncommon!), Sue Buxton (direct to my bench creepy crawlies), Sheila Keeble (ventures and cleans where others dare not), Alice Young (read/checked my thesis and overcame her arachnophobia!) and all those in the Centre for Biomolecular Sciences. -
Brown Recluse Spider Spider Control
needed to repair the damage caused by the bite. There may be other causes for what appears to be a brown recluse bite such as a bacterial infection rown Recluse Spider or a skin disease. Spiders Brown recluse spiders (Loxoceles reclusa) Brown recluse bites are rarely fatal, but if you think B you have been bitten by a brown recluse spider, are usually light to medium brown in color with a darker violin-shaped marking on their back. see a doctor as soon as possible. Save the spider The base of the violin marking is near the head, if possible, and bring it with you to the doctor. with the neck of the violin pointing toward the Treatment may include a tetanus shot, antibiotics, abdomen. Their bodies are about a quarter of an steroids or certain other medications that prevent inch in length, and the thin legs about one inch the wound from expanding. Removing skin around long. Unlike most spiders, which have eight eyes, the bite may be helpful, if done soon after the bite. the brown recluse has six eyes. As the name implies, brown recluse spiders like to live in dark, protected areas. They can live outdoors pider Control or indoors. In North Carolina, they are most likely It is best to leave spiders alone as they are to be found in a house or storage building. The S typically harmless to people and can even be beneficial. brown recluse builds a small, flat mat of silk in The best way to keep spiders out of your house is to keep which it hides. -
Bugs R All December 2012 FINAL
ISSN 2230 – 7052 No. 19, December 2012 Bugs R All Newsletter of the Invertebrate Conservation & Information Network of South Asia IUCN Species Survival Commission: Joint vision, goal and objecves of the SSC and IUCN Species Programme for 2013-16 The work of the SSC is guided by the Vision of: 2. Analysing the threats to biodiversity A just world that values and conserves nature through To analyse and communicate the threats to biodiversity posive acon to reduce the loss of diversity of life on and disseminate informaon on appropriate global earth. conservaon acons; 3. Facilitang and undertaking conservaon acon The overriding goal of the Commission is: To facilitate and undertake acon to deliver biodiversity- The species exncon crisis and massive loss of based soluons for halng biodiversity decline and catalyse biodiversity are universally adopted as a shared measures to manage biodiversity sustainably and prevent responsibility and addressed by all sectors of society species‟ exncons both in terms of policy change and taking posive conservaon acon and avoiding negave acon on the ground; impacts worldwide. 4. Convening experAse for biodiversity conservaon To provide a forum for gathering and integrang the Main strategic objecves: knowledge and experience of the world‟s leading experts For the intersessional period 2013–2016, the SSC, working on species science and management, and promong the in collaboraon with members, naonal and regional acve involvement of subsequent generaons of species commiees, other Commissions and the Secretariat, will conservaonists. pursue the following key objecves in helping to deliver IUCN‟s “One Programme” commitment: More informaon is available in the IUCN Species 1. -
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 114(5): 121, November & December 2003 Mailed on September 30, 2004 242 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
Vol. 1 14, No. 5, November & December 2003 241 _ _ REUSE OF OLD TRYPOXYLON POLITUM NEST BY CHALYBION CALIF ORNICUM (HYMENOPTERA: SPHECIDAE) IN NEW YORK, U.S.A. 1 Frank E. Kurczewskr ABSTRACT: The re-use of an old Tiypoxylon politum mud pipe organ nest by a female Clmlyhinn californicum is described and illustrated. The female C. californicum cleaned, renovated, and stocked with paralyzed spiders 19 of the abandoned 25 T. politum cells. Some C. californicum behavioral components are delineated. KEYWORDS: Re-use of nests, Trypoxylon, Chalybion, Hymenoptera, Sphecidae. Species of Chalybion build mud nests in preexisting cavities and crevices and renovate the abandoned mud nests of other species of wasps (Bohart and Menke 1976). Females carry water to a nearby earthen source and mold mud to partition and seal these nests (Rau 1928, Ward 1971). Species of Chalybion renovate and stock with paralyzed spiders the abandoned mud nests of Sceliphron and Ttypoxy- Ion (Bohart and Menke 1976). Old nests of the yellow and black mud dauber, Sceliphron caementarium (Drury), are sometimes reused for nesting by the blue mud dauber, Chalybion californicum (Saussure) (Rau 1928). The re-use of an abandoned mud pipe organ nest of Trypoxylon politum Say by a female C. cali- fornicum is unusual, has not been previously documented, and is detailed below. RESULTS An old T. politum nest located on the outskirts of Syracuse (Onondaga County, New York, U.S.A.) had seven pipes affixed near the top of a vertical cedar siding board underneath a 70 roof 1 cm-wide overhang (Fig. ). The seven pipes were built consecutively from left to right by one female in July 1999. -
Sand Dune Restoration in New Zealand
Sand dune restoration in New Zealand: Methods, Motives, and Monitoring Figure one: Pet cat looking out over restored dunes at Eastbourne. Photo taken by author November 2008. Samantha Lee Jamieson A thesis submitted for the partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Science in Ecological Restoration Victoria University of Wellington School of Biological Sciences 2010 [i] ABSTRACT Sand dunes are critically endangered ecosystems, supporting a wide variety of specialist native flora and fauna. They have declined significantly in the past century, due to coastal development, exotic invasions, and stabilization using marram grass ( Ammophilia arenaria ). An increasing number of restoration groups have carried out small scale rehabilitations of using native sand binding plants spinifex ( Spinifex sericeus ) and pingao ( Desmoschoenus spiralis ). However like many other restoration ventures, efforts are not formally monitored, despite the potential for conservation of species in decline. This thesis seeks to investigate the social and ecological aspects of sand dune restoration in New Zealand. Firstly, the status of restoration in New Zealand was examined using web based surveys of dune restoration groups, identifying motivations, methods, and the use of monitoring in the restoration process. Secondly, the ecology of restored and marram dominated sand dunes was assessed. Vegetation surveys were conducted using transects of the width and length of dunes, measuring community composition. Invertebrates were caught using pitfall traps and sweep netting, sorted to order, and spiders, beetles and ants identified down to Recognizable Taxonomic Units (RTUs) or species where possible. Lizards were caught in pitfall traps, and tracking tunnels tracked the presence of small mammals in the dunes.