Spider with a red cross on its abdomen. Common cross (spider): description, habitat

The common spider (Araneus diadematus) is a representative of the family of orb-web spiders of the genus Araneomorpha spiders. It prefers damp and damp places. Most often found in fields, meadows, forests, near ponds and rivers. The insect is a convinced hermit predator that does not tolerate members of its own kind.

Structural features

The male cross-breed has dimensions in the range of 8-10 mm, females are larger - 15-25 mm. The insect has four pairs of eyes, each of which looks in a different direction and provides the spider with a fairly broad horizon. Despite this, cross-haired people see poorly, they are myopic and are able to distinguish only shadows, movement, and the outlines of objects. But they have a keen sense of smell and taste. The spider's body is covered with hairs that sensitively detect any vibration and vibration.

The common cross has eight legs, its abdomen is round in shape, and white or light brown spots in the shape of a cross are visible on it. Long thin legs end in three claws.

Where does the spider live?

Most often, the insect can be found in the crowns of trees, where it stretches a net between the branches. Wheel-shaped webs are found in forests, groves, unkempt gardens, vegetable gardens and attics.

Nets for catching prey are constantly in need of repair, as they are subject to destruction by various insects, so every few days the spider dissolves the web and weaves again. Most often this happens at night.

Reproduction

Spiders are dioecious insects. Mating season they have it in August. After mating has occurred, the male, who did not have time to escape from the spider, dies. The female begins to weave a cocoon for eggs from the web, which she carries on herself, then hides it in a safe place. Egg laying occurs in autumn. With the arrival of spring, young insects begin to emerge from the cocoon. They reach sexual maturity at the end of summer, after which the spider that gave birth to them dies.

With the onset of maturity, the male spider begins to look for the female’s web, and having discovered it, he tries not to become prey. To avoid this, the spider prepares its retreat path by weaving a thread downwards from the edge of the web. After this, he begins to carefully pull the thread, which provokes the female to rush to search for the victim. The male spider hides using a woven thread.

Similar games are repeated several times, after which the male and female mate. And if the spider loses its vigilance after mating, it can be eaten by the female.

The cocoon woven by the female contains from three hundred to eight hundred amber eggs. The eggs overwinter in a cocoon, and in the spring young spiders begin to emerge from them. They remain in the cocoon for some time, then crawl away to begin an independent life.

Small spiders have weak limbs, so it is more convenient for them to move from place to place, gliding on the web. The common cross hunts constantly; its nets catch flies, mosquitoes, mosquitoes, midges, moths and aphids.

Web

Only the female weaves a web to catch prey. Being in the center of the web or nearby, located on the signal thread, dangerous spiders wait for a catch. Most often, the prey is a fly or mosquito. When very large and inedible prey gets caught in the web, the spider releases it by breaking the web.

The caught catch is eaten immediately or carried away by the spider to a secluded place and entangled in a web.

The web woven by the female has exactly 39 radii, 1245 points at which the radii are attached to the spiral. The spiral has 35 turns. All the webs that spiders weave are identical. The ability to weave a web is genetic.

All the threads that form the network are very light, but at the same time very strong, which is what the inhabitants of the tropics take advantage of, using the web in the manufacture of nets or fishing gear. In addition, the spider's web has high elasticity.

In the process of creating a web, two types of threads are used. The spider weaves the frame and radii using strong, dry fibers that do not have an adhesive coating. The frame of the future web is stretched between the branches. After this, the spider weaves radial threads that diverge from the center to the edges, as well as an auxiliary spiral thread, which serves as the basis for creating a catcher spiral. At the end of this work, the cross spider is placed in the center, from where it lays a sticky web. It takes an insect about an hour to weave a net.

Insect behavior

How does hunting happen? When any insect gets into the web, the vibration of the web is transmitted to the spider, and, approaching the victim, it kills it with poison. Then it entangles the victim with thin threads, which it pulls out of the abdomen using a pair of legs.

