Crimean centipede bite - how dangerous is it for humans?

Karakurt - a poisonous inhabitant of Crimea

The karakurt is recognized as the most dangerous representative of spiders.
It feeds on insects. Favorite habitats are rodent burrows, from which the spider easily expels the inhabitants. Even if the mouse decides to resist the karakurt, it instantly dies from its bite. Also settles between stones, in rock cracks. It places its trapping nets in the grass, in the steppes and even in summer cottages. From Turkic the name “karakurt” is literally translated as “black worm”; a photo of the dangerous spider of Crimea is presented above. What does the most dangerous spider in Crimea look like:

• Sexually mature females are rich black in color with a glossy sheen, up to 2 cm long.
• The length of males does not exceed 7-8 mm.
• Juveniles and males have 13 red spots on the abdomen. Sometimes they are framed with a white border.
• Two pairs of eyes help to navigate well during the day and at night.
• Random networks are located mainly near the ground.

Karakurts are very prolific. Periodically, at intervals of 10-12 or 25 years, there is a massive outbreak of population growth. They spend winter time in cocoons, several of which are suspended in nests. In mid-spring, the young generation appears and is carried away on the web by the wind. At the end of June, having become sexually mature, females and males look for shaded places and weave nets for mating.

Interesting! Due to the bloodthirstiness of the female during mating, the karakurt is also called a black widow. The mating games of the female are very peculiar - at the end of the process, she eats the male. The female has an excellent appetite: her network for mating can simultaneously contain up to 5 candidates.

The males' life cycle ends in mid-July. After mating, females look for new places, weave a network and lay offspring. After the last laying of eggs they die.

How karakurts bite

Representatives of the black widow genus are not characterized by aggressiveness towards humans. Only if they sense danger do they defend their lair - only in emergency cases are they able to attack people. Most often, this type of spider in Crimea bites accidentally. This is due to the peculiarity of their reflexes. When pressed on the abdomen, they release poison; for this reason, a spider crawling on the body should not be slammed, but carefully thrown off.

The greatest threat to humans is the female karakurt, while males, due to their small size, are not able to bite through human skin

On a note! After picnics or trips to nature, it is recommended to inspect things, as spiders can easily get into them. It is best to walk through thickets of grass in closed high shoes, and to work in summer cottages and fields with gloves.

The concentration of poisonous components in karakurts is 15 times higher than in a rattlesnake. This feature is due to the fact that spiders wage a constant fight against rodents and other small mammals, and to neutralize them a strong poison is needed. In humans, the probability of death after a bite is 2-4%. The poison has a neuroparalytic effect.

Symptoms of a karakurt bite:

• the appearance of severe burning pain, which intensifies and spreads throughout the body within 15 minutes;
• difficulty breathing;
• dizziness, possible bluish discoloration of the skin on the face;
• disturbances of heart rhythm and kidney function;
• cramps, muscle spasms in the abdominal area;
• depressive state, the appearance of a feeling of irresistible melancholy and fear of death.

On a note! The sensations of the bite field depend on the person’s pain threshold. There are cases when people in a dream did not notice at all that they had been bitten by a spider.

What to do if you are bitten by a karakurt:

• The most effective way to eliminate the consequences of a bite from the most dangerous spider in Crimea is to administer a serum. However, it is not always available at medical centers. In its absence, an intravenous injection of potassium manganese or calcium gluconate is administered. The need for a second injection is determined by the condition of the victim.
• In the field, the cauterization method, which was developed by Marikovsky, is used. Immediately after the bite, in order to neutralize the effect of the poison, 3 matches are applied to the wound (heads to the wound), and the fourth is set on fire. High temperature destroys the protein structure of the poison and thereby avoids poisoning the body.

Argiope - the most original spider of Crimea

The color of the spider's abdomen is very similar to that of a wasp. Alternating yellow and white stripes give the arachnid an unforgettable appearance. This representative is by no means uncommon in Crimea and can be found in the steppe and forest zones.

Like the black widow, the female Argiope devours her suitors

Because of the striped color, many more names appeared: zebra, wasp spider. Body dimensions do not exceed 1.5 cm. Peak activity occurs in the evening and at night. Spiders weave webs of complex design. At the same time, it takes them no more than an hour to create a fishing net. The individual itself is located in the center of the structure and hangs head down. Grasshoppers, locusts, and grasshoppers are the spider’s favorite delicacies.

An argiope bite does not pose a mortal danger to humans. The affected area may develop suppuration, abscesses, and in the worst case, the development of tissue necrosis. People prone to allergies may experience allergic reactions to spider venom.

Important! No matter what spider bites you, you should never apply a tourniquet. Poor circulation can lead to limb necrosis. It is also forbidden to cut wounds and incisions near them.

Many people know about such amazing spiders as tarantulas. Most often they are associated with danger and the fear of being bitten by a dangerous animal. This is primarily due to ancient legends and traditions, according to which a spider bite was considered poisonous and fatal to humans.

This spider is the largest in the Crimea. It has a terrifying appearance and instills fear in people. But in reality, tarantulas are not a threat. We will tell you more about them in the article.

IMPORTANT! Previously, the bite was considered fatal. It was also believed that only a special dance, which later received the name tarantella (from the name of the animal itself), could save him.

The myth of grasshoppers and grass

The collection of multi-colored beetles includes both the famous May beetles and the bronze beetles with which they are confused (while the bronze beetles are emerald green, the May beetles, also known as chafers, are brown).

Bronzovka

Khrushchev larvae feed on vegetation and can damage tree roots, while bronzovka larvae feed on humus. Next to the May beetles in the biologist’s collection are scarabs and stag beetles, 50% of which are from the Voronezh region, the rest from the Far East and South Asia. One of the local species of stag beetle is affectionately called the common stag beetle.

