Spiders in Crimea: which ones are poisonous, what to do if bitten by a spider

With the arrival of spring, everyone tries to make an outing into nature: go hiking, have a picnic, go to the lake, or just take a walk on the grass.

Few people think about the fact that poisonous spiders live in Crimea, whose jaws can bite through the skin and inject their poison into the body. Every year, dozens of people end up in Crimean hospitals due to spider bites.

Let's put a cross: biting cross spiders

In many spiders, females are dangerous to humans - they are significantly larger than males (they are simply unable to bite through the skin). This is also true for cross spiders. There are several varieties of them (common Araneus diadematus, diamond-shaped), but they are all similar in habitat, appearance and influence on people.

Krestoviki weave trapping nets and hang them between trees and bush branches. All of them are not rare; many have seen them. A distinctive feature is a light pattern like a cross on the abdomen. These are large spiders - a female, hanging with her legs spread out in the web, can reach 4 cm in “diameter”. They feed on insects.

A cross bite is not dangerous, but can be painful and cause significant local inflammation (up to and including slight necrosis of the tissue around the wound). No special treatment is needed - just lubricate the area with anti-inflammatory agents. If the manifestation is severe, you can take an antiallergen.

Habitats and lifestyle

To avoid meeting representatives of this species, you need to know their habitats and lifestyle features. Most often, tarantulas inhabit the following places.

Steep slopes along rivers
where there is sufficient water.
Semi-deserts and steppes are also favorite places .
In rare cases, individuals can be found in forests where groundwater is available .

Behavioral features include their active nocturnal lifestyle , at which time they are busy searching for prey. During the daytime they usually sleep in burrows.

A distinctive feature in behavior can be called care for offspring ; females lay eggs and protect the clutch until the spiders are born.

Argiope: eight-legged wasp

Argiope (Agriope bruennichi) is a large spider, comparable in size to cross spiders. He is beautiful - information for those who can generally see beauty in such animals. Its mode of existence is similar to the little cross, only the first one more often hangs its mud in the grass. It has a characteristic black and yellow stripe color, like a hornet, which is why it is popularly called the wasp spider or “zebra”. Several subspecies of Argiope are found in Crimea.

Argiope is not life-threatening, but can be frightening - its resemblance to a flying insect is enhanced by the sensation of a bite. It bites painfully and usually unexpectedly (in thick grass it is harder to notice than you might think).

Inflammation occurs - exactly the same as in the case of a wasp sting. The difference can be determined by looking closely at the punctures - the wasp leaves one, and the spider leaves two. The treatment is also “anti-wasp” - lubricate it with something anti-allergic. In the vast majority of cases, pain, redness and swelling appear quickly, but after a couple of hours they completely disappear on their own.

Distribution of the species

Residents of hot regions and deserts know firsthand what a phalanx is. Their habitat is very wide. In Russia they are widespread throughout the Crimean Peninsula and the Caucasus. Many species of salpugs live in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and other regions of Central Asia. This type of spider, the salpuga, is also known in Europe, especially in Greece and Spain.

A small insect cannot bite through human skin, but a large phalanx is capable of this, and the sensation is very painful. In most cases, salpug bites pass without any consequences. But there are cases when inflammations form, which are quite difficult for those who are bitten. The phalanx does not have poisonous glands, but rotting food debris accumulates in the chelicerae, which get into the wound when bitten and cause infection.

Salpugs are a very common species of spider and that is why they have many scientific names. People, observing the life of spiders and their habits, gave them common names. Among them:

Solfugi.
Phalanxes.
Bihors.
Camel spider.

“Wind Scorpion” and many other “names” are directly related to the life of these insects. Solpuga runs very fast. The shape of their body allows them to reach speeds of up to 16 kilometers per hour and also jump up to 1 meter in height. Because of its speed, the spider was called the “scorpion of the wind.”

The phalanx squad is a large army of spiders, which consists of 13 families. It has 140 genera and a thousand species.

Due to its rather large body size, covered with bristles and “hairs” and lightning-fast movements, the phalanx looks very intimidating to its opponent. And combined with the sound it makes, the sight can scare anyone.

The color of the phalanx depends on the habitat. And since salpugs are inhabitants of desert and arid regions, most of them have a color ranging from whitish to brown. More often these are yellowish tones. The exception is individuals that have a variegated coloration.

