Black Widows: Spiders with Venom 15 Times More Lethal Than Rattlesnakes
Black Widows: Spiders with Venom 15 Times More Lethal Than Rattlesnakes
These spiders could kill faster than rattlesnakes, only they don't inject enough of the lethal liquid for the effect.
Black widow spiders, which are about one inch long, are regarded as one of the deadliest spiders across the globe. They get that name because the female kills and eats the male after mating. However, the much talked about sexual cannibalism is not very frequent among black widows.
They are known to have five species, four of which are found in the United States. Having a preference for warmer temperatures, they can be found on every continent excluding Antarctica. These small arachnids are not violent. However, they do bite if disturbed. Females are known to bite when disturbed while protecting their eggs. The bite, filled with venom more lethal than rattlesnakes, gets them in the news headlines often.
This intriguing mix of deadly venom and small size gives them a characteristic or “signature” feature. It makes their name synonymous with such qualities. That is how Natasha Romanoff, a ruthless and efficient fictional character gets the codename “Black Widow” in an American comic.
Despite the reputation of black widow spiders being super-dangerous, they are not the deadliest in the world. That title goes to the funnel-web spiders from Australia. Funnel-web spiders are the most venomous in the world. Its venom is potent enough to snuff the life out of a human in 15 minutes. So what’s all the hype surrounding the black widows?
Black widow spiders are the most venomous in North America. Only females with large venom glands are known to cause harm by biting humans. Males are not reported to bite possibly owing to their small or comparatively less strong mouthparts. Black widow venom is 15 times more lethal than that of rattlesnakes. The only good news is that they inject smaller quantities of venom.
On the other hand, rattlesnakes inject a much larger quantity of venom with their bite, causing more deaths. Still, black widows cause more than 2,500 visits to hospitals yearly in the States.
They inject a cocktail of neurotoxins, out of which the deadliest is a chemical called “alpha-latrotoxin”. It causes a debilitating condition known as latrodectism. According to Dr. Jessica Garb of the University of Massachusetts, “If you got bitten by a black widow ... alpha-latrotoxin would travel to the pre-synaptic regions of your neurons: this is the juncture right between the synapse of one neuron and your muscle cells or another neuron, and it inserts itself into the membrane. This causes all of the neuron’s vesicles to dump out their neurotransmitters. And that’s really what’s painful.” In simpler words, under the influence of the toxin, nerve cells release all their chemical signals at once. The nervous system is thus overwhelmed, causing intense pain. Severe pain at the site of the bite is followed by swelling surrounding the wound and muscle aches. Other effects are cramping, shivering, nausea and sweating. Affected individuals may also feel intense pain in the abdomen and back.
Other symptoms include stiff muscles within 8 hours of a black widow bite. Shortness of breath is also reported from the paralysis of the diaphragm. Pain may subside within 12 hours, but other symptoms may continue for days.
Intensity of reactions may vary from victim to victim. Some may display serious symptoms, while others may have a milder reaction. Contrary to the hype, most people who are bitten suffer no life-threatening consequences. Many experience recovery within 24 hours of getting medical care.
Very few deaths are reported due to black widow venom. However, black widows are a danger to small children and older adults. Antivenom is prescribed as a treatment in severe cases. However, it may not be always required. It is only prescribed if the affected individual is pregnant, has breathing trouble, or has high blood pressure.
Editorial Support: Phoenix Content India