Grasshoppers, locusts and locusts are presented in a separate box. As Sergey notes, grasshoppers are not harmless herbivores at all, but predators that eat butterflies and even their relatives. They just “snack” on grass for variety. So the words of the children's song about the intellectual grasshopper who “ate only grass and didn’t touch a booger” are just a fiction.

– Orthoptera are divided into two large groups: short-whiskered and long-whiskered. The latter include grasshoppers and crickets, and the short-haired ones include locusts. Therefore, a mustache is one of the ways to distinguish them from each other,” the biologist explained.

Mexican grasshopper Nesoecia sp

A separate biologist stand displays the “skins” of stick insects, scorpions, mantises, and tarantulas, which they left behind when molting.

The skins will also become exhibits at a future exhibition.

Species composition of insects in Crimea

95% of the entire entomofauna in Crimea is made up of representatives of 5 orders:

• Diptera: flies, horseflies, mosquitoes, midges;
• Lepidoptera: moths, moths, butterflies (about 2500 species);
• Hymenoptera: ants, wasps, sawflies, wasps, bees;
• Coleoptera: more than 4000 species of beetles;
• hemipterans: insects with an incomplete cycle of transformation - 2000 species of bugs.

The remaining 5% are represented by smaller orders of insects, the diversity of species in which ranges from a few units to hundreds. Among them are dragonflies and praying mantises.

Interesting!

The pine hawk moth, the May beetle, live in the regions bordering Crimea. However, despite their high migration abilities and the presence of a food supply, they are in no hurry to get to the peninsula. Scientists have to figure out this mystery.

Beautiful and unusual entomofauna of the peninsula

The most beautiful insects in Crimea live not only in protected areas. Unusual specimens are found in parks, squares and even in private plots.

• Scolia giant wasp. The species is on the verge of extinction and is therefore listed in the Red Book. The size of the female reaches 5.5 cm. Against the background of a black body, wide purple wings and a bright yellow sternum look impressive. The entire body is covered with black and red hairs. The insect not only has beautiful bright colors, but also an extraordinary lifestyle. Scolia larvae parasitize the larvae of rhinoceros beetles, as well as beetles. The insect builds numerous tunnels in the soil, looks for a victim, paralyzes it and lays one egg at a time. So the offspring of Scolia do not experience a lack of nutrients, gradually eating away the insides of the host, consuming vital organs only at the end. Giant scolia are not only a decoration of the Crimean entomofauna, but are also among the largest insects in Crimea.
• The Xylocopa is a solitary hunter bee, often called the purple bumblebee because of its coloration. The size of the insect reaches 3 cm. The body is black metallic, densely covered with black hairs, decorated with small transparent wings with a purple tint. It does not have an aggressive disposition; it ignores human presence.
• The largest butterflies in Crimea are the Saturnia pear, also known as the peacock-eye, with a wingspan of 15 cm, swallowtails with a wingspan of up to 95 mm, podalirium, which has a wingspan of 7.2 cm, and polyxena (wingspan of 5.4 cm). In addition to their size, butterflies are distinguished by the original pattern on their wings. Seeing polyxena is very rare, as the species is on the verge of extinction. Only 4 species of vines serve as food sources for the caterpillars of this butterfly.
• Several species of hawkmoth butterflies have been preserved in Crimea: oak, oleander, etc. Occasionally, a rare species is found - the Death's Head. The individual is notable for having a pattern on its chest that resembles a human skull. The Death's Head caterpillar is also characterized by a memorable appearance - bright yellow, yellow-blue, yellow-lemon with blue oblique stripes. At all stages of development, hawk moths of this species are capable of making sounds.

Insects of Crimea

• Mantises. The size of individuals reaches 7.5 cm in the female. Males are somewhat smaller. The color depends on the surrounding vegetation and varies from brown to green shades. There is also a rare, unusual species of praying mantis in Crimea - the striped empusa. The insect is difficult to see, despite the fact that it reaches 6.5 cm in length. The body of the mantis is so thin that it looks more like a stick or a blade of grass.
• The Crimean ground beetle is one of the most beautiful beetles in Crimea. Color green, blue tones. The coarse-grained covering of the body creates an optical illusion that the insect changes its color and shimmers in different shades.
• Grasshopper Akrid. The harmless insect captivates with its size. Females grow up to 8 cm.
• Speaking about the insects of Crimea, one cannot help but recall the night singers - cicadas. Unlike crickets, their singing can only be heard during the daytime. Only males are endowed with singing abilities. The females are silent.
• Rhinoceros beetle. A rather rare specimen, which leads to a reduction in the number of Scolia. Only males have a horn. Insects grow up to 5cm. The shell appears varnished, long legs protrude from under it, and the abdomen is densely covered with hairs. The larvae of the rhinoceros beetle are very similar in appearance to the larvae of the cockchafer, which is why they are often destroyed.
• Stag beetle. No less beautiful than a rhinoceros. It is smaller in size than its fellow giants from Europe. Females also lack horns. Rarely found in mountain forests. Red Book insect.
• The dragonflies of Crimea deserve special attention. Entomologists have studied 60 species of these insects. All of them are predators and amaze with their variety of colors. Among the large specimens, the most notable are the large rocker, the lattice dragonfly with blue wings, and the emperor's watchman.

A description of all the insects of Crimea would not fit in a multi-volume encyclopedia. Entomologists have been studying them for more than 200 years, but more and more new species are still being discovered.

Cross spider: what does it look like?

The arthropod does not have unique external features, so it is often confused with other similar species. Just like other spiders, the spider has 8 pairs of legs, on which sensitive hairs are located. On the contrary, vision is extremely poor, so the arachnid sees only blurry silhouettes and changes in light.

