Latrodectus tredecimguttatus
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2015) |
Latrodectus tredecimguttatus | |
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Female L. tredecimguttatus, swollen with eggs | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
Family: | Theridiidae |
Genus: | Latrodectus |
Species: | L. tredecimguttatus
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Binomial name | |
Latrodectus tredecimguttatus | |
Range of L. tredecimguttatus | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, also known as the Mediterranean black widow
Description
L. tredecimguttatus is black in color, similar to most other widow species, and is identified by the thirteen spots which are found on its dorsal abdomen (the species name is Latin for "with thirteen spots"). These spots are usually red in colour, but may also be yellow or orange. It is otherwise similar to other species in the genus Latrodectus. The Mediterranean widow primarily lives in steppes and other grasslands, and can be a significant problem in areas where grain is harvested by hand. The female of the species has a body length of about 7–15 mm (0.28–0.59 in), while the male is smaller and reaches 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) at best. Only the female spider's bite is dangerous (either for humans or cattle) as the male cannot penetrate the relatively thick epidermis.
Toxicity
Like all Latrodectus species, L. tredecimguttatus has a painful bite that is fatal in rare cases. They are not in close association with humans generally, although epidemics of bites have been reported.
In
I have seen her settle in the furrows, lay out her web and rush boldly at insects larger than herself; I have admired her garb of black velvet speckled with carmine-red; above all, I have heard most disquieting stories told about her. Around Ajaccio and Bonifacio, her bite is reputed very dangerous, sometimes mortal. The countryman declares this for a fact and the doctor does not always dare deny it.[9]
One crustacean-specific and two insect-specific neurotoxins have been recovered from L. tredecimguttatus, as have small peptides that inhibit angiotensin-1-converting enzyme.[10]
References
- ^ a b "Taxon details Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
- PMID 25687740.
- PMID 25654384.
- .
- ^ Bettini, S. (1964). Epidemiology of latrodectism. Toxicon, 2(2), 93–102.
- PMID 6381753.
- PMID 14298228.
- ^ "Spiders plague Kazakh camels". BBC News. 2 July 2004.
- ^ Fabre, Jean Henri, The Life of the Spider (transl. A.T. de Mattos), Ch.1, p.40 (New York 1917).
- PMID 2096828.