The Brazilian wandering spider is the most dangerous spider in the world. The most poisonous spider in the world (10 photos) Where does the Brazilian wandering spider live?

Spiders are not very dangerous insects, but some of them pose a threat to humans because they can bite through the skin and inject a toxic substance that causes non-fatal but unpleasant toxic poisoning in the human body. What kind of guy is he? dangerous spider on the planet, where does it live and how dangerous is it for human life?

Why is a spider bite dangerous?

Spider (arachnoid) is a predatory insect, which nature has endowed with a special poisonous weapon. The secretion that insects secrete and then inject into their prey affects nervous system prey or contributes to the destruction of its tissues.

Even the largest and most dangerous spiders do not attack a person without reason. They may bite only in self-defense or in cases of immediate danger. The bite of a poisonous spider itself is not fatal, but Negative consequences this can only occur in situations where:

• rendering is late medical care;
• the human body is weakened due to illness;
• an allergic reaction to the poison occurs;
• bitten Small child or an elderly person.

According to statistics, 5% of the world's population suffers from a “fear of spiders” (arachnophobia), although there are no real reasons for such a phobia, since almost all poisonous specimens live in tropical climate or deserts. However, every traveler, going to another country, must imagine what animals or insects he may encounter and what needs to be done.

Brazilian wandering spider

Opens the list of the most dangerous arachnids for humans - Brazilian wandering spider(Phoneutria - from the Greek “killer”). Sometimes it is also called “banana” because of the love for eating these fruits. Officially (according to the Guinness Book of Records) it is the most poisonous spider on the planet.

The poison that he injects into the victim is a strong neurotoxin (they are 20 times more toxic than the toxin that the Black Widow secretes).

Signs of a bite brazilian spider:

• problems with respiratory system, sometimes leading to suffocation;
• poor muscle control;
• severe pain in the muscles and the bite site;
• In men, the poison can cause an erection for many hours, which causes very strong painful sensations.

In nature, the Brazilian wandering spider lives in tropical jungle South America (mostly in Brazil). He spends his life wandering in search of food: he hunts other spiders, small birds and lizards. The size of its body is quite large (about 10 cm).

These spiders often live close to human habitation, can hide in clothing, and love to climb into fruit boxes, especially bananas. Therefore the most frequent cases bites of people by them are found among collectors.

It is also unusual and dangerous that Brazilian spiders can travel in banana packages around the globe. One of the latest accidents occurred in the UK in 2016 with a man who bought fruit in a nearby supermarket and was attacked by such a spider.

Fortunately, several years ago a very effective antidote was developed that can reduce the number of deaths after being bitten by such a spider.

Sydney leucopaweb (funnel web) spider

The second most dangerous and most unpleasant bully in the spider world is the Sydney funnel-web spider. It is considered a bully because when attacking a person, this insect tries to make as many bites as possible and inject more poison, although its effect is much weaker than other toxins.

In addition to this persistent nature, the Sydney funnel-web spider has very large fangs: long and sharp, like needles. It is believed that with such fangs he can easily bite through leather shoes and human nails. Moreover, males are 6 times more poisonous than females.

Signs of a bite that develop in a person (appear within a few seconds):

• muscle spasms;
• strong rapid heartbeat;
• confusion or loss of consciousness;
• brain tumor.

Without medical attention, death can occur within 15 minutes, but an effective antidote was created in 1981, so there have been no deaths since then.

Brown recluse spider

Recluse spiders are also known by various names: Violin Spider, Violin Back Spider, and belong to the genus Loxosceles. Their size is only 2 cm, outwardly they are completely inconspicuous. Such insects are found in different countries, are very common in the eastern United States, where they even settle in houses local residents(in clothes or shoes), and in South America(Chile and other countries).

The venom of these spiders is of a necrotic type that destroys tissue. A recluse spider bite can cause a condition called loxoscelism, which in some cases results in the death of tissue in the bite area and the formation of a non-healing open wound, which can even lead to amputation. To treat such wounds, skin grafting is necessary.

Black Widow

The black widow is a family of spiders and a separate species (Latrodectus mactans), in the United States it is considered the most poisonous representative of arachnoids. It is famous for the fact that females sometimes eat their partners.

The North American black widow gets its name from the color of its body, but its abdomen has red or orange spots. The size of spiders is small: about 4 cm, but their poison is very toxic; a bite can end in disaster for a person.