Cross spider, appearance

External characteristics

The main difference between the cross is the peculiarities of its coloring. Its body is brown (the shade can vary greatly depending on gender, age and habitat). On the back of the arthropod there is a light cross, the size and shape of which can vary. This pattern always has the following distinctive features:

• the color is light beige or white, regardless of color;
• represents spots, the frequency of which may vary;
• the number of crosses may increase with age.

In young individuals the pattern is often weakly expressed, but during the molting process it becomes brighter. Females and males differ in body size. The former can reach 1.6-2.5 cm, while the size of the latter is only 1-1.2 cm. Under favorable living conditions, females sometimes reach 4 cm in length. Molting occurs several times during the life of an arthropod, which can affect its appearance. Additionally, body color may vary slightly due to lighting.

Habitat

Cross spider, appearance
The cross spider needs a sufficient amount of moisture. Maintaining the desired level is facilitated by the presence of a special wax that covers the entire body of the arachnid. The arachnid avoids light, trying to settle in shaded places. Despite the wax, the cross requires high humidity. Therefore, the spider often settles in forests and fields with tall grass near bodies of water. In human dwellings, he chooses the most secluded corners, where people are least likely to be found. Most often, arthropods can be seen in the attic or bathroom.

Nutritional Features

This arachnid is nocturnal, so during the day it most often hides in foliage, grass, tree roots or cracks. By evening, the activity of the cross spider increases sharply. During hunting, the arthropod is usually located in the very center of the web. The web of this spider is neat, consisting of very thin threads, which makes it as invisible as possible. An important element of hunting is complete stillness until the prey approaches. Being in this state, the cross is extremely vulnerable to attack.

When the slightest vibration appears, the arachnid moves at high speed towards its source. Having reached the insect it comes across, the spider injects paralytic poison. The crossfish can either eat its prey immediately or leave it for a while. The type of nutrition is external, like other varieties. Most often, the following insects become victims of this hunter:

• aphids;
• flies;
• mosquitoes;
• biting midges;
• midges;
• butterflies or moths;
• autumn burner.

Thus, the cross spider most often hunts insects that cause discomfort to humans. Some of the listed species can carry dangerous diseases. However, sometimes the crossman refuses the victim, letting him go. This occurs when the prey is too large for the hunter or has an unpleasant odor. The cross spider can also distinguish poisonous insects.

This arthropod can often be seen mending webs. Because of its lightness, it quickly becomes unusable and holes form. The spider closes them daily, strengthening the network. Moreover, the size of the web is quite large when compared with the size of the arachnid itself. The most surprising thing is the fact that the arthropod makes perfectly even spirals. The crossfish tends to measure the distance between them using its pedipalps. The thickness of the web, which is used to create the frame, is greater than that of the spirals. Moreover, the spider distinguishes different threads from each other by moving exclusively along the thick part of the web. There are always strictly 35 turns of the spiral, and 1245 fasteners.

Cross spider on the web

Cross spider, appearance

Cross spider on a leaf

Reproduction

The mating season for this arachnid begins in early autumn. Only males search for a partner. Having discovered a female, the male gently touches the web to create vibration and attract attention. However, he never fully mounts her, since there is a risk that the female will confuse him with prey. After the transfer of seminal fluid and the end of the mating ritual, the female most often kills the male.

The cross spider always prepares cocoons in which eggs will be laid. One clutch can contain up to 800 eggs. The color is usually bright amber, less often pale yellow. The female wears the cocoon on herself and after a while hides it in some cozy place. Thanks to this protection, young individuals survive cold winters and heavy rains. Having grown stronger, the offspring breaks through the cocoon. Afterwards, each of the cubs goes to look for a new place of residence.

How long does a cross spider live?

The lifespan of a cross spider can vary greatly. Most individuals die young due to other predators or adverse weather conditions. However, if we talk about death from old age, this arachnid can live 10-12 months. There are individuals whose lifespan is as much as 2 years.

It should also be taken into account that most males are eaten after mating. Thus, their lifespan is only about 3 months. Females most often die immediately or some time after creating a cocoon, i.e. they live for about 6 months.

Distribution of the species

Residents of hot regions and deserts know firsthand what a phalanx is. Their habitat is very wide. In Russia they are widespread throughout the Crimean Peninsula and the Caucasus. Many species of salpugs live in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and other regions of Central Asia. This type of spider, the salpuga, is also known in Europe, especially in Greece and Spain.

A small insect cannot bite through human skin, but a large phalanx is capable of this, and the sensation is very painful. In most cases, salpug bites pass without any consequences. But there are cases when inflammations form, which are quite difficult for those who are bitten. The phalanx does not have poisonous glands, but rotting food debris accumulates in the chelicerae, which get into the wound when bitten and cause infection.

Salpugs are a very common species of spider and that is why they have many scientific names. People, observing the life of spiders and their habits, gave them common names. Among them:

1. Solfugi.
2. Phalanxes.
3. Bihors.
4. Camel spider.

“Wind Scorpion” and many other “names” are directly related to the life of these insects. Solpuga runs very fast. The shape of their body allows them to reach speeds of up to 16 kilometers per hour and also jump up to 1 meter in height. Because of its speed, the spider was called the “scorpion of the wind.”

The phalanx squad is a large army of spiders, which consists of 13 families. It has 140 genera and a thousand species.

Due to its rather large body size, covered with bristles and “hairs” and lightning-fast movements, the phalanx looks very intimidating to its opponent. And combined with the sound it makes, the sight can scare anyone.

The color of the phalanx depends on the habitat. And since salpugs are inhabitants of desert and arid regions, most of them have a color ranging from whitish to brown. More often these are yellowish tones. The exception is individuals that have a variegated coloration.

