Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/
Here's your outdoor tip on venomous spiders.
Arachnophobia is the scientific name for the fear of spiders. It is one of the most common animal-based phobias. Many people do have a fear of spiders and even more people simply just don’t like them. While most spider bites are not serious, some may produce allergic reactions and in rare cases death.
There are some spiders that are venomous and you should be aware of the possibility of their presence on almost any outdoor trek. Spiders are usually not aggressive and most bites happen because a spider is trapped or unintentionally threatened. In the United States there are three venomous spiders: the black window, brown recluse, and hobo spider.
Black Widow
One of the first dangerous spiders that comes to many people’s minds is the black widow. There are five main species of the black widow spider. The female is easily identified because of her bulbous belly with usually a red hourglass although this will vary by spider. She is usually any shade of black and about 1 to 4 centimeters long or slightly smaller than a quarter. The male is relatively harmless because of his small size.
The black widow’s web is usually close to the ground and irregular in shape built with some of the strongest silk known. She tends to prowl during the night and likes the dark. Outdoor toilets with flies are popular with black widows. Her bite can be identified from other insect bites by the two puncture marks it makes in the skin. The venom of this spider is usually to diluted by the human body not to be fatal, but there will be swelling around the bite and it can cause muscle ache, nausea and breathing difficulties
Brown Recluse
The brown recluse is usually next in line being known as a dangerous spider. It is found around houses, but can be in dark places like under fallen trees and rocks. The brown recluse web is also an irregular shape that looks like sheets and includes a shelter made from a disorganized set of threads of silk. This spider is often called the fiddleback or violin back and can be identified by the marking on its head and back which resembles a violin. The neck of the violin points toward its back and is not always visible. The belly of the spider is uniformly colored and looks like an oval circle. Its light brown, tan or whitish color and it has 6 eyes as compared to the 8 eyes that the average spider has. The eyes are arranged in pairs with two of them in the median part and two laterally.
It is difficult for a brown recluse to bite you unless she is trapped against your skin. If bitten, the brown recluse spider will cause intense pain with its bite. A white blister will develop at the bite site and it can cause a severe lesion destroying the skin tissue. This lesion will require medical attention as soon as possible.
Hobo Spider
The hobo spider is large, usually about the size of a quarter, and brown in color. A pattern of yellow markings on its abdomen help identify it. It is, however, a very difficult spider to identify and a spider may most easily be identified as not a hobo spider…as colors vary and a magnifying glass is needed to identify some of its characteristics. It helps to know that hobos usually do not have dark bands on their legs.
Hobos build funnel webs in holes and cracks to capture their prey. They will often be found in building foundations, stacks of bricks, or piles of wood. The hobo bite might go unnoticed, but can be a moderate to severe, slow healing wound
Symptoms
Symptoms from spider bites will vary from minor to severe. In rare cases death can occur as a result of a bite. Watch for itching, rash, muscle pain or cramps, blisters, increased sweating, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills and high blood pressure.
Treatment
In all cases serious bites should receive treatment from a medical professional. When bitten:
Keep the victim calm
Wash the bite area with soap and water
Apply cold to reduce swelling
Elevate bite if possible
Do not attempt to remove venom
Most important seek professional medical attention.
We can easily exist in the outdoors with spiders—most are harmless and will not bother us if we do not bother them. Just be aware of your surroundings and avoid areas there you thing spiders have their webs and nests.
This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/
References-Additional Reading
What caused this bug bite?
http://www.healthline.com/health/bug-bites
Poisonous Spiders – How to Identify Them
http://www.natureskills.com/outdoor-safety/poisonous-spiders-how-to-identify-them/
Venomous Spiders
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/spiders/
No comments:
Post a Comment