My beast: how the poisonous spider Karakurt settled in Kuban

Karakurt

Poisonous spiders of the Krasnodar Territory live in arid places, live in burrows underground, and do not build trapping nets. They behave without aggression towards humans, but they can bite in defense of their own life. Most attacks by karakurts occur due to negligence, when a person does not notice the predator in shoes, things, or in a clearing.

After a spider bite, pain, swelling, redness, and swelling appear. After 15 minutes, general health worsens - nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, head pain, tremors, muscle spasms, difficulty breathing, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate. If medical assistance is not provided, cardiac arrest occurs or the person dies from suffocation.

The appearance of karakurt is memorable. The size of the female, together with the leg span, reaches 2 cm, the males are smaller. The most active young individuals. Legs, cephalothorax are black, red spots on the abdomen - 13 pieces. As they grow older, the color changes and becomes more uniform.

Steppe regions of Russia

The nature of the Russian steppes is inhabited mainly by dangerous and biting arachnids, the most common of which are:

The most poisonous spider in Russia, it lives in the Urals and the Caucasus, Crimea, the Black Sea region and the Moscow region. The bite of the karakurt is a double hole made by chelicerae. The spider will attack immediately if accidentally disturbed. Poison injected into the wound spreads throughout the body within 15 minutes. After this time, severe muscle pain, fever, increased sweating and tremors begin. If you are bitten, you should seek help immediately. The most aggressive are sexually mature females, who, in addition to the instinct of conservation, experience a natural feeling of the need to preserve offspring.

Pogrebnoy

He got his “nickname” due to his love of living in cellars and barns. In these buildings, he finds crevices and cracks in the wooden elements that are optimal for his habitation. The spider is small, the average size is 10 mm. The head is colored brown or black, the abdomen is lighter - from red to brown. Pogrebnyaks are characterized by a hot climate; in Russia they prefer to live in the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Crimea. A bite from a porcini mushroom can lead to fever, nausea and fever. They themselves do not attack, but if the spider senses real danger, it will defend itself.

Black Eresus

Popularly called ladybug. Lives in the Caucasus, Western Siberia and the southern Urals. The male specimens of this spider are very impressive; they have a round, bright red abdomen, on which there are four black spots, the legs are black, thick, with white transverse stripes. Females do not have such an attractive appearance - as a rule, they are black. The average size of eresus is 1 cm, sometimes individuals up to 1.5 cm are found.

Ladybug lives in earthen burrows, which it digs under stones. The black eresus is a family of venomous spiders. Poison injected into the wound leads to numbness of the limbs and severe swelling.

Steatoda

This species is called a relative of the black widow or false widow due to its external and behavioral similarities, only the steatoda is brown in color and lacks markings on the back. Steatoda lives throughout Russia and often settles in human dwellings. This is due to the presence of constant heat in the room and access to water.

This species can go without food for about a month, but it needs to drink constantly. The female grows up to 1.2 cm, males - half as much. Steatoda is a poisonous spider. A bite can kill a mouse or frog or cause complete paralysis in a dog or cat. For humans, the consequences are malaise, nausea, increased heart rate and shortness of breath, muscle and joint pain. Swelling appears at the site of the bite, and then it turns blue.

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South Russian tarantula

Dangerous spiders in Krasnodar live in dry places and build holes underground. The depth of the labyrinths of South Russian tarantulas reaches 40 cm. The entrance is protected by cobwebs. They feed on insects and their larvae. They hunt without leaving their own shelter.

The South Russian tarantula is the largest spider in the Krasnodar region. The body is covered with thick hairs, the legs are long and powerful. Colors are gray, brown, white, ash. It differs from other tarantulas by its dark head. The body size of the female, together with the leg span, reaches 35 cm.

The bite is poisonous, but not fatal. Painful sensations are present for several days, the skin recovers in 2 weeks. People prone to allergies experience a deterioration in their health - nausea, weakness, dizziness, headache.

It also has other names - yellow, heyracantium. Poisonous spiders of the Kuban and Krasnodar Territory live in arid places and build burrows in the ground. They hunt actively at night. They run quickly, attack a victim several times larger in size, and win.

The predator has a bright, memorable appearance. Legs, abdomen are yellow, cephalothorax is red, chelicerae are in the form of claws. Outwardly it looks more like a scorpion. The photo is presented below. The female is 1 cm in size, the males are 0.5 mm.

The spider is not aggressive towards humans, but it can bite in defense of its own life. At the site of the attack, an allergic reaction appears in the form of redness, swelling, and swelling. In young children and people prone to allergies, their health worsens. The condition returns to normal within a few days, the skin recovers within a week.