The most common types of phalanges

• Common salpuga or common galleod. Large insects with a yellowish abdomen and a gray or brown back. An active nocturnal resident that hides under stones or in burrows left by other small animals. Hunts at night on small insects, including scorpions and other arthropods. This species is listed in the Red Book.
• The Transcaspian salpuga has a gray belly and a brown-red back, with dark stripes. The size reaches 7 centimeters. This species of camel spider lives mainly in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
• The smoky salpuga is the largest representative of this species of spider. Its dimensions are more than 7 centimeters. The color of this individual has an olive-smoky hue. The cephalothorax is colored buffy. Mainly lives in Turkmenistan.

Poisonous spiders of Ukraine

Knowing those types of arthropods that are dangerous to humans and can harm their health will help you avoid most troubles.

The most famous poisonous species of spiders, common in the forest and steppe areas of Ukraine, are the tarantula, karakurt, black widow and argiope.

Tarantula

The largest representative of arthropods, it lives in the steppes, deserts and forest-steppe zones of Ukraine. In the world, the number of species of tarantulas exceeds 900, but in the southern regions you can more often find the South Russian or Central European tarantula, which is popularly called Mizgir.

Its size can reach up to 3.5 cm, and the body is covered with thick brown-brown hairs of different shades, the abdomen is black. The paws are also furry, which helps protect against enemies.

During the daytime, tarantulas usually live in burrows that they dig themselves. Their depth sometimes reaches 60 cm, at the end there is a room.

At night, the spider usually goes out hunting, preferring to catch insects. It is not aggressive by nature, but can bite a person in self-defense.

Tarantula

Black widow in Ukraine

These arthropods got their name from the female’s ability to eat the male who fertilized her after mating. They are distinguished by strong poison and inconspicuous appearance. Black widows live in holes and crevices in the ground, in ravines, tree hollows, and can penetrate into people's homes.

In recent years, such spiders have begun to appear in the Donetsk region, migrating from more southern regions. They weave trapping nets, along which they move using curved bristles on short legs resembling a comb. Such an arthropod can attack only if it is stepped on or pressed; females are considered more aggressive.

The negative effects of black widow spider venom are quite strong:

• erythema at the site of the bite (redness in the form of a circle);
• muscle spasms and pain;
• the appearance of drooling and sweating;
• jump in blood pressure (hypertensive), tachycardia;
• shortness of breath and vomiting, pain in the abdomen and head;
• renal failure may occur;
• anxiety and disruption of the nervous system.

You should definitely consult a doctor in time, as a severe allergic reaction is possible, especially in children and the elderly.

Karakurt

Karakurt

The most poisonous and dangerous spider, the effect of its poison is 15 times greater than the bite of a rattlesnake. Karakurts belong to the genus of black widows and are common in the southern steppe regions of the Black Sea region and Crimea. During the summer heat they often migrate to the north, so they can be found among the spiders of Donbass, in the Lugansk and Kharkov regions.

The karakurt is small in size: females - up to 2 cm, males - up to 7 mm. The color of the spider's body is black in adult specimens, while in juveniles there are bright red spots on the abdomen. They can attack a person only in a life-threatening situation.

Consequences of a karakurt bite:

• difficulty breathing, suffocation;
• disorders of the cardiovascular system, arrhythmia;
• convulsive phenomena.

On a note!

According to statistics, the mortality rate from the bite of this poisonous spider is 2-4% of cases.

Argiope or "zebra"

Other names for the arthropod are “zebra spider” and “wasp”, which are given for the specific color of its abdomen with white, yellow and black stripes. The size of males is 7 mm, females – up to 1.5 cm. Argiope is characterized by weaving webs in zigzags.

Argiopes are found in rocks on the Kerch Peninsula (Crimea). Initially, their habitat was the forest-steppe and steppe zones of the European part of the country, where there is a suitable hot and dry climate. However, over time, Argiopes began to migrate to the northern regions: previously they lived in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, and now such spiders are found in the Lugansk, Dnepropetrovsk and Kirovograd regions.

The venom of the argiope spider usually causes slight inflammation and with treatment goes away without consequences, therefore it is less dangerous for humans compared to previous species.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ipQgmGZ0_Dw

Habitats and lifestyle

To avoid meeting representatives of this species, you need to know their habitats and lifestyle features. Most often, tarantulas inhabit the following places.

• Steep slopes along rivers
  where there is sufficient water.
• Semi-deserts and steppes are also favorite places .
• In rare cases, individuals can be found in forests where groundwater is available .

Behavioral features include their active nocturnal lifestyle , at which time they are busy searching for prey. During the daytime they usually sleep in burrows.

A distinctive feature in behavior can be called care for offspring ; females lay eggs and protect the clutch until the spiders are born.

Poisonous spiders in the Leningrad region

Dangerous arthropods live in the wild and choose arid zones. They are active at night. In search of food, they often explore nearby territories, crawling into human lands, houses, and apartments. They hide in things that have been in nature, shoes. A spider bite occurs when pressure is accidentally applied to a predator when a person does not see it.

Karakurt

An encounter with this spider can end tragically. Karakurt is the owner of poisonous glands with a strong toxic substance of neuroparalytic action. Initially, a local allergic reaction occurs - swelling, redness, pain, swelling. After 15 minutes, weakness, dizziness, arrhythmia, difficulty breathing, and muscle spasms appear. If qualified medical care is not provided, a person dies.

The description of the appearance of the female and the male is almost similar, the latter are smaller in size. Medium sized spider. Long black limbs, well-developed chelicerae, black abdomen with red spots - 13 pieces. The color of sexually mature individuals is uniform; during the molting process, the spots are smoothed out.

Tarantula

Dangerous spiders do not attack people; they bite when their own life is threatened. They belong to the wolf spider family and are nocturnal. They prefer active hunting and do not build trapping nets. Found in dry places, they build deep burrows. They hunt insects and small relatives.