After this, the common cross bites the threads that hold the victim and moves to the center of the web for a meal. With the help of digestive juices that the spider injects into its prey, it is digested under its own shell. The spider can only suck out the semi-liquid contents and throw away the skin of the eaten insect. A spider can feast on dozens of insects at a time. Dangerous spiders only for insects; their poison does not cause harm to humans.

Benefits of insects

The common cross is useful because it destroys a large number of insect pests.

In ancient times, they knew how to make clothes and jewelry from spider webs. The French learned to make gloves and stockings from it. But such production did not take place on a large scale, since this would require keeping and feeding many insects, which was not possible.

The properties of spider webs are used in optical instruments where thin fibers are used. It is also needed in microbiology.

The cross net can be used as a disinfectant and antibacterial agent for wounds due to its ability to destroy many bacteria without harming animal cells. But you should not use this method at home, since there is no confidence in the purity of the web used.

The cross spider is extremely dangerous to humans and is not dangerous, although it is poisonous. The biggest problem that can result from a bite of a cross is a red spot on the skin.

The cross spider can be found in the forest, park, and on the window frames of village houses and cottages. Most of the time, the spider sits in the center of its trapping network of adhesive thread - cobweb.

The spider's body consists of two sections: a small elongated cephalothorax and a larger spherical abdomen. The abdomen is separated from the cephalothorax by a narrow constriction. Four pairs of walking legs are located on the sides of the cephalothorax. The body is covered with a light, durable and quite elastic chitinous cover.

The spider periodically moults, shedding its chitinous cover. At this time it is growing. At the anterior end of the cephalothorax there are four pairs of eyes, and below there is a pair of hook-shaped hard jaws - chelicerae. With them the spider grabs its prey.

There is a canal inside the chelicerae. Through the channel, poison from the poisonous glands located at their base enters the victim’s body. Next to the chelicerae there are short organs of touch, covered with sensitive hairs - the tentacles.

At the lower end of the abdomen there are three pairs of arachnoid warts that produce cobwebs - these are modified abdominal legs.

The liquid released from arachnoid warts instantly hardens in air and turns into a strong web thread. Different parts of arachnoid warts secrete a web different types. Spider threads vary in thickness, strength, and adhesiveness. Various types The spider uses cobwebs to build a catching net: at its base there are stronger and non-sticky threads, and concentric threads are thinner and stickier. The spider uses webs to strengthen the walls of its shelters and to make cocoons for eggs.

Internal structure

Digestive system

The spider's digestive system consists of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, and intestines (front, middle and back). In the midgut, long blind processes increase its volume and absorption surface.

Undigested residues are expelled through the anus. The spider cannot eat solid food. Having caught prey (some insect) with the help of a web, he kills it with poison and lets digestive juices into his body. Under their influence, the contents of the captured insect liquefy, and the spider sucks it up. All that remains of the victim is an empty chitinous shell. This method of digestion is called extraintestinal.

Circulatory system

The spider's circulatory system is not closed. The heart looks like a long tube located on the dorsal side of the abdomen.

Blood vessels extend from the heart.

In a spider, the body cavity is of a mixed nature - during development it arises from the connection of the primary and secondary body cavities. Hemolymph circulates in the body.

Respiratory system

The spider's respiratory organs are the lungs and trachea. The lungs, or pulmonary sacs, are located below, in the front of the abdomen. These lungs developed from the gills of the distant ancestors of spiders that lived in water.

The cross spider has two pairs of non-branching tracheas - long tubes that deliver oxygen to organs and tissues. They are located in the back of the abdomen.

Nervous system

The spider's nervous system consists of the cephalothoracic nerve ganglion and numerous nerves extending from it.

Excretory system

The excretory system is represented by two long tubes - Malpighian vessels. One end of the Malpighian vessels ends blindly in the body of the spider, the other opens into the hind intestine. Harmful waste products come out through the walls of the Malpighian vessels, which are then excreted. Water is absorbed in the intestines. In this way, spiders conserve water so they can live in dry places.

