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Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects
1935
A Study of the "Black Widow" Spider Latrodectus mactans, Fabricius
Elizabeth Burger Jackson College of William & Mary - Arts & Sciences
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Recommended Citation Jackson, Elizabeth Burger, "A Study of the "Black Widow" Spider Latrodectus mactans, Fabricius" (1935). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1539624408. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.21220/s2-0x40-v304
This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A STUDY OF THE * BLACK WIDOW** SPIDER
LATRODECTUS MACTAHS, FABRICIUS, "by Elizabeth Burger 2
A STUDY OF THE "BLACK WIDOW" SPIDER
LATRODECTUS MACTAKS,FABRICIUS. By
Elizabeth Burger 3
SUBMITTED IF PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF
TICS REQUIREMENTS OF
THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY
for the degree ef MASTER OF ARTS
1934-1935 4
TA3L3 07 GOOTHHTS
Introduotion 5
S y m n o w y 7
Description 7
Distribution 8
H a b ita t 9
H a b its Food XO Breeding 12
Methods of Hearing 18
Poison Apparatus Description 20 Development 21 C a p a c ity 2 2
P o is o n 23 Experimental Studies 24
Iraohnidisra by L, maotans In Virginia 30
C o n tro l 38
nummary 40
Illustrations S p id e r s 42 E la n d s 43 Map sh o v in g d i s t r i b u t i o n of arachnid!sm in Virginia 46
Bibliography 47 IHTROOTOTIOH
The "Black Widow 11 spider is the only spider
found in the continental area of the United States
that has been proved to be dangerously poisonous* This
spider is even class* d with rattlesnakes as to the
poisonous effect* (Merriam, 1910*)
The first known ease of Black Widow spider poisoning
in this country was reported by Dr* Abner Hopton of
Olintwood, H. 0. in 1830* The first reoorded death from
araohnidism by this spider was that of an employee of
John IT* Dick in Forth Carolina in 1889* Sinoe that time muoh experimental work has been done with spiders of
the genus Latrodectus. Riley and Howard published one of the earliest American papers on this subject in 1889*
In 1901* Rudolph Kobert* a German toxicologist* present* ed a detailed account of experiments with the Russian
Latrodeotus or Karakurt, Baerg published reports of the
effects of a Black Widow spider bite upon himself in
1923 and three years later Bogen reported 130 oases of
arachnid!sm in the United States during the preceding half of a century* A paper by Bogen In 1932 showed nearly 400 oases in this country*
The object of this study was a general oongider- ation of the biology of the Black Widow spider* Latro deotus mactans* with particular emphasis upon the development and morphology of the poison glands* pre* 6
liminary to further study along medical lines, and a collection of d a ta of the in c id e n c e of ar^chnidiem in Virginia* Studies of the venom of this spider from a lexicological viewpoint and the e f f e c t of the to x in upon nerve tissues are contemplated,
The work was Carried on at thu College of William and Hary during 1934-1935, under the direction of Dr,
H, L, Taylor, who suggested the problem to me and who has offered invaluable guidance, The w riter is greatly indebted a l s o to: Dr, D, *?, Davis, Head of tho D ep art* m ent of liology, Tollege of William and Hary, for his aid and interests and Dr, T', n, l, H iller, Secretary of the Virginia Academy of Science, for his Interest and help in collecting data on case reports. 7
s r s m a a t
'The 31aok TTidow spider has been known as Therl- diua vereoundum. T. llneatua. T. oaroiloua. I.^rodeot,u,)» perf idug.Lwform idabilis. £.* dotatue. *L, gorilla. tnterseotor. ;L. apioalig, rariegatus. L, thoracious.
(Bogen, 1926*) The scientific name now used is Latro- deotuB maotans, Jfobrioiua, (Fetrunkewitoh, 1911*)
Common names of this spider are the Hour-glass spider, the shoe button spider, the T-bar spider, and the po-ko-moo, Latrodeotug aiaotans is a web-spinning spider of the family Theridiidae, The females of this speoies are the largest in this family. These spiders are coab- footed, sedentary, spinning webs to oatoh prey and on which to place egg saos.
They hare four pair of lateral eyes, widely separat ed, There are three tarsal olaws, with a comb on the tar sus of the fourth pair of legs, which is used for fling ing silk from the silk glands opening on the spinnerets,
(Comstock, 1913,)
2XSSCKIPTI0H
The female, whloh is the sex responsible for the oases of arachnidism, has a globose abdomen of about
,95 centimeters in length, on the rentral surface of which there is the characteristic scarlet "hour-glass’1 8
and on the dorsal surface slightly above the spinner* ete, a sim ilarly colored dot* The oephalothorax is approximately ,32 centimeters in length and width*
The abdomen and oephalothorax are glossy ooal black, covered with very fine, short, blaok hairs and averaging about 1,3 centimeters in length. The spider may stretoh her slender, shiny, blaok legs over a span of 5 centimeters. (Fig. 1,)
Immature females and males are much sm aller and have more elaborate markings, lesides the ventral hour glass mark, they have dorsally a series of white stripes on either side of a row of scarlet or orange dots. The males may be distinguished from the females by the bulbous palpi, which develop into oopulatory organs, ITewly-hatched spiders are light brown, gradually assuming the black color in a series of eight molts,
DISTRIBUTION
The genus Latrodeotus is found in widely separated parts of the world, (Riley and Howard, 1889,) mao tans is restricted to the United States and western South
America* Other species, all of which are poisonous, L. curaoienslB. £* geometrious have been identified in Cuba, h* hasseltl or the "Katipo", in Australia, menavodj. on islands off South Africa, L. lugobrls or the "Karakurt", 9
in Russia, L. trideoim guttatuc. between Spain and
Italy, and £. oongoblatus. in Greece. (Bogen, 1926.)