The bite of a tarantula is poisonous to mammals and causes a severe allergic reaction in humans, but is not fatal. Weakness, dizziness, abdominal pain, cramps, and rapid heartbeat appear. The condition returns to normal within a few days. Local and systemic antihistamines are used.

Spiders of the Leningrad region

Crosses

Crosses are widespread everywhere. They live in forests, fields, gardens, and are found in vegetable gardens, courtyards, and non-residential premises. They belong to the orb-weaving spiders. They weave openwork trapping nets at night, during the day they sit in the center of their creation, waiting for prey, or they hide in a secluded place, stretching out a signal thread.

The spider's venom is deadly to insects; in animals, the spider's bite causes a local allergic reaction. Edema, swelling, and redness appear. People with an increased tendency to allergies experience weakness and nausea. The condition returns to normal within 24 hours, and the skin recovers within a week.

These types of spiders can be distinguished from others by their characteristic color. On the upper part of the abdomen there is a pattern in the form of a cross. Body color is beige, gray, brown, ash. The size of the female reaches 15 mm.

Anifena striking

Medium sized spider. The body is densely covered with hairs, the color is reddish-brown with dark patterns. There are 4 dark spots in the center of the abdomen. Long limbs. The size of the female reaches 1 cm, males are always smaller and darker in color. They are nocturnal.

Spiders rarely bite, only when there is a threat to their own life. A local allergic reaction appears at the site of the bite. The marks disappear within a week without special treatment.

All spiders in the Leningrad region are not distinguished by their aggressive disposition and do not pose a danger to humans if you keep a distance from them.

Dangerous spiders

Spiders that can cause serious harm to humans include only a few Crimean species with strong poison. For a person to die from a spider bite, the arthropod's venom must be an allergen for the victim. But some of these animals can cause a lot of trouble. Sometimes a bite actually leads to death if the serum is not administered in time.

Dangerous spiders found in Crimea:

• karakurt;
• cellar spider;
• black eresus;
• Paikulla steatode;
• South Russian tarantula.

On a note!

Until recently, the last species of spider was not found in Crimea. It was discovered only in 2021.

Karakurt

A medium-sized spider, quite common in Crimea. Belongs to the family of black widows. The body size of the female is up to 2 cm. The size of the male is on average 6 mm. It is not dangerous for humans.

Karakurt

The female's abdomen is spherical and shiny. The legs are relatively long. The paw span reaches 4 cm. The arthropod has a pure black color or black with red spots.

The female makes her home in the voids under stones, under roots, and in animal burrows. It often crawls into human homes.

The spider is not aggressive. Attacks if disturbed. The female can attack while protecting the cocoons.

Of all the poisonous spiders in Crimea, the karakurt is the most dangerous creature. Deaths after its bite are not as frequent as legends say, but the pain a person experiences is very serious.

On a note!

The verbal descriptions of karakurt and Paikulla steatoda are very similar to each other. Due to their similarities, these two types of spiders are often confused with each other.

Cellar spider (Segestria florentina)

This species has a small range. The cellar spider is found in the Crimea, the Caucasus, the Black Sea region and the Azov region. One of the largest spiders in Crimea and the largest representative of its family. He prefers to choose forested areas for living. Lives in the forest floor, in moss, on trees and under stones.

Cellar spider

Body length is about 2.5 cm. Elongated shape. The paw span is about 5 cm. The abdomen is elliptical in shape and covered with thick short bristles. The cephalothorax is 8 mm long and shiny. The bristles on the cephalothorax are sparse. The chelicerae are powerful and are half the length of the cephalothorax.

The color of the cellar spider's abdomen can be:

• gray-violet with dark spots;
• grayish brown;
• black with a purple tint.

The cephalothorax is black with a purple sheen. The chelicerae are greenish-bronze. The paws are plain, without dark rings.

The cellar spider builds funnel-shaped burrows. It extends signal threads from the entrance. When the prey approaches, it jumps out of the hole, grabs the prey with its chelicerae and immediately drags it into the hole. The spider's hunting objects are large insects and small vertebrates.

On a note!

A mouse weighing 20 grams dies 3-30 minutes after the bite.

In terms of poisonousness, the cellar spider is comparable to the karakurt. In a bitten animal, its venom causes:

• convulsions;
• spasms;
• increased excitability;
• prostration;
• paralysis.

In humans, due to the significantly larger body weight, the consequences will be less fatal. But muscle pain and significant swelling at the bite site are guaranteed.

Important!

Karakurt and Pogreborny are often confused because of their color, since from the entire description, people only remember “he is black.”

Black eresus (Eresus kollari)

A member of the Eresus family. The second name is “black fathead”. Widely distributed throughout the Palearctic, but in Russia spiders in some areas are listed in the Red Book. Among the Crimean spiders it has been listed recently, since 2021. This year, black eresus was discovered in Crimea in the coastal steppe zone.

Black Eresus

This is a large spider, the body length of which is 3 cm in the female and 1 cm in the male. The name and photo of the black eresus slightly disagree with each other. And neither “official” nor popular. In the black fathead, the red color of the upper part of the abdomen first catches the eye. There are also characteristic 4 black dots in a square. The abdomen is egg-shaped. The sharp end of the “egg” is attached to the cephalothorax.

The cephalothorax is larger than the abdomen. Painted black. The paws are black and red with white transverse stripes.

The fathead makes shelters in voids under stones, in beetle burrows and other suitable places. Throughout his life he never leaves his shelter. Only young animals at the dispersal stage and males in search of a female emerge from the burrows.

It feeds on insects, arthropods and small lizards. Beneficial by hunting scolopendras and scorpions.