Reproduction. Development

Fertilization in spiders is internal. The female cross spider is larger than the male. The male transfers sperm to the female's genital opening using special outgrowths located on the front legs.

She lays eggs in a cocoon woven from a thin silky web. The cocoon weaves in various secluded places: under the bark of stumps, under stones. By winter, the female cross spider dies, and the eggs overwinter in a warm cocoon. In the spring, young spiders emerge from them. In the fall, they release cobwebs, and on them, like parachutes, they are carried by the wind over long distances - the spiders disperse.

Spiders are very interesting representatives biological kingdom, and some of them are far from harmless. They also have an amazing structure. Some varieties of these creatures have special appendages in their mouths, the so-called jaw claws.

These include araneomorphic spiders - members of a large group of arachnids. These natural adaptations are called chelicerae. They allow these creatures to successfully attack prey that is quite large in comparison with their size, which gives them the opportunity to win the evolutionary race.

It is to such creatures that cross spider- a striking specimen from the orb weaver family.

This creature earned its name not by chance, but because of a very noticeable feature - a mark on the upper side of the body in the shape of a cross, made up of white, in some cases light brown, spots.

The spider got its name from the color on its body that resembles a cross.

This appearance feature turns out to be very useful for these biological organisms. This gift of nature is a sign that can scare away many hostile living beings. Rest characteristic features clearly visible on photo of cross spider.

As you can see, it has a rounded body. It turns out to be almost integral with the head, dividing into two areas, which are usually called the cephalothorax and abdomen.

The size of such living creatures cannot be considered too large. For example, females, which are more impressive in size than males, are usually no larger than 26 mm, but there are specimens of such spiders that are only a centimeter long and much shorter in length.

Besides, cross endowed with eight sensitive flexible legs. He also has four, paired, eyes. These organs are located diversified, which allows this animal to have a 360-degree view in all directions. However, these biological organisms cannot boast of particularly acute colorful vision.

They distinguish only the outlines of objects and objects in the form of shadows. But they have quite good senses of taste and smell. And the hairs covering their body and legs perfectly capture a wide variety of vibrations and vibrations.

Chitin, a special natural binding compound, serves as the covering of the body and at the same time a kind of skeleton for such creatures. From time to time it is shed by these arachnids, replacing it with another natural shell, and during such periods the growth of the organism takes place, freed for a time from the elements that constrain it.

Krestovik is considered poisonous spider, but its poison is not dangerous for people

This representative of the biological kingdom of arachnids is capable of secreting a substance that is toxic to all types of organisms. So Is the cross spider poisonous or not?? Without a doubt, this small creature is dangerous to many living things, especially invertebrates.

And the poison they secrete has an extremely detrimental effect on their neuromuscular organization.

Types of cross spider

The number of species of such spiders is impressive, but among the arachnids, known to science, about 620 species have been described in the genus of crosses. Their representatives live all over the world, but still prefer to settle in temperate and tropical zones, because they cannot stand too cold climates.

Let's present some varieties in more detail.

1. Common cross. This type considered the most common. Such living creatures live among bushes, meadows, fields and coniferous forests European, as well as the northern part of the American continents.

They prefer damp areas and take root well in swampy areas, near rivers and other bodies of water. Their body is reliably protected by a durable thick shell, and humidity preserves a special waxy coating on it.

Decorated like this white cross spider on a common brown background with a pattern. Such a complex pattern, upon close examination, may seem very interesting.

Common cross spider

2. Angular cross is a rare variety, and in the Baltic regions it is generally considered endangered. It is interesting that such arthropods, although they belong to the genus Crusader, characteristic sign do not have it on the body.

And instead of this feature, on the belly of the creatures, covered with light hairs, two small humps stand out.

Angular cross

3. The barn spider is an inhabitant of the Northern. The trapping nets of these creatures, which are sometimes of considerable size, can be found in abandoned mines, grottoes and rocks, as well as near human habitation.

These creatures are dark brown in color. Thanks to such colors, they are camouflaged against the background of their surroundings. The legs of such spiders are striped and covered with white hairs.