Such spiders pose a danger to children, weakened and elderly people, as well as allergy sufferers. Their poison causes severe muscle pain, increases blood pressure, pain in the lymph nodes, interrupted breathing, nausea and vomiting. Unpleasant symptoms may last up to 7 days.

The redback spider is also a member of the black widow family and is considered an iconic spider in Australia, easily identified by the red stripe on its back. It is smaller in size than the black widow and is less common.

However, in Australia, such spiders can live indoors and live in some areas of cities and suburbs in tropical zone climate. They have recently been spotted in Japan.

The red-backed spider is small in size: females are up to 10 mm long, males are 3 mm smaller. These insects lead night image life, hiding in old barns or under stones, among plants. They hunt other insects and small animals (mice, birds, lizards, beetles, etc.).

The consequences of a bite from such a spider appear only after a day, and they are very toxic: acute pain and swelling of the bitten area, abdominal cramps, severe sweating. The most severe systemic condition, called “latrodectism” (50% of cases), can be fatal if an antidote injection is not used in time.

Karakurt

Karakurt is the most poisonous and most dangerous spider that lives in Russia in the Astrakhan region, in Asian and European regions and Africa. He is one of the members of the black widow family. Due to climate change, karakurts began to appear even in the Moscow region.

One species, called the steppe widow, is black and decorated with 13 bright red spots on top. Its size is small: females are 1-2 cm long (more poisonous), males - up to 7 mm.

The most dangerous are sexually mature females of karakurt, whose venom is 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake. They pose a danger to some domestic animals (horses, cows, with the exception of sheep) and people. They bite only when pressed, often at night. summer time, and the bite is not painful, which is why people may not immediately pay attention to it.

The effect of the poison is manifested in muscle pain, paresthesia of the limbs, abdomen and chest. A strong fear of death appears, tears flow, the sick person cannot stand on his feet due to muscle weakness. Symptoms similar to those of an acute abdomen also occur: nausea, vomiting, fever. However, cramps and tremors of the limbs, breathing problems, confusion, and a sharp increase in blood pressure help determine an accurate diagnosis.

One of effective ways first aid: cauterization of the bitten area with a burning match, which has a destructive effect on the poison (if there is no medical help nearby), subsequent hospitalization is extremely necessary to prevent this from happening fatal outcome.

Sand Spider

The six-eyed sand spider has 8 legs and 6 eyes and lives in deserts South Africa and in western South America. Its scientific Latin name Sicarius translates to "killer". By nature, he is a hunter who waits for a long time for his prey (other spiders and scorpions), buried in the sand. When prey runs past, it attacks - it bites it, and within a few hours the insect or animal dies. Its size is about 5 cm, its abdomen is light brown or red-brown.

The venom of the six-eyed spider is a strong cytotoxin (similar to the effects of sulfuric acid), producing a hemolytic and necrotic effect, which means the rupture of blood vessels and tissue decomposition. There are only 2 cases of such spiders biting people, but both were fatal.

Golden spider

The sak spider, or golden spider (Cheiracanthium), has a size of only 10 mm, but with its bite it is capable of causing extensive tissue necrosis (necrosis), which is very painful. Its habitats: European countries, Australia and Canada.

Externally small, the spider is yellow or greenish in color and produces a strong cytotoxin poison. In the bite area, redness and sharp pain first appear, the area swells, gradually turning into a blister or wound.

According to experts, it is these spiders that cause the most trouble for people compared to other types of arachnoids.

Tarantulas

Tarantula spiders (Theraphosidae) are a whole family of arachnoids found in Africa, Australia and on the ocean islands in South America. These are the largest spiders (up to 20 cm), which some exotic lovers are fond of and even keep them at home in terrariums.

Tarantulas do not pose a danger to adults, although they can cause painful sensations in the muscles and increased temperature. However, the poison can be fatal for pets or children.

Their bright, beautiful fur is actually poisonous hairs. The spider combs the hairs from its abdomen and throws it at its prey. If it comes into contact with the skin or eyes, the poison causes pain, itching, and severe vision impairment.

Pecilotheria (tarantula)

The same family includes tarantulas - large, hairy spiders whose name comes from the Spanish tarantella dance. The spider has double fangs with which it pierces its prey. Tarantula is the most dangerous spider and one of the largest living in Russia (5 cm). Best known South Russian tarantula, common in forest-steppe zone Eurasia.