Interesting!

Females can fast for up to 185 days, males for up to 150 days.

Due to the size of the prey, Eresus venom can cause trouble for humans, although it is not fatal. At the moment of the bite, a sharp pain is felt. Later, numbness sets in, spreading from the wound. Pain when pressing on the bite site and stiffness in movement are felt for another 2-6 days.

Steatoda paykulliana

Another name is false karakurt. Another arthropod inhabitant of the Crimea, which is often confused with the black widow. The lifestyle, size, and appearance of these two species are similar. The colors are similar only in color scheme. Paikulla steatoda does not have red spots. It has a red stripe that resembles arrows connected to each other. A stripe of arrows runs exactly in the middle of the abdomen. Direction: from the arachnoid glands to the cephalothorax. There is also a circular red crescent on the front of the abdomen.

The venom of steatoda is similar to that of aspen in terms of intensity and effectiveness of its effect on humans.

Spiders of Crimea

South Russian tarantula

He is also a misgir or earth spider. Although the latter can be attributed to other species. Large gray arthropod. It is nocturnal and can climb into a tent while people sleep.

On a note!

The length of the South Russian tarantula is about 3 cm. The body is elongated. The cephalothorax is wider than the abdomen. The toxicity is greatly exaggerated, but the bite can cause your hand to swell.

Danger in Crimea: spiders to avoid

Of course, the most dangerous spider inhabiting the Crimean lands is the karakurt. As it became known, meetings with them very rarely end peacefully!

In second position in terms of danger in Crimea is . It is also called a centipede. This animal is not at all interested in humans as prey, but incidents of bites do exist. It is not difficult to avoid encounters with centipedes, since they are mainly nocturnal. When biting, the centipede injects a special substance, which is an analogue of gastric juice. It is this that causes inflammation, which quickly swells and begins to hurt. But these symptoms quickly pass, and the person feels as before.

You should be afraid of the ones that live on the southern coast of Crimea. Like centipedes, they are active at night. They differ from other arthropods in their high speed of movement. They bite humans only during defense; their bites are non-venomous. But you also need to be wary of salpugs: during a bite, the animal suffers a lot of infection, which can lead to serious suppuration of the wound. The bite must be sucked out without swallowing infected saliva. After this, it is imperative to clean the wound with an antiseptic and systematically smear it with a gel containing an antibiotic.

Argiope is another representative of arthropods that can cause harm to humans. The yellow-black coloration and body length up to 1.5 cm emphasize their resemblance to wasps. These spiders are interesting because the females eat the males. Argiope bites are quite dangerous for humans, since an allergic reaction can provoke severe forms of abscesses, and in rare cases, even tissue necrosis.

Hi all.

With the onset of the May holidays, many of us will be drawn to nature. Someone has planned a hike, someone has planned a picnic, and someone has decided to just take a walk on the young green grass.

The desire is understandable and pleasant. Spring is the time of blossoming of nature, riot of herbs, fragrant smells, triumph of sounds and general uplifting of mood.

It is now much more common to see animals, hear birds singing, and notice insects hurrying about their business.

Along with beautiful butterflies and nimble beetles, in some places less pleasant representatives of this large family lie in wait for their prey: spiders, scorpions, etc.

Some of them, although they do not feed on people, can add problems to us if we are careless or careless. Let's start getting acquainted with them with less dangerous insects, and gradually get to the more dangerous ones. Let's start getting acquainted with them with less dangerous insects, and gradually get to the more dangerous ones

Let's start getting acquainted with them with less dangerous insects, and gradually get to the more dangerous ones.

By the way, in the text of the article there will be a question, by answering which you can earn a little money

There is probably not a person who is not familiar with these annoying insects. They strive to attach themselves to the most vulnerable parts of the body, piercingly squealing.

Everyone knows that mosquitoes are bloodsuckers, but not many people know that mosquitoes feed not only on blood. They prefer flower nectar and plant juices. Female mosquitoes need blood in order to produce offspring, and not at all out of harm.

Males are quite happy with plant foods.

Mosquitoes live in shaded places, holes, lowlands, and near water sources.

And now the promised question: what dangerous insect of Crimea, not listed in the article, is compared with a famous vegetable?

The one who guesses the prize is 50 WMR.

Go for it.

And I'm done for today.

May you never encounter the dangerous insects we learned about today.

And a little video for “snack”

Tarantula in Crimea: a serious matter

The South Russian tarantula (Licosa singoriensis) was recorded in Crimea only in recent years, but during this time it managed to become trivial on the peninsula and cause a lot of trouble. He is a burrowing, steppe animal, lives in dry areas (in the area), where there is vegetation, and digs holes in the ground (or engages in hostile seizures of mice, and kills the owners). The spider does not weave webs - it waits in the hole for the prey to approach, and then with a sharp throw it pounces on it and paralyzes it with its bite. Spiderlings that hunt in this way are called “wolves.”

They are gray in color, shaggy - this can be seen if you look closely, with powerful legs. Yes, these are the largest spiders in Crimea. Their body length sometimes reaches up to 3 cm, with outstretched legs twice as long, but they rarely take this position. The females guarding the cocoons are especially dangerous (they look exactly like cocoons, only with a rather non-standard weave). They often climb into the tents of inattentive tourists.

Tarantulas are dangerous animals. In Italy and Spain in the Middle Ages, it was believed that the only way to survive after their bite was to dance a grueling dance for a long time (yes, this is how the famous tarantella appeared). In fact, it is quite difficult to die (although it is possible with an enhanced reaction). But significant pain, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, rapid heartbeat, fever and difficulty breathing are traditional.