The Blaok Widow is found store or less abundantly
throughout the southern half of the United States and has been reported in most of the cither states. In
Virginia the spiders are found ohiefly along the Coastal
Plain, although oases of poisoning from this spider hare been reported as far into higher country as
Charlottesville and B ristol.
Some oonoept of the abundanoe of this spider in
Williamsburg may be obtained from these instances.
Fifty Individuals of varying stages were found this spring among the stones of a rook-banked curbing cover ing about thirty-five feet by two feet, on the east side of Texas Avenue. Of the collection, fifteen were mature female spiders, twenty-three were immature females and twelve were immature males. Three months later, five mature females, one mature male and two
immature females were oollected from the same area.
From the bases of a briok wall Blaok Widow spiders were found, one being found in about every six or eight inches.
HABITAT
The Black Widow spider is found in various situations. Her oharacterlstio habitat is in damp, dimly lighted places, where she may be undisturbed. In nature, these spiders usually live under stones, wood,
around stumps and roots of trees. Specimens have even
been taken under debris on beaches. At one time this
spider was only noticed in rural districts, where it was found in outdoor privies and old buildings; now this
pest shows up around urban hoses and occasionally may be found under steps, in furniture, in old clothes, in g a r a g e8 , and in gardens,
HABITS
The Black widow spider is so named because she devours her mate, although she does not differ from many
other species In this; she will not tolerate the presence of any other spider even of the same species. The females are especially antagonistic,
She feeds upon any insect, spider, or small animal which she may ensnare in her web. Although she is a vigorous attacker and fearless fighter, apparently she fights only when in search of food or when her domain is invaded. (Hall and Vogel song, 1932.) Work with over five hundred of these spiders has shown only one apparently vicious spider. Fortunately, this spider generally is XX
not aggressive, only inserting her poison-injecting ehelicerae when cornered,
The procedure in feeding is to hind the viotim in silken threads which are pulled forth from the spinner ets by the hind legs 9 insert the ohelioerae and poison the prey, string up the body in the web and finally to suok the body fluids. Later, the dried husk is out from the web, Small insects such as flies are dropped from the web within a few hours; larger insects suoh as beetles are suspended in the web for a day or two,
It has been noted by Blair (1934} that the Blaok
Widow does not feed immediately preceding, during, or following a molt.
That the spider is capable of surviving for ease time without food is shown by the following records.
Of thirty spiders, fifteen male and fifteen female, deprived of food for forty-two days in late spring, eleven males and one female survived. This also in dicates that the male of this species has a higher survival potentiality with lack of food. It would seem probable that the differential in this case was due to the faot that the female spiders were preparing to lay eggs during this period, which should constitute a heavy drain upon the reserve food, and that, with no external source of food, the starvation was apparently 12
fatal* The female spiders were suffering an inoreased drain on their food supply*
A oolleotion of remains of animals from nine in- habitated Blaok Widow spider webs indioatee what animals apparently served as prey for this spider* The number of individuals of eaoh species is indioated in parentheses following eaoh name*
GASTROPODA i Pulmonata-Planorbis (1] •small snail (l)
ARAUEIDA: Attidae (1)
PHALA2JG IBAi Phalangodidae ( 1 )
OCttEOPTBRA* Carabldae-CarabuB viaatus (2)
.Aga£ CD Ptero»tiafam aaaaBflat (3) not identified further than family (3)
Sa«r»b— ldaB-lfeyXXopfaMa m o m (7 ) not identified further than family (3)
DIPTKRAs Saroophagidae (1) HTMSROPTSRAr Forwioidae- Cauaponotus p«nnay~I.T«ntio» (3)
ISOPTERA* Termitldae- R>tlaulUcnaea flarlpe» (2)
ZEakil* Lawson and B lair have made notes on the life history of this spider that vary in some respects* It would seem not unlikely that these variations ean be attri~ 13
touted to differences in climate since Lawson's observations were made in Colorado and Blair*s were made in Alabama* The following observations on the life history of the Blaok Widow spider hare been made in Williamsburg*
The mature female usually constructs three egg oases eaoh season, each sac containing from 239 to
603 eggs* the average being about 3DO eggs* Lawson
(1934) reports finding the majority of egg oases con- taining from 500 to 700 eggs* The eggs are white* translucent, with a shell-like covering over a semi fluid content, spherical in shape and about *7mm* in diameter. They are easily broken and it is very difficult to handle them without crushing* The eggs contain a highly potent poison*
The eggs are laid at night from early spring to late fall* In the latter case the eggs do not usually hatch until the following spring* or if they hatch* the young spiderlings remain in the ease until waxm weather* Lawson (1934) gives an account of the con* struct ion of an egg case* The female spider spun a bell-shaped sac attached to the web* thrust her abdomen into the sac, laid her eggs* then olosed up the case* and oovered the whole ease with additional strands of 14
silk. the whole procedure required two Moure and thirty* three minutes. the oeler of the sae varies from a near white te a yeAlewlsh tan. The case is balleon*shaped* about 12mm. in le n g t h and 9 tm . in width* spun of coarse viscous threads and placed in the upper denser part of the distinctively coarse* irregular web. The spider usually has a place of retreat in the ground at the end of the web; however* she rarely deserts the egg sacs.