Spiders of the Krasnodar region

Southern regions of the country

The warmest regions are home to the following spiders:

The popular name is Mizgir. Habitat - central and European Russia, namely steppes and semi-deserts. The female tarantula grows to a huge size of 3.2 cm, males are 5 mm smaller, weight starts from 30 grams, the maximum weight of an adult reaches 90 grams. Such parameters cannot but impress! There is no doubt about which spider is the largest in Russia - it is definitely a tarantula.

The massive body is dark brown or dark gray and covered with many hairs. Due to the large number of hairs, the spider looks very fluffy. Tarantulas live alone, except for the mating period. The diet, in addition to standard midges and flies, is supplemented by frogs and mice. Representatives of this species are true hunters; they prefer to guard, attack and chase large prey, while inflicting additional bites. Despite the terrifying appearance and predatory nature of the spider, it can bite a person if it senses danger. The bite is dangerous only due to an allergic reaction - redness and irritation.

Argiop

The popular name is wasp spider or wasp spider. It received its nickname due to the similarity of the color of the females of this species with the wasp: a yellow abdomen with black and white stripes. Distributed in the Krasnodar region, Astrakhan region and Volga region - warm regions. Argiopes have pronounced gender differences: females are large and bright, up to 3 cm, and males are on average 0.5 cm and have a dark gray or brown color.

An interesting feature of spiders is their “gregarious” life - the number of individuals in a group is up to 20. The wasp spider is poisonous, but its poison will not cause serious harm to health. In terms of pain, the sting can be compared to that of an aspen or a bee; it will be painful and swollen. An allergic reaction is possible. Argiope will never attack first, but if you accidentally touch its web, an immediate reaction will follow.

Wolf spider

The largest spiders of Kuban. A relative of the karakurt, but not so poisonous. The bite provokes a local allergic reaction and rarely causes deterioration in health. The color is ashen, brown. The body is covered with dense villi. Females reach sizes of 4 cm, males are half that size.

The wolf spider does not weave hunting nets; it hunts actively. The victims are insects, their larvae, amphibians, and small rodents. In search of prey, it explores new territories and creeps into human possessions. In the house, it doesn’t reveal its presence in any way; it hides in corners, behind furniture, cabinets with dishes, shoes, and things.

Black Eresus

The beautiful ladybug spider inhabits vast territories of Russia, found from the Rostov region to the Novosibirsk region. Having chosen a burrow once, black eresus rarely leave it. The instinct of reproduction pushes sexually mature males to take such a step, and caring mothers crawl out to warm the cocoons with future spiderlings in the sun. Eresus can bite only in case of self-defense. The consequences will be extremely unpleasant, but not fatal. At the moment of the bite, the person experiences severe pain, then numbness. You may experience sensitivity to pressure for a short period of time.

False black widow

Outwardly it differs from its deadly relative in that it is lighter in color. The characteristic hourglass pattern is not red, but pink. Belongs to the karakurt family. The size of females, together with the leg span, reaches 4 cm, males are half that size. They are nocturnal and weave strong fishing nets.

The false black widow will not bite unless touched. It sits calmly in the center of the homespun cloth, waiting for the victim. However, he often travels around the area, choosing hot spots. While traveling, it can crawl into a tourist’s belongings, vacationers’ shoes, house, or apartment.

Black widows are often kept as pets. Their coal-black shiny color and smooth movements attract the eye and make them admire the exotic creature. In artificially created conditions, a widow lives for about 10 years, in a natural environment she barely lives to be a year old.

The bite of the false black widow is poisonous and painful, but not fatal. In young children and people prone to allergies, a deterioration in well-being may follow, including swelling of the larynx and difficulty breathing. In this case, medical attention is required.

Features

Spiders have eight legs, unlike insects. The forelimbs are equipped with chelicerae, which are poisonous claws. Spider warts are usually located on the lower part of the body, usually in 3 pairs. Some insects also spin webs, for example, caterpillars, but the web of spiders does not break under the force of prey, because it is elastic. There are pairs of eyes located on the head, their number is often 8 or 6, occasionally 2 are found.

Digestion is of the extraintestinal type. For example, a praying mantis chews its caught prey, but spiders inject liquefying enzymes into the carcass. Once softened, they suck out the insides. Arthropods do not attack people or animals first; they bite only if they sense danger. If a spider falls on a person, it should be blown away, but not hit.

Males have bulbs on their limbs in front, which contain sperm for fertilization. Some males run away after mating and save their lives, others agree with the fate of the victim and allow themselves to be eaten. Compared to females, males live short lives. Spiders are caring mothers; they weave small cocoons in the shape of a ball to nurse their babies.

Popular types of spiders living in the Krasnodar region

Spiders of the Krasnodar region feed on insects and live among vegetation. Representatives have poisonous glands. Not all insects are dangerous to humans. However, you should not contact representatives. Even a non-fatal bite can result in allergic reactions and severe skin irritation. Spiders pose the greatest danger to animals and children. People with weakened immune systems or pregnant women are also at risk.