In America there is a species of cross - guinea

4. The cat-faced spider is another inhabitant of regions of America similar to the previously described species. Its body is also covered with fluff, and the hairs can be either light or dark. These are very small creatures. Some specimens may be less than 6 mm.

But if this big spider cross of this type, then it is probably a female, because their size can reach up to 2.5 cm. These arachnids received their name for a very interesting pattern on the abdomen, vaguely reminiscent of a cat’s face.

This decoration for these creatures is located in the place where their relatives usually have a cross.

The cat-faced spider has a shape similar to the face of a cat on its body

5. Pringles spider is a small-sized resident of Asia, also common in. This one has a very interesting color cross: black its abdomen is marked with a funny white pattern, while the cephalothorax and legs of such spiders are green to match the color of the rich vegetation of the regions where such creatures live. The size of males in some cases is so small that they do not exceed 3 mm.

Spider Pringles

Lifestyle and habitat

For settlement, these representatives of the animal world prefer to choose areas where there is no lack of moisture. These creatures are able to catch the eye wherever there is an opportunity to weave a web.

It is especially convenient for such creatures to arrange such a skillful trapping net between the branches, and at the same time finding shelter nearby, among the foliage of small bushes or tall trees.

Therefore, spiders take root well in forests and in quiet, untrodden areas of gardens and parks. Their webs can also be found in various corners of neglected buildings: in attics, between doorways, window frames and in other similar places.

On the abdomen of such creatures there are special glands that produce in excess a substance that allows the creature to weave trapping nets. They are known to be called cobwebs. From a chemical point of view, their natural building block is a compound that should be considered very similar in composition to soft silk, which indicates its relative strength.

Spiders usually weave patterned weaves formed from the specified, initially liquid and viscous, material, which then hardens, with endless persistent persistence. And after one or two days they destroy the old, worn-out network and weave a new one.

This structure can well be called a true work of weaving art, formed from threads whose total length is 20 m. It has a regular geometric structure, being endowed with a strictly defined number of spiral turns with specific radii and distances from one circle of the network to another.

And this cannot but lead to admiration, because it evokes aesthetic pleasure. But it is not vision at all that helps spiders create perfect lines; they are guided by the sensitive organs of touch.

These curious representatives of the biological kingdom usually weave such structures at night. And all this is extremely expedient and correct, because at the indicated time of day most of the enemies of spiders indulge in rest, and no one bothers them to do their favorite activity.

In such an activity they do not need assistants, and therefore spiders are individualists in life. And they don’t spend much time communicating with their relatives. Having thus created a trapping net, they climb into an ambush and begin to wait for their prey, as always, completely alone.

Sometimes they don’t particularly hide, but are located in the very center of the web they weave. Or they keep watch, sitting on the so-called signal thread, which allows them to feel all the connections of a given weave.

Sooner or later, some victim falls into the spider's trap. Most often these are flies or other small flying insects. They easily get tangled in the net, especially since its threads are sticky. And the owner of poutine instantly feels their fluttering, as he is able to capture even the most insignificant vibrations well.

Interestingly, small insects themselves can also pose a danger to spiders. After all, certain varieties of flies and, taking advantage of their usual immobility, are quite capable in the blink of an eye of perching on the back of eight-legged predators and laying their eggs in their body.

In this case, the spiders turn out to be helpless; they are omnipotent only when their victim gets stuck in the web. The spiders themselves cannot get tangled in their trapping web, because they move only strictly along certain, radial, non-sticky areas.

Nutrition

The living creatures described are carnivorous. In addition to the flies and mosquitoes already mentioned, aphids, various midges and other small representatives of the insect world can become their prey. If such a prey falls into the net of a given predator, then he has the opportunity to feast on it immediately.

But, if he is full, he is able to leave food for later, entangled with a thin adhesive thread. By the way, the composition of such a “rope” is somewhat different than the thread of a spider’s web. Further, the spider hides its food supply in any secluded place, for example, in the foliage. And he eats it when he feels hungry again.