The most common types of phalanges

Common salpuga or common galleod. Large insects with a yellowish abdomen and a gray or brown back. An active nocturnal resident that hides under stones or in burrows left by other small animals. Hunts at night on small insects, including scorpions and other arthropods. This species is listed in the Red Book.
The Transcaspian salpuga has a gray belly and a brown-red back, with dark stripes. The size reaches 7 centimeters. This species of camel spider lives mainly in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
The smoky salpuga is the largest representative of this species of spider. Its dimensions are more than 7 centimeters. The color of this individual has an olive-smoky hue. The cephalothorax is colored buffy. Mainly lives in Turkmenistan.

Tarantula in Crimea: a serious matter

The South Russian tarantula (Licosa singoriensis) was recorded in Crimea only in recent years, but during this time it managed to become trivial on the peninsula and cause a lot of trouble. He is a burrowing, steppe animal, lives in dry areas (in the region of Kerch, Evpatoria), where there is vegetation, and digs holes in the ground (or engages in raider seizures of mice, and kills the owners). The spider does not weave webs - it waits in the hole for the prey to approach, and then with a sharp throw it pounces on it and paralyzes it with its bite. Spiderlings that hunt in this way are called “wolves.”

They are gray in color, shaggy - this can be seen if you look closely, with powerful legs. Yes, these are the largest spiders in Crimea. Their body length sometimes reaches up to 3 cm, with outstretched legs twice as long, but they rarely take this position. The females guarding the cocoons are especially dangerous (they look exactly like cocoons, only with a rather non-standard weave). They often climb into the tents of inattentive tourists.

Tarantulas are dangerous animals. In Italy and Spain in the Middle Ages, it was believed that the only way to survive after their bite was to dance a grueling dance for a long time (yes, this is how the famous tarantella appeared). In fact, it is quite difficult to die (although it is possible with an enhanced reaction). But significant pain, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, rapid heartbeat, fever and difficulty breathing are traditional.

The victim is advised to drink plenty of fluids and take an antihistamine (the sooner the better). Immediately after contact, the wound can be cauterized (with gray from a match head). A spider is not a snake; it pierces the human body only a couple of millimeters, so the procedure will be both effective and not too painful. But tourniquets cannot be applied. If the reaction turns out to be pronounced, you need to fly to the doctor at full speed. Patients with allergies to a tarantula bite can die from cardiac arrest or suffocation.

The myth of grasshoppers and grass

The collection of multi-colored beetles includes both the famous May beetles and the bronze beetles with which they are confused (while the bronze beetles are emerald green, the May beetles, also known as chafers, are brown).

Bronzovka

Khrushchev larvae feed on vegetation and can damage tree roots, while bronzovka larvae feed on humus. Next to the May beetles in the biologist’s collection are scarabs and stag beetles, 50% of which are from the Voronezh region, the rest from the Far East and South Asia. One of the local species of stag beetle is affectionately called the common stag beetle.

Grasshoppers, locusts and locusts are presented in a separate box. As Sergey notes, grasshoppers are not harmless herbivores at all, but predators that eat butterflies and even their relatives. They just “snack” on grass for variety. So the words of the children's song about the intellectual grasshopper who “ate only grass and didn’t touch a booger” are just a fiction.

– Orthoptera are divided into two large groups: short-whiskered and long-whiskered. The latter include grasshoppers and crickets, and the short-haired ones include locusts. Therefore, a mustache is one of the ways to distinguish them from each other,” the biologist explained.

Mexican grasshopper Nesoecia sp

A separate biologist stand displays the “skins” of stick insects, scorpions, mantises, and tarantulas, which they left behind when molting.

The skins will also become exhibits at a future exhibition.

Spider from the basement

Poisonous spiders are found everywhere in Crimea. A relative of the tarantula, the cellar arachnid Segestria florentina, is similar in everything to the first, except for the area of residence - it loves dark, rather damp areas, in which you most often do not expect to see such an insect.

The cellar spider is smaller and darker than its counterpart (usually bluish-black or gray-brown), and does not have the characteristic light rings on its legs. You can meet it under stones, in ravines and, naturally, in basements, cellars, vegetable stores, and garages.

The health risk when meeting him is negligible. But muscle discomfort, swelling, numbness of the affected part of the skin, sometimes spasms, increased excitability are common signs. Treatment is anti-inflammatory drugs externally and antihistamines internally. Everything should go away in a few hours.

Among the burrow spiders of Crimea, the black eresus (Eresus kollari) is also dangerous. It is unclear which colorblind person gave it its name, since the striking feature of the spider is its bright red abdomen with four black dots. The bite causes local inflammation and prolonged pain. But eresus are rare and even less likely to emerge from their burrows.

Destructive flora: dangerous plants of Crimea

Is it dangerous to walk through the forests of Crimea? To a certain extent, yes, because on a walk you may come across beautiful and attractive plants that are considered poisonous.