ESS easesnwre made about every fourteen days under natural conditions in the field .(1) A web was located
A p r il 25* 1935 . Mgg c a s e s w ere made Hay 1* 1935* May 17*
1935 and May 30* 1935. (2) A second web was found May 7* 193^
Egg s a c s w ere made May 9* 1935* May 24* 1935 and June 7* 1935. Me emergences were noted in the field as the cases were removed from the web and kept in the laboratory.
Sgg eases were made at intervals of about twelve days in the laboratory, (l) This female was found in the field
S ep tem b er 2 1 * 1934 with no egg cases in her nest. She was watered and fed every other day in the laboratory and placed in a cage with two male spiders on September 28*
1934* which she seen devoured. Mating was not observed.
She made egg cases on the following dates: October 9* 1934*
June 18* 1934* June 25* 1935* July 3* 1935* July 1 2 * 1935* and July 18* 1935. The first three cases hatched three weeks 1 5
after they were made. It should be noted that this spider
laid fertile eggs in the spring with no opportunity of
mating since the previous fall* which suggests hhat she
is capable of scoring sperm*as is the case with moat spidery and for an unusually long period. According to Savory* parth
enogenesis rarely occurs in spiders* ( 2 ) This specimen was taken in the field December 7* 1934* She was not mated in
the laboratory. She laid eggs February 6 * 1935* February
14* 1935* February 23* 1935 and Ifarch 2* 1935 and died
April 3* 1935. The female usually died after completion
of her egg sacs. The life span of a female spider is about
one year. It is probable that under laboratory conditions
these spiders were much better fed than they would have been
in the field and therefore laid more egg cases and laid them at closer intervals. The female spider feeds more and is much more aggress ive during her egg-laying period. At this time she fights
for food and to defend her ygghfacs. Ihen a living insect was placed in the bontainer with a female spider* she
immediately attacked the insect* stringing it up in her
web and sucking the body fluids. If an attempt was made to
remove the insect body Before the spider had discarded it*
she would cling to the body of her prey. The female spider
always remained close to her egg sacs and could not be 16
pushed away with a stick in oentrast to her usual retreat with such treatment.
Spiders emerge within three weeks after the egg sac is made* under summer conditions; during the winter* unless kept in a warm room* the spiders may stay in the case for two or three months. B lair(1954) found that ftpiderlings emerge within eleven days. Temperature seems to he the factor controlling emergence. Moisture is an important factor lim iting the hatching of eggs. Egg sacs kept in a very dry plaoe never hatched. A minute hole was made in the case through which the spiders emerged. The manner in which the hole la made has not been observed.
There is* apparently* ne consistency in the sine of spiders of each instar or the length of time between molts* but characteristic markings are definitely the same for each spider in the same Instar. The size of the spider and the interval between molts see^te be dependent upon the food supply.
When hatched* the young spiderlings are transparent* reddish brown* with no ventral markings* and dersally twp white lateral stripes en eaoh side ef the median white stripe and a V-shaped white mark near the base of the abdomen. There is a blaok region on the cephalotherax around the ocelli and a dark brown area on the tip of the abdomen. 1?
The first melt •oourxsl within about fire days after the spiders leave the egg ease. Blair (1934) states that he has seen instances in which the first melt 4ccurred within the case. Sliders ef the second instar ware darker* with the same dorsal markings* hut more definite* and the additional ventral hour-glass faintly outlined in white* the third instar shewed black outlining thv white dorsal abdominal stripes* An indistinct touch of scarlet appears at the tip of the abdomen and a slight suggestion
of scarlet shows on the white hour-glass. The legs are darker except for a light area on the femora* base of the patellae and two light bands on the tibiae. Palpi me beginning to enlarge in the males.
The fourth Instar showed more black between the white dorsal stripes and orange appeared on the median white line*
After the fourth molt* the male is easily discernible by the bulbous palpi which serve at maturity as eopulatory
organs. The male spiders retain the two white lateral
8 t±$pea# dorsal orange stripe and hour-glass throughout development. The body and legs darken until they are ooal black. The body of the female is almost entirely black* with indefinite white markings laterally and a clear orange median line* dorsally* and the hour-glass entirely scarlet*
c e n t r a l l y . 18
Through the fifth* sixth and seventh melts* the spiders gradually assume the entire blaok oeat* leasing the white ventral markings and retaining the dorsal stripe* reduced te a raw ef scarlet date*
The last melt shewed the mature spider* ceal black* except far the ventral heugglass and spat an the tip ef the abdemen near the spinnerets* which are scarlet*( Far mare detailed fermal descriptions* eee Lawsan, 1934*)
S p id e r 9 hatching in the fall are mature the fallowing spring* after a series ef eight malts* Blair (1934) noted that maturity was reached after six malts* and Law 3 a n (1 9 3 4 )
observed that *hewe i Sf # **nin o r i n k t d r a .