Due to small size and the amount of poison released during a bite, the consequences for humans are not very toxic, however, the poison acts on the nervous system, provoking minor convulsions and severe shortness of breath. Their toxicity is highest in July, when females reach sexual maturity and mating.

Mouse spider

The red-headed mouse spider is Australia's most dangerous spider, with 12 species. Its name comes from its soft, furry abdomen, and its bite is very dangerous to humans, although it is not very aggressive and often bites without using venom.

Nature has endowed it with bright colors: males have a red head and a gray-blue belly, females are black. Size - from 1 to 3.5 cm.

The venom has a neuroparalytic effect similar to that of the Sydney spider, but they live far from human settlements. A serum has long been made for their venom, which is effective against many funnel-web spider species.

Conclusion

The types of poisonous spiders discussed in this article differ in their habitats and in their toxicity. In Russia, such insects are found in the southern part of the country, the North Caucasus and Crimea. Knowledge appearance and species of spiders dangerous to humans, their habitat conditions will help prevent encounters with them, avoid being bitten, or learn about the degree of danger to humans.

Runner, banana, wanderer... these are not just a bunch of words. This is the name of one of the most dangerous spiders in the world, which is capable of taking a person’s life in less than an hour. The Brazilian soldier spider is one of the most common names for a deadly poisonous spider that keeps residents of Central and South America at bay. Recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the most dangerous and poisonous of the spider family.

What death looks like and how it lives

The spider once ranked first in the world in terms of danger, but now the Brazilian soldier spider is on the throne. This is a very active and aggressive animal, which, unlike its relatives, does not weave webs, does not live in the same place for a long time, but loves to travel.

Its color also varies depending on its habitat, but, as a rule, it is the color of sandy soil, which allows for excellent camouflage. The area next to the chelicerae is colored red, this helps to first attract and then intimidate the enemy. The size of the spider can reach 15 centimeters, along with the span of its large legs.

During the daytime, he often sits under stones and logs, waiting for night to come when he feels more comfortable. Wandering all day long, the soldier spider sometimes wanders into people's homes and can hide in their clothes scattered on the floor, in shoes, climb into boxes or something similar. This spider loves to hide in banana boxes, which is why it is often called the “banana” spider; sometimes it can even snack on the bananas themselves.

If the spider encounters an enemy, it raises its front legs and places its body vertically, exposing its red “zone” next to the chelicerae.

What does a predator eat?

Sometimes, but very rarely, with bananas, while living in banana boxes, more often with various insects. But this spider has the reputation of an aggressive predator also because it can easily attack something small or even if they are larger than it.

Spider – soldier and man

Like most animals, even the most dangerous and aggressive ones, the Brazilian soldier spider will not be the first to rush into battle; it attacks and bites only in case of danger to life.

As noted earlier, due to its inconspicuous appearance and Great love“play hide and seek” in people’s houses and belongings, encounters with this spider are very frequent and sometimes end, alas, very sadly. According to various sources, a bite from a soldier spider is fatal in 85% of cases. Its venom is incredibly toxic, causing paralysis of all muscles, resulting in a person dying from suffocation. There is an antidote that is no less toxic than the poison itself.

Despite all the negative aspects, scientists have found that the poison Brazilian soldier spider can have a positive effect on men's sex life. The toxin contained in the poison can cure impotence, and in this moment Scientists are studying how to combine the toxin with existing drugs in order to effectively and safely treat male ailments.

In 2007, another poisonous record holder appeared in the Guinness Book of Records - the Brazilian wandering spider. As is already clear from its name, the habitat of this aggressive and quite dangerous arachnid for humans is South America. But often this agile arthropod can be found in human habitation, where it favorite places there are boxes, shoes, hats, etc.

Brazilian wandering spider: appearance

These spiders are quite large - approximately 10 cm long. They have a spindle-shaped body and eight eyes, two of which are large. A voluminous abdomen and long, thick legs ending in spines, covered with thick hairs, distinguish this arachnid from its fellows. Its color can vary from dark brown to brown.

Taking a defensive position, the Brazilian wandering spider, a photo of which you can see in this article, rests on its hind legs and, having raised two pairs of front legs, sways menacingly from side to side. One of the main features of this spider is its large chelicerae covered with red bristles.