These spiders have a very excellent appetite. And their bodies require a lot of food. The daily norm is so high that it is approximately equal to their own weight. Such needs force the described representatives of the animal world to work accordingly.

Cross hunters, lying in wait for prey, sit in ambush with virtually no rest, but even if they are distracted from business, it is for a very short time.

Extremely in an interesting way these creatures digest their food. This happens not inside the body, but outside. The spider simply releases a portion of digestive juice into the body of the victim, wrapped in a cocoon. In this way it is processed, turning into a substance suitable for consumption. Next, this nutrient solution is simply drunk by the spider.

It happens that the nets placed by these eight-legged creatures catch prey that is too large for such a baby to handle. The spider tries to get rid of such problems by deliberately cutting off the threads of the network connecting itself.

But if the threat does not stop there, for the purpose of self-defense he is quite capable of successfully using his chelicerae against what are, from his point of view, huge creatures. For example, a frog a quarter of an hour after its bite may be completely immobilized.

But Are cross spiders dangerous for humans or not?? Actually, the poison of these creatures does not produce irreversible changes on the body of all vertebrates. On humans, due to the small quantities released by these arachnids, toxic substances Compared to human size, they are not able to act in a serious way. The bitten subject feels only mild pain, which subsides fairly quickly.

Reproduction and lifespan

The life of these creatures is spent on the web. Here the process of reproduction of their own kind begins for them. And the time for it is usually the end of autumn. At first male cross spider finds a suitable partner.

Next, he attaches his thread somewhere on the lower edge of her web. This is a signal that the female immediately senses. She feels the special vibrations of the weaving and understands perfectly well from them that it is not just anyone, but precisely the candidate for mating, who has violated her loneliness.

Then she goes down to her stall, thereby responding to his signs of attention. After intercourse, males no longer survive. But the female continues the work she started. She creates a special cobweb cocoon and lays her eggs there.

Cross spider nest

At first she carries this house for her offspring on herself, but having found a suitable place for it, she hangs it on a homemade thread. Soon the cubs appear there, but they do not leave their house, but remain in it throughout the winter. They emerge from the cocoon only in the spring. But their mother does not live to see warmer times.

Young spiders grow up, live throughout the warm period, and then the entire reproduction cycle repeats again. From here it is not difficult to understand: how long do cross spiders live. The entire period of their existence, even if we count wintering together, turns out to be less than a year.

The cross spider is a representative of the most common species, which is found in almost all regions except northern and southern latitudes. Prefers places with high humidity and is most often found in gardens, fields, among shrubs growing near water bodies, as well as in groves and in forest areas. It can also live on the eaves of buildings and on the facades of buildings.

Characteristic

The cross spider, or crusader, got its name thanks to the spider, which, as can be seen in the photo, is formed from white spots. The abdomen of the arthropod is colored Brown color, has a teardrop shape. The cross has 8 legs, on which supersensitive olfactory organs are located. There are 8 eyes on the head, they are directed in different directions, which makes the view as wide as possible.

This is interesting! Cross spiders have very poor vision - they only see blurry outlines of objects. And to know and interact with outside world they are helped by the sensory organs on their paws!

The male cross spider looks the same as the female. The only difference is the sizes. Thus, females are slightly larger than males and their sizes can range from 16 to 25 mm, the male’s body size is approximately 10-11 mm. Throughout their lives, these arthropods molt several times, and this happens at regular intervals.

Nutrition

Crosses are hunters who are most active at dusk and at night. During the day they prefer to hide in secluded places. Their diet contains:

• flies;
• butterflies;
• mosquitoes;
• vileness, etc.

During a hunt, the crusader spider positions itself in the center of its web and freezes. From the outside it may seem that he is dead. But as soon as the prey falls into the net, the hunter reacts with lightning speed. He quickly runs up to the confused insect, plunges his sharp claws, which are located on the front pair of legs, into its body and injects paralytic poison. After some time, the caught victim freezes. At the same time, in different situations spiders either immediately eat their prey or leave it in reserve.