In the central part of the Russian Federation

The central part of Russia is characterized by pronounced seasonality. The climate is mostly humid and is not suitable for all arthropods. The following spiders are found here:

Silver spider

The only underwater representative of the world of spiders, the popular name is dropsy. Lives in bodies of water with standing water. The silverfish species are small spiders up to 15 mm in length, brown in color. Since dropsy is the only spider that is found on the surface of lakes and ponds, it cannot be confused with anyone else. If you disturb such a resident of a body of water, you may get a bite. Its venom is not dangerous to humans; the result of a bite is pain near the bitten area, which disappears in a few days.

Heiracanthium

Heiracanthium is the Latin name for the green spider in Russia. Popularly called sak or yellow-bag. The places where saka is distributed are Crimea, Krasnodar Territory, Rostov Region - it loves warm regions. Climate change is contributing to its emergence throughout the central part of the country.

The abdomen is yellow or beige, the cephalothorax is often orange, the green spider grows up to 15 mm. Its color appears green against the background of the leaves, hence the name. Sak builds web sacs and has the ability to jump. It has large chelicerae and poisonous claws; the yellowjacket bites painfully. The first sensations from a Heiracanthium sting are similar to those of a bee - a sharp, severe pain. The consequences can be different - from a long-healing wound to nausea and an allergic reaction. Depends on the age and health of the person.

Knitting spider

Popularly called the grandmother's spider. It often settles with a person, occupying corners of the apartment, cracks behind furniture, and weaves its “classic” web. It grows up to 1 cm, has a light brown color and an elongated abdomen on long legs. The knitter is absolutely harmless; when meeting a person, he prefers to pretend to be dead: fold his paws and sit motionless until the threat disappears.

What insects live in Kuban

The Krasnodar region is rich in fauna. Many different insects live there. Some representatives are dangerous. The table shows the main individuals.

These are the main poisonous representatives of the Krasnodar region.

How to prevent a bite

For adults. In areas where poisonous spiders live, try to wear closed shoes and long trousers. Pay attention to the webs located closer to the ground. Do not camp or picnic in such areas. Just be careful. Remember that in Crimea, karakurts are found even on the beaches, in the coastal grass.

For children. Tell your child about karakurts. If you are walking in an area where it may live and you see webs on the ground, change your walking location to a safer one.

So he weaves a web among the stones

Summarize. Karakurts are dangerous, but not aggressive and attack, mostly due to our carelessness when we get too close to them. Observing the precautions described above will allow you to have a trouble-free vacation while hiking in the southern coastal countries.

Video of the fight between karakurt and scorpion

What poisonous spiders can you find?

There are many poisonous spiders living in the Krasnodar Territory. Some representatives with their bite can lead to instant death.

Karakurt

Karakurt prefers arid areas. Lives in burrows underground. Does not behave aggressively towards people. In most cases, a karakurt attack occurs by accident when a person does not notice the insect in shoes or on things. In this case, the spider bites for protection.

After a bite, the skin swells. There is severe pain and redness. Within 10 minutes your overall health deteriorates. The following symptoms appear:

If first aid is not provided in a timely manner, cardiac arrest occurs.

The female reaches 2 cm. Males are smaller. Young spiders are more active. Gradually the color becomes more uniform. Young insects have dark spots on their bodies.

Source

When to see a doctor

• a child or a person weakened by illness is bitten;
• the state of health of the bitten person deteriorates sharply;
• an allergic reaction began: severe pain and swelling, a rash around the bite site.

The most poisonous spiders in the world

Experienced tourists, when bitten by a tarantula while hiking, take a break for several hours, when the symptoms are most severe, and then continue the hike. But these are people who are already familiar with the spider and are ready for all sorts of consequences. It's better to go to the hospital.

There are millions of people in the world who suffer from arachnophobia, that is, the fear of arachnids. And their fears are not groundless: although most of them are completely or relatively safe for humans, among them there are those that threaten life. Spiders of Crimea do not graze their hind legs - in the fauna of the peninsula there are a number of poisonous representatives of eight-legged species, which we will talk about today.

Habitats

Arachnids exist where conditions permit, i.e. absolutely in every corner of the planet, with the exception of areas with severe frosts and regions that are constantly covered with a large layer of ice. Basically, arthropods are considered terrestrial inhabitants, but there are spiders that live in dug burrows or nests, leading an active lifestyle only at night.

Tarantulas and other mygalamorph species live in equatorial trees and bushes. Drought-resistant species settle in rock crevices, burrows and other shelters located at ground level. Diggers prefer to settle in groups, in separate burrows, the depth of which can reach up to 50 cm. Some species cover their houses with special screens, which they make from silk, soil or grass.