Brazilian wandering spider: lifestyle

Wandering spiders are so called because they do not build nests or weave webs, but wander in search of food: insects, other spiders or even frogs, small birds and mammals. Bananas occupy a special place in the spider’s diet, for which reason in the homeland of the arthropod gourmet they are also called the “banana” spider.

These arachnids move quite quickly, developing particularly high speeds in pursuit of prey. And some species are also capable of jumping far. The wandering spider inserts chelicerae into its victim, through which the poison is carried out. It paralyzes small animals within a few seconds.

Wandering spiders are nocturnal creatures that prefer to hole up during the day under rocks, in thick grass, or in people's homes.

Brazilian wandering spider: danger to humans

The reason for particular concern when a person encounters a Brazilian wandering spider is that this poisonous arthropod is in no hurry to escape, but, on the contrary, takes a defensive position and, having bitten once, strives to do it again and again.

The venom of these spiders causes a severe allergic reaction in people. And if the victim is a child, an elderly or weakened person, then the “Brazilian” bite can be extremely dangerous, even fatal. True, in medicine there are means that can help with the bite of a poisonous arthropod, but you need to seek help no later than 20 minutes after the incident.

The first symptoms of spider venom poisoning are quite severe pain from the bite itself, followed by a strong increase in blood pressure, nausea, dizziness and difficulty breathing.

But you need to remember that this spider does not attack a person first. The bite in this case can only be for the purpose of self-defense. True, because of the strong love of this species, living in boxes and dark rooms, residents of South America have to be especially careful and attentive.

For residents of Ukraine, Russia and neighboring countries, local spiders do not pose any particular danger, since even poisonous individuals cannot kill a person. However, there are more terrifying species in the world, a representative of which is the Brazilian wandering spider, which will be discussed further.

Appearance, color and size

The Brazilian wandering spider is a relatively large arthropod, whose body length often exceeds 10 cm. The head and chest are small, but the belly is thick, which is explained by the constant consumption of food. The massive legs are covered with hairs, which largely gives the spider its terrifying appearance.

The color of the arthropod varies depending on the specific living conditions. Most often it is dark brown with light patches on the legs and back, but it can have a brown color with reddish hues or even black.

It is also easy to recognize a spider by its behavior: in a moment of danger, the arthropod stands on its hind legs, raising its forelimbs upward. For this feature he was nicknamed "soldier". During such a “ritual,” the spider can sway from side to side, and its jaw becomes crimson-red.

Did you know? The spider's web is so unique that it has not yet been possible to reproduce it in the laboratory. In addition, it is very light, therefore, according to preliminary calculations, for coverage Globe only 340 g of such “yarn” would be needed.

Where does it live?

The main habitats of the “Brazilian wanderer” are the territories of Central and South America, where arthropods settle mainly in tropical forests. Sometimes they can be found in private houses, where they climb in search of food or shelter.
Spiders crawl into shoe boxes, bags of clothes, and even things scattered on the floor, which only increases the danger to humans. During the day, they can hide in cool basements or dark closets, and at night they actively move around the house.

This behavior is also typical in forest conditions: during the day the spider sits out under stones or in cool holes, and at nightfall it quickly moves around the territory, for which it is also called a “runner”.

On the territory of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus, the “Brazilian wanderer” can only be found in terrariums, but in open nature has not yet been recorded. True, this does not mean that there is nothing to be afraid of: there are many poisonous varieties that are common in our country (for example, the “black widow”).

What does it eat?

The diet of the Brazilian spider is quite wide and includes:

• small insects;
• small lizards;
• other spiders, and even weaker representatives of their own species;
• sick birds, even if they are larger than him.

When attacking its prey, this small predator sinks its teeth into it and injects poison into the body, paralyzing the animal in a few seconds. This allows him to start eating calmly.

In the absence of such food, he does not disdain some fruits, especially bananas. Because of its love for them, the arthropod received the name “Brazilian banana spider.”

Important! In banana boxes they travel very long distances. There are cases when a spider ended up on another continent, endangering the local population.

Reproduction

Brazilian wandering spiders are dioecious creatures. The color of the female is much brighter than the color of the male, but the size of the male individual exceeds the size of the female, and the males also have an additional pair of limbs (used during mating).

