All spiders have silk glands, although
not all use silk in spinning webs. When drawn and stretched from
the spinnerets, located at the rear of the abdomen, the liquid
silk solidifies into tiny strands that are both strong and elastic.
It may require more than 80 grams of stress to break a thread
of silk only .1mm in diameter. Spiders us silk for web-building,
for capturing prey, for sperm transfer, for lining hibernating,
molting or living chambers and constructing egg cases, for draglines
and mating bowers, and spiderlings use silk for windborne travel.
Spider Bites
Many people dread the thought of a spider bite, but few in the United States die from them. Relatively few spiders area capable of piercing human skin. While it is true that most spiders have venom, the toxicity varies with the species. Most spider venom is harmless to humans but may cause temporary skin discoloration or swelling, much like a mosquito bite. Large spiders are capable of inflicting a painful bite but rarely do so unless consistently provoked. Spiders generally flee upon human approach, contrary to the tales of science-fiction writers.
Of the two potentially harmful spiders found in Missouri, you are more likely to encounter the brown recluse than the black widow. Both can inflict bites which, though rarely fatal, can cause severe pain and infection. Nationally, fewer than five people per year die from black widow bites, and it is highly unusual to find fatal brown recluse bite cases. Deaths attributed to spiders usually occur in individuals who have an extreme allergic reaction or immune deficiency to the spider's venom.
Although the chance of being bitten by a venomous spider is extremely slim, you can reduce the likelihood by heeding the following:
- Keep away from areas where black widow or brown recluse spiders area known to concentrate. The widow often makes tangled webs around outbuildings, storage units, old tree trunks or cabins not in regular use.
- Keep cellars, rooms, closets as clean and clutter-free as possible. These spiders usually will not remain in a constantly disturbed area. This rule can provide a powerful incentive for children to clean their rooms.
- Shake clothing, blankets, towels, and such if they have remained in an area where these spiders may be found.
- Take care to look before placing your hands in a lumber pile, window-well, under rocks or in little-used cabinets or drawers.
- Professional pest-control agents and sprays can be used, but these are often expensive and generally unsuccessful. The spiders are tenacious and not highly susceptible to insecticides.
- Do seek medical attention if you suspect that you have been bitten by either a brown recluse or black widow. However, with most spider bites, victims do not even know they have been bitten. If they do notice, they often attribute the spot to a scratch or splinter.
Collecting Spiders
Collecting spiders is a good way to gain a greater appreciation and understanding of spider natural history. If you hunt with a camera, you may capture some splendid photographs of these colorful and unusual creatures.
- Many spiders are active at night and can be found by shining a flashlight into vegetation. Wolf spider eyes reflect light, causing a night meadow to appear to twinkle.
- Arachnids can be captured easily using small glass vials. You can also use a pillow case of canvas net to sweep vegetation, or to place under bushes as you shake them.
- Collection for scientific, school or personal research sometimes requires the preservation of specimens in 70-percent ethyl or rubbing alcohol. If you pursue such studies, remember to make careful notes of the spider's location (on plants, rocks, soil, etc), habits, appearance and coloration prior to capture, and any further information that may help you to identify your specimen. Remember, although specific spider identification can be difficult, the broad categories are more easily distinguished.
- Spiders have been residents of the earth for 400 million years. Primitive spiders found preserved in amber look remarkably similar to our present-day species. Whether the prospect of observing these eight-legged creatures excites you or not, one thing is certain-spiders are here to stay.
Books and Articles About Spiders
- A Golden Guide to Spiders and Their Kin By Herbert Levi, Gold Press, 1968.
- How to Know the Spiders by B.J. Kaston, William C. Brown, 1972.
- American Spiders (2nd Edition) by Willis J. Gertsch, Ph.D., Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1979.
- "Fear Not, Miss Muffet!" by David Tylka, Missouri Conservationist, October 1982.
- "Don't Fiddle with Fiddleback" by Warren P. Sights, M.D., Missouri Conservationist, February 1983.
- Poisonous Spiders by Curtis Wingo, Agricultural Experiment Bulletin No. 738, University of Missouri, 1975.