Haymaking spiders can often be found in damp and dark places

The so-called hay spiders prefer to live in dark and damp places, such as caves, uninhabited destroyed buildings, basements, and also in burrows that have been abandoned by various animals. Centipedes live in living quarters, on windows on the south side, hanging upside down.

Jumping spiders are able to survive almost everywhere, with the exception of icy places: in the desert, in forest-steppes, in the mountains, on stone and brick buildings.

Karakurt mainly lives in wormwood wastelands, where spiders are often trampled into the soil by herds of domestic animals. They can also be found on the rocky slopes of ravines and on the coast of artificial canals.

Hunting methods

Depending on their habitat and the individual structure, representatives of arachnids hunt in completely different ways. If arthropods are classified according to their hunting method, they can be divided into several species.

• Scammers who weave nets and wait for the prey to fall into them, or those who construct a lasso from a web and throw it over the victim.
• Wolf spiders, which are characterized by chasing "lunch". Their feet literally feed them.
• Those who prefer to sit in ambush and overtake unsuspecting prey from cover. They often use mimicry or decoys.
• Those spiders that hide in burrows and wait for prey to come within reach.

Among the predatory arachnids, there is a species of vegetarians that were able to survive and adapt to the harsh conditions among carnivores. For example, Bagheera Kipling's spider has adapted to live on acacia trees, which are loved and protected by ants. This tree produces nectar, and the shoots of its leaves are rich in proteins and nutrients that feed the jumping spider, as it is popularly called. He is very agile, jumps well and can coexist next to his enemies (ants) without being seen by them.

Dangerous classes

There are varieties of spiders that secrete a toxic substance. Medical intervention after a bite is required to neutralize the consequences. You need to know the names of the most dangerous spiders in Russia, which live in different regions, in order to protect yourself from bites.

Common crosses

The diet of this arthropod species consists of insects. The cross eats flies, bees, hornets, mosquitoes, butterflies and other flying insects, which it catches with the help of a web. The cross immobilizes prey with poison, then entangles it with threads. He injects liquid digestive enzymes into the victim's body, from which the body softens and turns into a semi-liquid state. After a while, the executioner eats the half-digested contents. The crossfish makes provisions for the future; if it is full, it hangs the prey from the edge of the fishing net.

This species is not one of the largest spiders in Russia; females grow up to 20−25 mm, but males are smaller in size (10−11 mm), as with all arachnids. The white cross lives in all regions of the country and prefers the atmosphere of beech, spruce or pine forests. Individual representatives are found in arable lands, swamps, meadows and orchards with fruit trees.

Characteristic features of the appearance of the cross:

1. Body color depends on external lighting. On the back there is a pattern in the shape of a cross, for which the spider got its name.
2. The representative's carcass is covered with a waxy layer. This substance protects the body from excessive evaporation of moisture on hot days.
3. In front of the head there are 4 paired eyes, and the cephalothorax is covered with a dense and dense shield.
4. At the back of the abdomen there are 3 pairs of arachnoid warts. On the surface of each formation there are hundreds of tiny holes.

Representatives breed in August; for males, mating games often end with eating. The male attracts the female by twitching the signal thread on the web. To lay eggs in the fall, the female makes cocoons from specially spun webs and dies after laying. The eggs overwinter in this cocoon, and the spiders are born in mid-spring. Sexual maturity occurs only after the next wintering.

Harmful chiracantids

Dangerous arthropods are found in grass and shrub thickets. This species belongs to the poisonous spiders of the middle zone. Chiracantids are vagrant individuals and do not weave any web traps. The highest activity occurs at night, hunting from tactile contact with the spider. Usually the victim touches the legs of a hidden hunter, who attacks her in a jump. The diet consists of caterpillars, grasshoppers, moths, aphids, and mites. Spiders of this species avoid contact with wasps and ants.

Characteristic appearance features:

• the body is painted in a light brown, yellowish or greenish color;
• the size of the female ranges from 0.5−1.5 cm;
• the carcass is oval-shaped, the back part is somewhat pointed;
• the front legs are longer than the others and larger than the body.

After a bite, severe pain appears at the site of the lesion, a burning sensation is felt, and the symptoms gradually spread to nearby areas. There is no itching or numbness in the muscles, but the lymph nodes located in the path of the poison begin to swell and ache. Stiffness and swelling develop a little later, sometimes the person cannot breathe freely.

If help arrives in time, the pain subsides within a day, and other symptoms disappear within 2 days.

Poisonous karakurt

This species is recognized as the most poisonous and belongs to the so-called black widows. Representatives live in the southern regions of the Urals, in the Caucasus, in the Astrakhan and Volgograd regions. In recent years, the range has shifted to the northern regions, reaching the Moscow region, which scientists explain by climate warming.