Spiders were collected during the fall* winter* spring* and summer* in all different stages of development in each
season* indicating there is no regular time far the
spiders to mature and that spiders may pass the wim|er in any stage ef development in Williamsburg. It should be noted that the climate of Williamsburg is mild.
METHODS OF REARING
Since the Blaok Widow ftpider is cannibal!stio, it is necessary to keep eaoh living female specimen in an Individ* ual container; male spiders* however* may be kept together
since* although the male does fe&ve a poisonous bite* he is not apparently cannibalistic.
In this study* a glass tumbler served as a suitable 19
container for the spiders. The bottom ef the tumbler was covered with sand* upon which was placed a small wad
of non-absorbent cotton. The top of the tumbler was so*
cured by a piece of fine cheese-cloth and a rubber band. A
small hole was cut in the cloth* into which a thistle tube
was inserted for the Introduction of food and water. When
not in use# the hole was plugged with cotton. The spiders were fed upon any available insects*
particularly Orthoptera and Coleoptera. During the winter months* fruitflies* reared uponja cornmeal and molasses
mixttne* and blowflies* reared upon meat* were a plenti ful and convenient source of food. Adult and immature spid
ers were given a living inseot every three days. Hewly-
hatched spiders live purely cannibalistically for the first week but thenjrere separated and fed upon fruit-flies* which
are especially suitable because of their size. The fruit-
flies were transferred to the spider’s container by in verting a thistle tube over the mouth of the bottle in which the flies were raised and covering the bottle to
darken the interior. Since the fruit-flies are positively
phototrophic* they moved into the thistle tube. The tube was then righted and the flies were shaken down through the
stem into the spider’s web. After the first week* about
twenty-four spiders were left* about one-half of which were females. Lawson(1934) found that the survivors were 20
almost solely females due to the larger else of this sex.
At this stage , the writer observed no differentiation
in size and tie sex of the spiders was determined only hy watching further dOTelopment.
fQISOB APPARATUS
Description
The poison apparatus of the Blaok Widow spider con
sists of a pair of chelioerae and two poison glands located in the anterior part of the cephalothorax. The
ehelieerae are aaAposedjef a fang and a larger basal portion. A small duct leads from the minute opening near
the tip of the fang* through the center of the chelioera
to the gland* the upper part of which lies inside of the
chelioera.( fig. 2 .) The opening of the fang is so placed
that that it is not closed by the pressure of the puncture 9
but permits the poison to flow freely into the wound.
According to Savory (1928) and Riley and jTehannesen(1932)
the poison gland is surrounded by delicate muscles and
it is probable that the injection of the venom is due to muscular contraction and that the act of puncturing does not in itself expel the poison.
The ehelieerae were cleared for study by bleaching
for one hour in a solution of a few crystals of potassium
chlorate* three dfops of concentrated hydrochloric acid 21
and 6 cc. of ethyl alcohol(60$).
Development A study ef the development of the poison apparatus shows a gradual increase In size with each instar.(Table p*22|Fig,3 ). The poison gland of an adult female spider measured 1.44 mm* in length and .49 mm. in width, ifltethe greatest length and width. The gland of a newly-hatched spider was .24 mm. in length and .07 mm. in width, a reduction by nine times from that of the adult female spider. The ehelieerae of the mature female spider were 2.08 mm. in iid&fch and .52 mm. in width. In the first instar. the ehelieerae measured .28 mm. in length and .09 mm. in width, those of the adult female spider being seven times larger.
The poison gland ef a mature male spider was found to be •98 mm. long and..28 mm. wide and the ehelieerae measur ed .82 mm. in length and .42 mm. in width. The poison apparatus of the adult male spider is about the size of that of a female spider of the seventh instar. In pro portion to the size of his body, the gland of the male is fully as large as that of a female of the same size.
This is an interesting flndlgg since males of this species have been considered harmless by most w riters. 22
Table Showing Sise of Poison Gland and Chelioera® at Eaoh Instar. (mean size from a sample ©f six spiders)
Chelioera Gland I n s t a r Sox l e n g th Fidthm m . I m & th w id th
K in th F 2 ,0 6 .5 2 1 .4 4 .4 9
B ig t^ k F 1 .4 7 . 42 1 .2 6 .3 5
S e v e n th F 1 . 1 2 .3 0 1 ,0 9 .2 8
B ln th .8 2 .4 2 .9 8 • 26
S ix th F .8 0 .2 8 .9 1 .1 6
F i f t h F .6 3 .1 9 .7 7 • 14 F o u rth F .5 6 ,1 8 .6 3 .0 9
T h ird F • 44 . 1 0 .5 0 .0 9
Second F .3 1 .0 9 .3 0 .0 8 F i r s t F .2 8 ,0 9 .1 4 .0 7
C a p a c ity
'Prom fine measurements ef crejections tafcen through- out a whole gland, a single poison gland ef an adult female spider was determined to hare an approximate capacity of
.0079 co. If both glands were completely emptied simultan eously, the amount of venom injected would be about .016 ec. 23\
P01BGS
Very little study has been made ef the nature and chemical oenatitutien ef the pel sen frem %atro- dectue mac tans. due chiefly te the difficulty in securing sufficient quantities ef the nenem fer a n a ly s is * the peisen is an oily, translueent, almest white liquid* According te Kennedy (1921), the venom has an acid reaction, a; hot bitter taste* gives the xanthe* preteic reaction and is rendered harmless by heating t e 9 0 °C*
Kebert (1901) has carried out detailed experiments with latredeetas IggSMIWL* Russian "Khrakurt"^ He has shewn that poisons may be found in the body, in 4 the eggs, and in the gland * J&achnelysin, from the body, was shown to dissolve the red blood corpuscles when introduced into blood taken from various birds and mammals* He therefore put araehnelysin in the class with the strongest kinds of blood poisons,
Kebert found that alcohol rendered the poison ineffective and;, that dry preservation over a period of fourteen years removed all traces ef the poison.