To attract the attention of his chosen one, the male performs a kind of dance, while simultaneously offering her the caught food.

After sexual intercourse, the female often eats her partner, and after a few weeks she lays eggs and guards them until the young emerge. After this, the female’s maternal mission is completed: the young individuals crawl along the paths in search of food.

Why is a spider bite dangerous?

The Brazilian wandering spider was included in the Guinness Book of Records as one of the most poisonous creatures of its order. This attitude of people is explained by his aggressive behavior and powerful neurotoxins that are part of the poison.

In a healthy adult, they cause a strong allergic reaction, but with timely consultation with a doctor, death can be avoided. Great danger"wanderer" represents children and people with weakened immune systems, among whom the fatality rate is much higher.

During a bite, a person feels sharp pain, difficulty breathing and swelling of individual parts of the body. Over time, complete paralysis of the respiratory muscles occurs and the victim suffocates. Depending on the condition of the body, death occurs within 2-6 hours after the bite.

How is poison used in medicine?

The venom of various animals has always been the subject of study by scientists, because this is the only way to develop an antidote and save a large number of of people. However, the poison of the “Brazilian wanderer” is interesting not only for this.

Did you know? The most prominent representative big spiders considered a goliath tarantula. With a body size of up to 10 cm, the span of its limbs reaches 30 cm.

It contains the toxin TX2-6, which helps increase erection in males. And although there is no cure for erectile dysfunction using it yet, developments in this direction are still underway. It is likely that the world will soon learn about a new cure for impotence.

As you can see, the wandering spider is an interesting object for detailed study, but if you have to meet it in wild conditions- it is better to bypass the predator without exposing yourself to danger.

The Brazilian wandering spider is fast and very active. Everything would be fine, but it is also very poisonous. It is even considered one of the ten most dangerous spiders on Earth. This spider deservedly received its self-explanatory name: it does not weave webs, like most spiders, because it does not need it. The wandering spider never lives in one place, but always wanders. What is unpleasant for a person is that sometimes he enters houses. In South America, these spiders are often found in clothes or in boxes with clothes and food.

The wandering spider is found only in America, and even then most often in tropical and subtropical regions. There are two types of Brazilian wandering spiders - jumping spiders, which pursue their prey with jerky jumps, and running spiders. The latter run very fast, but are nocturnal, and during the day they sit under stones or hide in some other place, including in people's houses.

The Brazilian wandering spider loves to feast on bananas and will not miss the opportunity to climb into a box with this fruit. For its addiction, this spider received another name - the banana spider. But the main food for him is still not fruits. It hunts mainly other spiders and insects, and it also happens that it attacks birds and lizards that are larger than it.

He himself is a rather small predator - only about 10 cm. But his small size does not prevent him from being excellent hunter and a serious problem for people, and all because it is capable of releasing a significant dose when bitten toxic poison, which is formed at the ends of the chelicerae, in the channels of the poisonous glands.

Maybe the venom of the wandering spider is less dangerous than the venom of snakes. Adult healthy person it is unlikely to be able to kill - it will only cause a serious allergic reaction, with which modern medicine able to cope quickly. But if a Brazilian wandering spider bites a sick person or small child, then the poison can act faster than the ambulance arrives.

In 1998, one of these spiders bit a 23-year-old American man who was sorting through a box of bananas. The spider was hiding in it. The spider, angry at being disturbed, bit the man on the hand. He immediately went to the hospital, where he received help. This is how the American describes his condition: “When the spider bit me, I felt a thorn penetrate very deeply into my hand. And my head immediately became like balloon… My chest was so compressed that I could barely breathe. Blood pressure flew up almost to the ceiling, and my heart was beating so hard that I physically felt it beating my chest. Honestly, I thought I was going to die." Doctors administered an antidote to the victim and thus saved his life. The patient was discharged the next day.

But tragic encounters with stray spiders also happen. In the home of a Brazilian family, a wandering spider hid in the attic. The younger children found it and wanted to play. The spider grabbed my hand youngest daughter. When the brother tried to throw it away, the spider bit the boy too. The parents immediately called an ambulance. The doctors arrived half an hour later, but by this time the three-year-old girl had died and could not be saved.

Fortunately for the residents of Russia, wandering spiders do not live here and are unlikely to