mind blowing L. Mactans picture.

[ilovebugs]

I just came across this and I couldn't believe it.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/89501

I will admit that I once let a black widow walk across my finger but this is insane.


also, I came across this tidbit of info Latrodectus mactans is a mixture of Latin and Greek for "murderous biting robber".

 

[Widowman10]

hahaha, is that buthus?!

interesting red shapes underneath as well... very pretty!!

 

[David_F]

I will admit that I once let a black widow walk across my finger but this is insane.

Easier for them to bite you when they're running around free-range on you. Hold them like this, securely, and they can't get their fangs near you. Of course, you have to somehow get 'em between your fingers before you can lift them. That can be a chore.

I've held one mactans this way and once was enough for me. Pretty good rush but not something I want to do again.

 

[ilovebugs]

hahaha, is that buthus?!

interesting red shapes underneath as well... very pretty!!

it's a very nice picture.

at first, I thought the grains of sand were beads of sweat on the guy's fingers haha I wouldn't be surprised if he were sweating bullets

 

[ilovebugs]

I've held one mactans this way and once was enough for me. Pretty good rush but not something I want to do again.

NO KIDDING!

I was taking photos once and let it walk across my finger as it went across the carpet, so it didn't even know I was there.

I always get a rush when one of my T's jumps at me.

but what happens if you let go, and she caught hold of your finger with a leg, whipped around and gave you a kiss?

 

[buthus]

hahaha, is that buthus?!

interesting red shapes underneath as well... very pretty!!

Ha ha ...thats not me ...some other fool.

 

[Widowman10]

Ha ha ...thats not me ...some other fool.

 

[xhexdx]

NO KIDDING!

I was taking photos once and let it walk across my finger as it went across the carpet, so it didn't even know I was there.

I always get a rush when one of my T's jumps at me.

but what happens if you let go, and she caught hold of your finger with a leg, whipped around and gave you a kiss?

You...take a drive to the hospital and hope they have antivenom?

From what I've heard (and I'm probably wrong), windows aren't as bad as once thought. Granted, I'd steer clear from a bite, no question.

Hmm.

 

[What]

but what happens if you let go, and she caught hold of your finger with a leg, whipped around and gave you a kiss?

I missed this post...

If you get bitten by a widow unless you are sickly, young(0-6 y/o), or very old you dont have much to worry about. Just go to the hospital and get put under observation.

I wouldnt worry too much about a bite(I wouldnt want to get bit though). If on some random occasion I did get bit, I would mutter some profanities and call an ambulance. My parents however would freak out.

 

[Venom]

With Latrodectus, one needs to keep in mind the possibility of anaphylaxis. It is possible to have a life-threatening reaction with only one bite--you do not need a sensitizing bite. This has been documented, and has proven fatal in a bite from L.tredecimguttatus just a couple of years ago in the Balkans. I'm also familiar with a fatal allergic reaction here in the states, also from a Latro bite ( L. hesperus I believe).


True, the main threat to life is with the young, elderly, cardiac / respiratory challenged, allergics, and underweight. That's a pretty large segment of society to just rule out with a "you'll be fine." Further, persons with overworked or stressed hearts can also include the seriously overweight, and those with an extreme excess of sodium and/ or caffeine in their diets--which counts IN a large portion of today's youth. In short, if you tally the total number of population segments who are at elevated risk from widow bites, you have a very significant proportion. The number of persons included in this window is large enough to keep the UNTREATED death rate at 1 in 20. That's not the "your life is in danger" rate, but the rate of actual fatalities, meaning that the percentage of serious bites that did not result in deaths is HIGHER than 1 /20.

Widow bites should be taken seriously, period.