On a note! The spider finds out that someone is in the web with the help of its legs - the victim moves, trying to get out, and creates a vibration, which the spider feels!

The cross spider eats quite a lot - the total volume of food consumed per day is approximately equal to its body weight. And at one time he is able to eat about a dozen insects. For this reason, he spends almost all his time hunting, constantly being in the web and waiting for the next victim. A small part of the day is allotted for rest, but even during this period the signal thread is necessarily tied to one of the hunter’s legs.

On a note! The diet of the cross spider does not include all insects. If a victim with an unpleasant odor, someone poisonous or too large gets caught in the web, then the hunter prefers to let the unwanted guest go in this case. He bites through the restraining threads and lets the one he gets caught go!

Reproduction

During the spring and summer, young males are mainly engaged in weaving webs and hunting, trying to provide themselves with normal nutrition. Closer to the mating period, they leave their shelters and move from place to place in search of a female. At this time, they feed extremely poorly, which explains the significant difference in weight between them and spiders.

After the male finds the female's web, he makes several attempts to inform her of his appearance - he carefully steps on the edge, causing vibrations. The female immediately takes off and tries to catch up with the male, thinking that this is another victim. And the male, in turn, escapes along his thread, which he prudently lowers down in advance. This continues until the spider understands who exactly came to “visit” her.

Immediately after mating, the spider tries to hide quickly. However, only a few – the most efficient – ​​manage to do this. Most die from the venom of the female. This period occurs around the end of summer or beginning of autumn.

The fertilized female lays a clutch. She places the eggs, of which there can be about 300-800 pieces, in a cocoon tightly woven from a web and carries it on herself for some time. Then the spider finds a suitable shelter, where it leaves the clutch. Often such a place becomes the bark of a tree that has fallen away from the trunk, cracks in the wood, fallen leaves, etc. The eggs are stored there until spring. At the same time, the future offspring are absolutely safe in the cocoon - it is warm and does not get wet.

As the weather warms up, small spiders emerge from the eggs.

After birth, young crossbills need a sufficient amount of food, but the territory where they first saw the world is not always capable of feeding them. Therefore, it is important for spiders to leave this densely populated area as quickly as possible, otherwise many of them risk being eaten by their own brothers or simply dying of hunger. However, these arthropods are not capable of moving long distances on their own, since their legs are very poorly developed. Often they are carried by a fair wind - the spider waits for windy weather, clings to its web and thus flies from place to place.

This is interesting! The web helps the cross spider to overcome very impressive distances - sometimes about 400 km!

Considering the above, it is easy to calculate how long the cross spider lives. In the spring, the young hatch from the eggs, and in the fall they mate. Males in most cases die immediately after they fertilize the female, and spiders a little later - they spend several weeks near the hidden cocoon and, having fulfilled their parental duty, die before winter arrives. It turns out that nature does not have so much time allotted to the cross - only 6-8 months.

Toxicity

Is the cross spider dangerous for humans? Its venom is toxic to us and about five minutes after the bite you can experience the following unpleasant symptoms:

• severe headache;
• slight increase in body temperature;
• slight weakness;
• discomfort in the joints;
• itching and tingling at the site of the bite;
• subcutaneous hemorrhages are possible.

On a note! Often, after a bite, only a local reaction occurs, which manifests itself in the form of reddened and somewhat hardened swelling. But sometimes the consequences can be more serious. In this case, it depends on the immune abilities of the human body!

The bite of a cross spider is not fatal, however, despite this, it is advisable to avoid contact with it. If he does bite you, then first of all, the affected area should be thoroughly washed with soap, which will help prevent additional infection. Next, you need to apply something very cold to the bite site, ice if possible, and treat it with anti-inflammatory ointment.

Important! If a child is bitten by a cross spider, then calling an ambulance is mandatory!

