Arachnophobia is the extreme and irrational fear of spiders and other arachnids, such as scorpions. This disorder is one of the most common worldwide and it is believed that its origin is related to the evolutionary instincts of human beings in the face of the threat of poisonous species.
According to information from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), there are more than 50 thousand species of spiders around the world. Although most of them have venom (except for the Uloboridae family), the level of toxicity of this does not represent great dangers for human beings.
However, a group of approximately 200 species of spiders do have venom that is toxic enough to seriously harm human health. One of them is Loxosceles, popularly known as the violin spider or corner spider, which lives in urban areas of Bajío, Sonora, Chihuahua, Morelos and Mexico City, without ruling out that its habitat is expanding.
When the recluse spider appears and how to avoid it
According to information from the biologist specializing in arachnids from the UNAM Biology Institute, Claudia Isabel Navarro Rodríguez, the recluse spider is present throughout the year in Mexico, but its time of greatest proliferation is during the rainy and hot seasons from May to July.
This species of arachnid measures between 1 and 3 cm, has six eyes (which are shaped like a half moon), is reddish brown in color and has very thin legs. Its popular name is derived from the violin-shaped pattern it has on the front part of its body called prosoma. In addition, the recluse spider is characterized by not weaving webs like the most common ones (conical, circular), but cottony and irregular ones and having a nocturnal lifestyle, so it goes out to hunt or look for a partner during the night.
Some recommendations that we can follow to avoid contact with them are:
Check cracks or walls with openings where spiders can take refuge
Clean the home constantly, especially in closets, furniture, pictures and basements.
Do not accumulate boxes or unwanted objects, such as stacked wood.
Check and shake clothes and shoes before using them
“Recluse spiders like to take refuge in dark places because their lifestyle is nocturnal. Likewise, they prefer places with little movement. So, whether for a matter of cleanliness or also as a precaution, keeping the aforementioned places clean can be of great help to prevent them from establishing themselves in our home,” explained biologist Isabel Navarro for the UNAM Global magazine.
What should I do if I get bitten?
Although the venom of the brown recluse spider is not as lethal as that of other arachnids, it is important to treat the bite as quickly as possible by following these steps.
Stay calm and try to take a photo of the spider or capture the specimen (in order to ensure that it is a brown recluse or, if it is another species, to know which one it is in order to apply the correct antidote).
Clean the wound with soap and water. Do not apply ice, heat compresses, alcohol or ointment.
Avoid sucking the wound.
Through the Redtox page, locate the nearest hospital that has the antidote. According to this website, in Mexico City there are 26 hospitals that have antidotes against scorpion stings and spider or snake bites. The antidote can also be found commercially and any person linked to the health sector can place it. It may be appropriate to take this option when none of the hospitals that have the antivenom are close to the area where the incident occurred.
Source: infobae