His attempts to clarify the poison by agents of albumin precipitation always showed attenuation of effect therefore no results were obtained."Kebert concludes that in its chemical nature the poison is neither an alkaloid nor a glycoside nor an acid, but a 28
toxalbumen, or poisonous enzyme* which is very sim ilar
te certain other animal poisons* notably that of the
scorpion?(Riley and Johannesen#1932)
KXPERIMESTAL STtJBIES
The literature of experimental studies of poisoning
from the *J&ack WideW spider is very conflicting. Bordas
reported bites by jatoM&Sim with no evidence of poisoning. Baerg(l923) reported severe
.symptoms following a bite on the finger by Latrodeotus mactans. He also reported producing immunity in a rat
by previous bites* Bogen {1926) confirmed these reports
by experiments with mice, which died from a few minutes f" : ;> ' ' to forty-eight hours after the bite. In this study* spiders were prepared to bite mice
by keeping them without food for two days preceding
the bite. The spider was held between the thumb and the
first two fingers and gently rubbed over the surface of the hind leg of the mouse. A slight soatOhi could be
felt when the spider inserted her ehelieerae. The spider
remained attached to the skin of the animal for about
one and one-half minutes. Definite symptoms were produced in mice by the
bite of a Black Widow spider* as may be illustrated f ¥■<>(» y r t m s r v if bHte* b y* * *V vt-bft£ n * l't by the following typical ease, A female mouse .weighing VS .1767 grams* the site of the puncture being on the
inside ef the left hind leg. The mouse was very active 25
and excited after the hite. Within thirty minutes the back became arched and by six heurs the mouse moved with a decided paralytic gait 4 The eyes were covered with a white mucous secretion by the twelfth heur and the animal died en the twenty*third heur* The meuse struggled violent**' ly fer ene half heur befere death* coughing and gasping. K The characteristic symptom was the white secretion ef the e y e 4 (See tab le* p*;ifc)
The rapidity ef the appearance ef symptem 3 and th e time that elapses befere death ensues are prebably de pendent upen individual susceptibility* the place and depth ef the bite* and the amount of peisen injected* whlc is largely a matter ef chance as there is ne way ef Vsgme- mating the quantity ef peisen. This very prebably aeeeuai* fer the reeevery ef the meuse in ene case* after a bite by an adult female Black Widow spider. (Table* p.^fc)
A bite by an Immature female spider preduced typical symptoms with reeevery in twelve heurs. (Table* p.£*>)
It is much mere difficult te cause a male spider te bite. The bite ef a mature male spider produced definite symptems but complete recovery occurred in from twelve^ te forty-eight heurs.
That the mature female spider* Immature fediale, and mature male spider ef Xatrodeotus mao tans are all capable ef preduoung effects* and the mature female* even 26
Table showing length of time for death or recovery
after bite of mouse by L.Mactans.
S&1&X W eight g . Wt. mouse g. Beath mature female • 1767 1 4 .0 3 24 h r . mature female .1 3 8 0 2 2 .9 5 38 h r . mature female .1 5 0 3 1 8 .0 0 recovery 72 hr. mature female .1 6 5 6 15006 32 h i . mature female .1 4 9 3 17.69 22 hr. mature female .1 5 7 4 1 6 .5 0 28 h r . immature female .0867 22.99 recovery 12 hr. mature male • 0500 27 recovery 48 hr. / mature male • 8634 24 no visible effects mature male .0 3 6 2 25 recovery 12 hr. mature male • 0400 23 recovery 24 hr.
Successive bites at one -hour intervals mature female .1 2 3 4 g . 19 38 h r .
18 recey®2yvf2 hr.