The victim is advised to drink plenty of fluids and take an antihistamine (the sooner the better). Immediately after contact, the wound can be cauterized (with gray from a match head). A spider is not a snake; it pierces the human body only a couple of millimeters, so the procedure will be both effective and not too painful. But tourniquets cannot be applied. If the reaction turns out to be pronounced, you need to fly to the doctor at full speed. Patients with allergies to a tarantula bite can die from cardiac arrest or suffocation.

What insects live in Kuban

The Krasnodar region is rich in fauna. Many different insects live there. Some representatives are dangerous. The table shows the main individuals.

These are the main poisonous representatives of the Krasnodar region.

The most poisonous spiders in the world

There are many poisonous arachnids. The most dangerous spider in Russia is the karakurt. He lives in the south of the country. But during abnormal heat, karakurt migrates to other regions.

The venom of the great black widow is particularly dangerous. After a bite, a person experiences unbearable pain. If a special vaccine is not administered in time, death occurs.

Other poisonous, large spiders of Russia are Heiracanthium, Mizgir, Solfuga, Bagworm, Black Fathead, Argiope. The most dangerous spiders in the world are the black widow, the Chilean recluse, the katipo, the funnel-web, the Brazilian, and the crab-backed predator.

Brazilian spider

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the most poisonous spider in the world is the Brazilian arachnid. The main food of the predator is small insects. But it can also bite rodents, birds, and amphibians.

The arthropod clearly sees silhouettes and moves quickly. When an animal attacks, it raises its front legs upward. After a bite, a person develops a severe allergy, which can only be eliminated with the help of a special vaccine.

After a Phoneutria bite, the following symptoms occur:

• strong pain;
• dyspnea;
• weakness;
• respiratory paralysis;
• impotence in men.

The Brazilian Araneae is found in South or Central America. The animal easily gets into the pockets of clothes, houses, shoes, cars or bags. But Phoneutria attacks only in self-defense.

funnel web spider

This type of large arthropod is distributed throughout the world. But more often they live in Australia.

There are more than 500 species of funnel-web spiders. Most arachnids are not dangerous. But some of them, such as the Sydney leukopachine, can be particularly poisonous. After being bitten by a predator, a child dies immediately, and an adult dies within 15 minutes.

Black Widow

The bite of Latrodectus mactans is fatal to humans. Moreover, the venom of females is more toxic than that of males.

There are 31 species of black widows, but not all of them are dangerous. Many representatives of the subtype crawl into people's homes, where they lay eggs. Females are especially aggressive and can attack humans.

After a black widow bite, severe muscle cramps and paralysis occur. The venom of these predators is much more deadly than the venom released by a rattlesnake.

Chilean hermit

Chilean poisonous spiders live in South America. Sometimes they can be found in Indiana, Nebraska, Texas, and Iowa.

This is the biggest hermit. Arachnids are brown in color. Its legs and belly are covered with short hair. The predator has 6 pairs of eyes.

The Chilean hermit bites painfully. The insect's venom paralyzes internal organs and the nervous system. The poison also provokes hemolytic anemia, which leads to renal dysfunction.

Redback spider

One of the most beautiful, large, but also poisonous arthropods is the red-backed spider. Arachnologists know where the predator lives: the homeland of the webworm is Australia.

The venom of the redback arthropod is neurotoxic. After its bite, paralysis occurs. Without timely medical care, a person dies.

The Australian widow is distinguished by a black round belly, on which there is a red longitudinal stripe.

Katipo

Katipo are small, poisonous spiders. Their belly is no larger than a pea.

Latrodectus katipo is black in color. The animal has light markings on the front of its abdomen and bright red stripes along the border. At the bottom of the abdomen is a red symbol resembling an hourglass.

Katipo lives in New Zealand, hiding under logs. The poisonous spider feeds mainly on beetles.

Katipo very rarely bite and do so only for self-defense.

If its poison enters the human body, the following symptoms will appear:

1. abdominal cramps;
2. fever;
3. pain;
4. weakness;
5. hyperhidrosis.

What is the situation with spiders in Krasnodar

Environmentalists note that the climate is gradually changing. Spiders that previously lived in Crimea began to appear in the Krasnodar Territory. Thus, in the summer of 2015 alone, 3 bites of poisonous insects were registered that had not previously settled in the surrounding areas.

Patients noted that they were bitten by a spider that they had not seen before. Immediately after the attack, the victims developed symptoms of allergies and body intoxication. This forced people to immediately seek help from doctors.

Every year the number of “foreign” insects is rapidly increasing. Doctors say spiders are often not the first to attack

This is why it is important to be careful and inspect shoes and clothing before putting them on.

Recently, sak has appeared in the Krasnodar region. Previously, this spider lived only in Germany and Australia. Poisonous, but not lethal.

If you want to know more about poisonous spiders in Russia, then watch this video:

Source

Phalanx spider or salpuga, habitats. Solpuga in Crimea. Salpuga bites.

Phalanx or salpuga are representatives of arachnids. Outwardly, they are very similar to spiders, but they are not. Salpugs are very interesting insects; their lifestyle combines primitive features and signs of high development. The body of the salpuga is brown-yellow or light brown, 5-7 cm long. The entire phalanx is covered with long hairs. In front there are tentacles-pedipalps, very similar to limbs and performing their function.

Solpuga or phalanx.

Salpugs prefer desert, hot and dry climates, and only a few are found in the loess zone. Phalanges are nocturnal. During the day they hide in the burrows of rodents and other animals; if there is nothing suitable nearby, they can dig it themselves. Most often, salpugs change their home every night, but some can use the same hole for a long time. Although the phalanx is a nocturnal animal, it is very easy to meet it! It is enough to light a big fire and they will come running towards the light.