In order to avoid contact with the cross spider while relaxing in nature, you should always close the tent at night, and if it has windows, then you need to put mosquito nets on them. In the evening, be sure to inspect your sleeping area, and it is advisable to take out all the rugs and blankets and thoroughly shake them. When walking through the forest, always avoid woven webs, and if you notice a cross spider very close by, then under no circumstances pick it up.

Similar rules apply to staying at a tourist base and even at a dacha. Upon arrival, you should inspect all the rooms for the presence of a symmetrical cobweb, and if one is found, it must be immediately carefully removed with some long object. In this case, it is advisable to protect your hands with gloves.

The crusader spider differs from its fellow spiders in its impressive size. The length of females is more than 2 cm, while the male is half that size. Larger size females are necessary to kill the male after mating, and also allows you to safely carry a large cocoon with small spiders on yourself.

How many legs does a cross spider have? Like all arachnids, the insect has four pairs of legs, which are especially sensitive due to the three claws located at the very tips. With them he catches the victim.

On the back, the spider is awarded a cross of small circles of light or light brown color, located on the upper part of the abdomen, which is why it got its name. A black spider with a white cross on its back lives in shaded places - forests, groves, and various thickets. If there is enough sun and light, then the insect is lighter, and its chitinous coating fades from bright rays. In the lower part of the abdomen are located arachnoid glands, which are capable of producing different webs. For hunting - thin and sticky, and for the maturation of small spiders and cocoons - soft and silky.

The body is covered with hairs that function as a tactile organ. The color of the abdomen of the cross spider also depends on the habitat. An ordinary representative of arachnids of the araneomorphic genus has two pairs of dark-colored eyes.

Their vision is poor - blurry objects and outlines. Crusader spiders react to movements around them.

Cross spiders weave webs quite often - one every 2-3 days, as other insects, animals and weather destroy it. It prefers insects, but mainly feeds on flies, aphids, mosquitoes, grasshoppers and others. Active at night. During the day he rests, but keeps a signal thread under his foot. From trapping nets it throws out victims that are too large or unfit for food. They are distinguished by their particular gluttony - in a day the cross eats its own weight in insects.

Symptoms of cross bites

He never attacks a person. Bites occur due to the latter's interference in the life of the insect.
A spider bite is accompanied by the following symptoms:

1. Itching. The bite site itches unbearably due to neurotoxins and hemotoxins contained in the venom of the cross.
2. Hyperemia of the skin.
3. Slight swelling, as with.
4. Painful sensations more common in children or people with hypersensitivity.

The cross spider is poisonous only to small mammals - mice, rabbits, small dogs and young animals. For an adult healthy person the bite of a cross spider is not dangerous. It is necessary to regularly examine pets in order to start or spider in time.

But if a person is prone to various allergic reactions or a child is injured, then an insect bite will cause mild symptoms:

• weakness;
• chills;
• headache;
• increase in body temperature;
• swelling and hardening at the site of edema.

The hemotoxin contained in the poison causes the development of hematoma and subcutaneous hemorrhage.

First aid for a bite

First aid for a spider bite involves simple steps:

1. Wash the bite area with cool water and soap.
2. Treat with antiseptic solution and alcohol.
3. Apply cold to reduce itching and swelling.
4. Take an antihistamine to prevent the development of allergic symptoms.
5. For headaches, take an antispasmodic (nosh-pa, drotaverine, etc.).
6. It is advisable to use anti-inflammatory or antihistamine ointments and creams: Bepanten, Fenistil, Soventol, Baneocin and others.

The cross spider contains venom that is rich in eperotoxin, neurotoxin and hemotoxin. All these substances are eliminated from the body within one to two days. If the person bitten does not feel better after this time, then contact medical care, as with .

Prevention

When relaxing in nature, avoid beautiful wheel-shaped webs and do not pick them up. When sleeping in a tent, you need to close it carefully. If you find a web in your dacha or at home, you should carefully remove it with a long stick and throw the spider outside using a newspaper or a jar. Don't touch it with your hands. The insect should not be killed - it is an amazing specimen that brings benefits to humanity.