20. no visible effect
17 no visible effect 27
death* in mice* has been demonstrated*
Te test whether the peisen is exhausted by ene bite* a series ef four male mice* averaging 19 grams» was bitten at intervals ef ene heur by an^dult female spider weighing .1254 grams. The first animal shewed the usual reaction and died within thirty-eight heurs. The seoend animal de veloped the characteristic) white secretion en the eyes with in six hours but recovered within seventy-two hours. Ani mals three and four shewed no visible effects. This would seem te indicate that the peisen is almost completely ex- hausted by the first bite and that seme $ime la necessary fer the replenishment of the peisen glands*
Experiments with injections ef glands or whole bodies by other experimenters shewed no consistent results. Boll sad Vogelsang {1932) macerated bodies of I>. maotana and injected extracts from the bodies subcutaneously in white rats with negative findings. They suggested that seme ele ment in the body ef the spider neutralised the toxin e f the peisen glands. Begen (1932) reported no consistent effects obtained by injections ef macerated extracts e f spiders or glands in mice, rats* guinea*pigs* rabbits* cots* and dh&ekens. Coleman (1915) obtained positive results from injection of macerated glands in tea drops ef dis tilled water into the abdomen ef an eigtii months eld cat*
Be effects were produced by the w riter from subcut aneous injection o f macerated whole bodies* macerated 28
bodies without glands, or macerated glands alone» in mice*
It was found» however, that the body of a pregnant female oaused death within feyty-iive minutes after injection into a mouse. Since Latrodeotug eggs are lethal in small doses, a body containing about three hundred eggs not illsgieally could be expected to produce death. It is not improbable that this accounts for the discrepancy in results from injections ef whole spiders bodies by various experimenters.
In this study, one difficulty In obtaining results from injections of whole glands seems to be a matter of finding a satisfactory solvent for the poison in the gland, this work is now In progress. It is desirable to study and analyze the poison from the glands, rather* than the more easily obtained egg poison, since It is the poison from the glands that is injected when the spider bites.
There has been no Question as to the poisonous properties of the eggs of the Black Widow spider. Oslo* man (1915) produced death in an eigfch months old cat in three minutes by injection of macerated eggs, intra v e n o u s ly .
In this study, from a series of subcutaneous Injections of eggs in two oc. of distilled water, the average lethal dose for mice was determined to be between ene and two eggs.
(See table p .^ ). 29
Table Showing the Length of Time Before "Death or Recovery After Injection of Eggs in2 cc. distilled water*
Number of Eggs Tame of Death
50 45 min.
56 50 min.
20 60 min.
14 90 min.
7 5 hr.
# 3 48 hr.
2 4 days
* 1 no v is ib
^Average of three injections of same d@3e 30
Vice suffering from the effects ef injection ef eggs did net shew the same symptem ef the white secretion ef the eyes which was charcteristic in poisoning frem the bite by this spider* This suggests that the twe poisons are not identical. In fact# Becker and P*SBieur(1934) have shewn bp-; ere 8 el immunization experiments th at the peisen from the eggs and glands are net identical. They have also established immunities in rats by the injection ef sub- lethal doses ef egg extract and ef gland extract.
AHACHHIDISif BY LATROBBCTTIS MACTAB3 IB VIBGIHIA
Dr. Emil Begen(1926,1932) has collected reports ef three hundred and eighty eases of arachnidism by L.Maotana. in the Bnited States from 1720 to Sept. 1932 that were seriO&s enough to cause them to be recorded in medical literature. Certainly there have been many other oases not reported by physicians or net correctly diagnosed*
California leads in the num ber o f cases of arachnldieau followed by Virginia and VloridI?^8£e3hundred and eighteen authentic cases o f *Black Widpwfc s p i d e r p o is o n in g h av e been rOjortAd ^rt’ ^bfcOr iAudy from the state of Virginia.
The majority of these oases were in Tidewater Virginia especially arbund Korfolk and Richmond, and on the
Eastern Shore* Vifteen cases from Bristol show that 31
the range ef the Black Widow extends inte the mountains
In this state* (Map p. ffe) A large proportion ef these oases occurred since
1930. Meet ef the cases happened In the spring, summer,
er fall, during the natural breeding seasen ef the spider.
This suggests that the spider is mere aggressive daring
her breeding season than at ether times. The spiders were
located in privies in twenty-five instances, in a garden
four times, in bed in three eases,en the ground in three
instances, and once each in a stump, baseball glove, bathing suit, tobacco sticks# and porch. Most of the
patients had seen $hepa#dder...which they described as "black like a shoe-button with a red spet.f
Due to the fact that just under the seat of the
privy is so common a place for the Black Widow to be
found, many ef the reported oases ef arachnid ism in males
occurred on the penis et scrotum. The biteroccurred on
the genitalia in twenty-two instances, the leg in seven
eases, the hand six times, the arm thrice, the back in
four cases, the bcttecks twice and the neck and groin,
once e a c h .
local symptoms were very seldom found. In one case
a swelling like a blister formed immediately at the site
ef the bite. The skin was pricked and the liquid was
withdrawn. The area was wiped with alcohol. The patient
recovered with none ef the usual effects. Assuming that the 32
spider injected enough poison to Reduce symptoms# it might ho suggested that in this oase the poison was in jected only superficially and being removed immediately was not absorbed. The washing with alcohol would destroy any poison that might have been left in the wound# sines
alcohol is known to render the poison ineffestive.