Phalanxes are predatory animals. They are distinguished by their rare gluttony and promiscuity. They attack everything they can handle and can devour. The salpuga's diet includes spiders, beetles, wood lice, scorpions, and grasshoppers. Large individuals attack lizards and young birds. Scientists conducted an experiment on the unreal gluttony of the phalanx: they placed it in a terrarium and threw all kinds of delicacies there. The phalanx pounced on the offered food and ate until its belly burst! Even after this, the salpuga continued to eat until she died.. Such a voracious creature!

Due to the structure of the body, the salpuga is very mobile and maneuverable. Some individuals can jump up to 1 meter in height and reach speeds of up to 16 km/h. Thanks to this feature, they received one of their names - “wind scorpion”, which translates as “wind scorpion”.

Salpuga (phalanx) bites.

Small individuals are not able to bite through human skin, but large phalanges can do this. Salpugs do not have glands that produce poison, and the bite itself is not poisonous, but particles of previous victims remain on their jaws, decomposing and rotting. These residues are very toxic and, if they enter an open wound from a phalanx bite, can cause both local inflammation and blood poisoning. The bite itself is very painful and unpleasant, even without consequences.

The bite site must be thoroughly treated with brilliant green or peroxide and a clean bandage or plaster applied. Under the bottom you can put a little antibiotic gel, for example levomekol. Change the bandage daily and treat the wound until complete recovery.

Widespread species of spiders in Russia

Russian spiders are a species native to the Holarctic region and are therefore found in many regions of the northern hemisphere. Some of them have adapted to live next to humans. Many “help” gardeners clean the garden from pests, which is why they are considered country spiders.

Horses

Among the most widespread families are jumping spiders. Representatives of the family are found throughout the country. These small spiders do not pose a danger to humans. But they can scare you if they jump from an ambush. But horses prefer not to contact people. If an animal jumps out, it means something scared it. He doesn't show aggression.

Hunters

Huntsman spiders or pisaurids can be considered the second most numerous. These species belong to the forest spiders, choosing shady, damp places to live. The edge hunter can settle in a clearing or forest edge. This species prefers to ambush on grass and bushes. The rest settle near bodies of water and often wait for prey, lowering their front paws into the water.

Spiders of Russia

Funnel

This group got its name from the fact that it makes nests in the form of a spider's funnel. It includes both the harmless house spider and the rather dangerous southern cellar spider. Depending on the species, funnel-web spiders make nests:

• in the ground;
• in the forest floor;
• under stones;
• at the base of the bushes;
• in the basements of houses and woodpiles.

Orb weavers

Representatives of orb weavers are often called garden spiders. Of these, the most common spiders are cross spiders. They are often classified as garden animals, as they like to settle in gardens and parks. These spiders are widespread in central Russia and the Far East, in the south and north up to the Arctic Circle.

Synanthropic species

One of the species of the harvester family has actually become a house spider. It is no longer possible to find it in natural conditions. Due to its tendency to coexist with humanity, the haymaker spider is the most common species today. Often he travels with a person.

Low-venomous spiders

Since non-venomous spiders do not exist in nature, there are none in Crimea either. There are species that, when large in size, are not dangerous to humans, since their venom is too weak or the chelicerae cannot bite through the skin. Some spiders, for example the haymaker spider or the house spider, are completely unable to catch human skin. Small spiders sitting in the grapes hunt insects in the grapes that have decided to feast on the berries. Since Crimea is one of the regions where grapes are grown on an industrial scale, such grape spiders have freedom there.

These little spiders may scare only arachnophobes. But large spiders with striking bright colors are able to alert any person who is not familiar with them. Such spiders in Crimea include:

• Argiope Brünnich;
• Argiope lobata;
• cross spider.

Because of their coloration, argiopes are considered dangerous spiders. The cross can be intimidating only by its size.

Argiope bruennichi

Argiope is also called the wasp spider because of the color of its abdomen. Argiopes are classified as orb-weaving spiders that build webs on trees and shrubs.

Argiope Brünnich

The spiders are small in size: females up to 1.5 cm, males up to 5 mm. In both sexes, the abdomen is colored with black and yellow transverse stripes. But the female has a rounded abdomen. The male's body shape is indeed very similar to a small wasp. These are arthropods common to the Crimea, but the population is not as large as that of the crosses.

The bite of the argiope is quite painful. But it causes only short-term pain and local irritation at the bite site.

Argiope lobata

Another species that is found in Crimea in small quantities. When you look at the spider, you get the impression that it is dressed in a hard chitinous shell. But this is deceptive. In fact, Argiope lobata has the same soft abdomen as other spiders. It looks like an armored monster due to the silver-white color of its abdomen, “equipped” with 6 deep notches on the sides. The color of the notches can range from dark to orange.

The female’s body size is up to 1.5 cm. Lobata builds nets on trees and bushes. The poison is not dangerous to humans, although the bite is unpleasant.

Common cross (Araneus diadematus)

The most common large spider in Crimea. You can come across his nets everywhere: from tall grass in the steppe to a tree on a Crimean yaila. Krestovik loves to settle in vineyards and gardens. There's more loot there.

Spiders of Crimea

The female's body size is 2-2.5 cm, the male's is 1 cm. The female has a large, convex egg-shaped abdomen with an exaggeratedly sharp tip. The “blunt” end of the “egg” is connected to the cephalothorax. The male has a “flattened” abdomen, elongated and narrow. The cephalothorax is round and wider than the abdomen.

The color of crosses can be yellow-white or gray-white. On the back there is a characteristic pattern in the form of a cross, for which the spiders received their name.

On a note!

The bite of the cross is weaker than that of a mosquito and is not capable of causing harm. The spider cannot even bite through the skin of a 6-year-old child, but it is able to explain to the mischievous child that there is no need to hunt funny “crusaders.” Crosses are dangerous only for people with a tendency to allergies and those suffering from arachnophobia.