The age ef the patients ranged from two to sixty- two. The largest number of eases were reported from adults between twenty and forty-five* Three-fourths ef the eases were in males# presumably beeause they are more often exposed to the haunts of this
s p i d e r .
there has been only one recorded fatality ffem Black Widow spider poisoning in Virginia, that of a two year old boy in Charlottesville. The bite of the Hack Widow is seldom fatal to adults. That young children are
more often hilled by spider poisoning is due# probably# to the larger amount of poison in proportion te body weight or volume ef the one who is bitten*
Recovery required from forty hours to three months# with paralysis lasting indefinitely. The usual time for
recovery was from a few days to two weeks*
Although fatalities occur only in about two per
cent of eases reported in this country# araehnidisa frost
this spider is nevertheless serious# since the victim U»Sod.|ljf
suffers three days of virtually unrelieved agony. 35
A study ef the oases reported la this state shews the fellowlag geaeral symptems and effects* The patients usually recall being stung * Tie first sensation resembles that of a pin prick fellwwed by a alight burning effect# but there is as local r ash#0^ swel 1 i ng * The first reaction* appears in from ten minutes to seirer&l hours after the exceedingly minute wound Is inflicted* There is pain# in* creasing in intensity# radiating from the site of the lesion#
later localising In the abdomen# baok, and legs# and usually accompanied by nausea* vomiting, prefuse perspiration, and urinary retention* The patient may complain of dlsslness and throbbing ef the head andgive a picture ef profound
shook. The most striking physical dhaniogeristic is the extreme board-*!ike rigidity ef the abdomen. Excruciating abdominal pains persist for one or more days# gcadually subsiding# unless terminating in death*
The treatment advised by Bsgen(l92$) consists ef the following three phasesr sedation with morphine# codeine# or barbital compounds; stimulation with aromatic spirits ef ammonia: and elim ination by magnesium sulphate or citrate and enemas* Begen used a specific serum treatment# consist**
lag ef the injection intramuscularly of 20 co* of blood from a patient who has recovered from latredectus poisoning*
Besuits were good only when the serum was administered immediately after the venomous inoculation. TIHK WHERE SPIDER WAS SITS OF BISS AG® SIX RECOVERY A o 4 o rH or © - s I M t o s o 60 *H & rH rH CO C0 i. P^> 09 rj 0) p m 0 P m O a © 3*> : *» > •H rH •H rH. to +0 rH C t* H P A a> P 60 n 0) m O g £0 0) i 0) A $ ■H CM *rH rH *iH H +a 10 Pi P !>s a 0 as g 0 60 0) TS CM rH t Pi P «tH P P .P H 0) •H 'O 0 CM 'H ■wf. © P H rH •H 60 £ 0 « 0 0 P 02 0 © P 0 -H 60 t> m as p ■*
s 0 a OS m $ P rH &; to 03 iH .H 4-s H Td A 0 > A 0 P P O £0 m £* O £0 a) a Q © >> • m H rH *H C3^ CO to o to p H ¥ ,P 0 0 A p 0 a »H o p o 2 m •' *P CO 8 HrH rH rH •H Os CQ rH t> A A P -• 0) g 04 CO tm iH 60 OS rH €0 rH rH * t&t: ► Is* P >% . © 0 h a a» P i •
•H rH .HI: J2i OCO CO H OS •a tO ♦rH P tO rH p o O Pi P £0 a> 02 w » CO m rH OS rH rH p nd p p >> d> <0 a i p o 0 © S' p e *r1 rH nd to Os rH ) « ■m H tQ 00 ai rH o * a A P © o P © Cv 4» nl Q) 5*0 * C 09 SC rH m *0 «M p r g g •rl t? HHt? * £ u H © rH +»iw/fe*H s ° *4 P 99 "& *H' •P Pt u >S l> P ra CO 0) £$ < 1 ? 34 40 34 ■ "t- -ifc 4 > J> * 1" c d «) v PLACE TIME WHERE SPIDER WAS SITE OEJITE AGE SEX RECOVERY M P p *H o £ 03 © © a «*i £ to H 03 oCO O) to o d 6 fH © U P< >> d d £ C «£ oo to o- rH P [ d f m • 03 oj "9#* P CO HrH rH P» £££ £ £ 3 © d i ,£ o ■* d i—1 to o £ 03 s? P t> 00 to .£ fH O 8} < P« d 0) d • rH M H• •H •H •H *H •H d rH +3 B d © © © £ rH to © © CO rH 03 d P £ d •H 03 d J>> P» fH £ rH p p n 00 rH 6 d © & * to to H 03 m s*? to © rH 0 eg {25 rQ 03 P d P to M CM rH VO X 03 0) 0 0 0 0 0 m rH 0 03 0) 0 0 0 0 0 rH rH rH rH rH i*H 03 H rH rH H rH rH rH H (ri £ 0 0 £ i a 03 £ 03 0 OS £ a B a a a a H 0 a a a a f ! a a a Cm *H p p P -P - p P m rH rH rH fH rH rH tb 04 P CO lO P £ P P o o o o CM o £ < CM n to xi T? •O *C3 to rH H to *d a 0 £ (6 (0 £ £h M m OS cti •rt •H pc, rH rH o 03 05 P 6 0 , £ •£ P w •H M a •H b0 bo •H EH £ o p £ p •H £ M 0 0 ^3 0 0 IQ &0 £ P Pi p 3 bO T3 , £ £ O P P O o ft P i b0 >> •H •H l> P £ £ p •H P i O o p . p P xs P i P i 03 & t o to rH rH CM IT) 04 «Q 04 to t o tO t o to rH 03 to CM 04 04 to 04 to to 04 rH 03 04 H rH 04 H to 04 rH H rH rH rH 04 rH •H >> 0 rH rH P b0 rH £ >> rH $* P P o3 flS >3 H 0 a* N «l s £ C s 0- « £ ^ m » ■5C %4» V OOSTROL the iBtftrnt in thia study hat aat been ptimar- ily that af central# but far completeness a brlaf summary af eaatral methods w ill be given* That tha Black Widow spider has became a aerleue paat ia shown by tha number af aaaaa af arachnid!aa reported yearly from thia spider. tha increase da tha number af rapartad oases m y aat ba dua ta tha iaaraaaa ia tha number af epldere but ta tha feet that meat physicians new recognise arachnidism ea a definite "clinical entity? the m at thorough mthad af eambating thia apidar in tha heme ia ta here e regular "spring hauaa cleaning* and inspection# taking oara in handling objects from closets# cellars and dark oemera. Spiders end egg oaaaa ahauld ba orushed and burned* Effective inaaat sprays should be used in all closets and places likely ta ba inf sated* fteteneae spray with ethylene diohloride haa bean suggested by tha Dept* af Health# tea haggles# Calif* thia iaseotiglde ia taxio ta L- mactaaa* yet harmless ta birds and mammals eating it* the latest praparation#davalapad by the Las Angelos Dept, af health# is a eelutiea of La thane* or d£# in light ail and ia tha bast deatruotant af thia apidar* there is a thioayanata compound used as a spray composition* non-toxic ta animals but vary taxio ta tha Black Vidas* 39 ihere thin spider is feuad abundantly in epea fields* burning after spraying tnith gasglene er keri* sent hen been successfully tried* Crseeete ell spray nay be used areund the yard einoe thia m aterial net extXy k ills the spider but ie a repellent* The ehief ehjeetien t# this chemical ie that it destrejrs regetatien and damages paint* 40 SUMMARY OF THIS STUDY X* The * Blade Widow* spider in Virginia is found chiefly along the CoastalPlain with its range ex tending into the mountain*, a* The * Black Widow11 spider ie very abundant in Williamsburg, being found in numbers in gardens, in rook piles, and along fences, 3* The *Black Widow* spider is eapable of sur viving for some time without food* The male exhibits higher survival potentiality with lack of food, 4, An indioat ion of the food of the "Black Widow* spider is given from a study of remains of animals left in webs, 5 , a review of the breeding habits of the "Black Widow* spider as adapted to the climate of' Williamsburg is presented, 6* Methods of rearing "Black Widow* spiders, which have been successfully used, are included in this paper, 7, With reference to the poison apparatus*i. deS- ifC J re ser)ted~ cription, study of development, and capacity^ The poison apparatus shows a gradual increase with each instar* The capacity of a pair of poison glands is shown to be approximately ,016 eo, 8, Definite symptoms were produced in mice by the bite of mature female, immature female and mature male "Black Widow* spiders. Death was caused in mice by the mature female spiders. That the gland is almost completely exhausted of poison by the first bite mad some time is necessary for the replenishment of the gland was demonstrated, 9, Definite symptoms were produced in mice by subcutaneous Injection of macerated spider eggs. Ho effects were observed from injection of macerated spiders or glands, 10, Data concerning one hundred eighteen cases of arachnid ism by the * Black Widow* spider in V irginia has been collected and interpreted. Mature Female Mature Female Ventral View7 Dorsal View- Mature Male Immature Female Dorsal View Dorsal View F ig . 1. Actual Size 41 "Fig. 2 . Chelicerae,showing duct L.mactans,mature female Camera Lucida Drawing X 72 4t Fig* 3. CHELIQERAE AND POISON OLANT)S X32 Camera lucida ^emale "Female Ninth Instar Eigfcjfc Instar „ . Fale Fem ale _ T + Ninth Instar Seventn Instar Fig. 3 (continued) 4^ 49 Female Female Sixth Instar Fifth Instar Female Female Foutth In star Third Instar FS'malee Female Second Instar First Inatar 44 * h c NT U *» •b £ « > k sj ■ v -K. y> BXBLZOOSAPir Abraaa.X.J.iAraobnidiaaiBullotln Sobool of IM ltiM i Otoiwraity of Maryland,Jan.l934.18>98-97. Baarg.w.J. jSffoot of Poiaaa af Tarantula, Journal of Baorg.w.J.iTho Sffoeta of tba Uta of latrodootaa. fouraal of M nilM «gr«iu*li 1923.9il61, Bnarg.W.J.stba Blaok Widow.*atur# wagaaina,XXVI62,1929. itw w w l Qoaaunloation. Oot. 2 0 , 1 ( 3 |( Bailay t Taxtbaok of Hiotology,1980»wn.wood and Oo.,W.Y. Banrlngar.P.B.sPioouooioa,Virginia Xadioal Santhly, 1930,lwi,791. looter, f. and ». D'AtourtBlaok Widow apldara,Aug.UMi Colorado tedioina,Slt#8 . Baokar.f. aad f. B*AaaarsAatl»8 onai Againat nook Widow apidar Vaae*. Proo. of 8 0 0 . fo r Kxpariaantal Biology aad Hadtoi80*Oat.l934* 3 s t # i ,i e e . Blohopp, P.C.ifaroonai eoaaanlaation. 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