Crow's eye. A toxic plant, but its dark blue berries, similar to blueberries, are especially poisonous. If you eat such “beauty”, then severe poisoning is guaranteed.

Crow's eye is a poisonous plant, the fruits of which can be confused by both children and adults with blueberries.

Yasenets (Burning Bush, Asterisk). The lilac or pink flowers of this plant cause severe skin burns within a few hours of touching it. The ash tree is not dangerous to the body, but after it heals, scars remain. Grows in all forests of Crimea.

Ash tree has a pleasant citrus aroma, but even inhaling the pollen of this plant can cause a burn to the respiratory organs.

Aconite (wolf root, king potion). The plant with blue flowers grows in beech forests and is considered completely poisonous. Affects the central nervous system, causing convulsions and paralysis of the respiratory organs.

Aconite is unknowingly used to brew tea, which leads to severe headaches and hallucinations.

Belladonna. A plant with a purple fruit like a small cherry. If you eat it, it begins to burn in your mouth, it becomes difficult to swallow, your heart rate increases, and hallucinations are possible. If a person is not helped in time, the outcome can be very unfavorable.

Belladonna berries, which look appetizing in appearance, taste like cherries, which is why children are often poisoned by this plant.

Bollygolov. Looks like a parsley bush in the flowering stage. Both the leaves and fruits of this plant are dangerous - they paralyze muscles, legs, and the skin loses sensitivity. Respiratory paralysis is especially dangerous.

Hemlock venom can cause food poisoning, convulsions, and paralysis.

First aid for poisoning by poisonous plants

: induce vomiting to cleanse the stomach, take activated charcoal, an antipyretic. In the case of black eye, vomiting cannot be induced; only the use of activated carbon is recommended. In the case of plants that cause skin burns, wash the affected area with soap and use anti-burn ointment.

Attention, black widow

“Black Widow” is the name of the American variety of this spider. But the Crimean one is no better. The name explains not so much the female’s habit of snacking on her husband after mating (many varieties of arachnids do this), but rather the real danger to humans.

Karakurt (Latrodectus tridecimguttatus) is the scientific name of this creature. Translated: “black worm.” You should only be afraid of spiders - the males are small, often cannot bite through the cover, and they have little poison. The female is an awkward-looking creature with a body up to 2 cm long, and the lion’s share falls on a black abdomen with or without bright red spots. The remaining parts of the spider are pure black, glossy. It lives in burrows and places its nets low above the ground.

You cannot self-medicate if you are stung by a karakurt - rush to the doctor as quickly as possible. The optimal treatment option is the introduction of a special serum (produced only in Uzbekistan, costs about $1,000 per dose). If it doesn’t turn out to be there, Crimean doctors know alternative options.

Many in Crimea are also afraid of salpugs - these are scary light-colored (sometimes white) creatures with huge jaws. You should be afraid of them, but the salpuga is not a spider, but a phalanx (something between spiders and scorpions). But in general, you need to carefully look around and always have at least diazolin with you, and better yet, diphenhydramine. We hope that our article will help you avoid troubles associated with poisonous spiders in Crimea. In conclusion - an interesting video, enjoy watching!

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Beautiful and unusual entomofauna of the peninsula

The most beautiful insects in Crimea live not only in protected areas. Unusual specimens are found in parks, squares and even in private plots.

Scolia giant wasp. The species is on the verge of extinction and is therefore listed in the Red Book. The size of the female reaches 5.5 cm. Against the background of a black body, wide purple wings and a bright yellow sternum look impressive. The entire body is covered with black and red hairs. The insect not only has beautiful bright colors, but also an extraordinary lifestyle. Scolia larvae parasitize the larvae of rhinoceros beetles, as well as beetles. The insect builds numerous tunnels in the soil, looks for a victim, paralyzes it and lays one egg at a time. So the offspring of Scolia do not experience a lack of nutrients, gradually eating away the insides of the host, consuming vital organs only at the end. Giant scolia are not only a decoration of the Crimean entomofauna, but are also among the largest insects in Crimea.
The Xylocopa is a solitary hunter bee, often called the purple bumblebee because of its coloration. The size of the insect reaches 3 cm. The body is black metallic, densely covered with black hairs, decorated with small transparent wings with a purple tint. It does not have an aggressive disposition; it ignores human presence.
The largest butterflies in Crimea are the Saturnia pear, also known as the peacock-eye, with a wingspan of 15 cm, swallowtails with a wingspan of up to 95 mm, podalirium, which has a wingspan of 7.2 cm, and polyxena (wingspan of 5.4 cm). In addition to their size, butterflies are distinguished by the original pattern on their wings. Seeing polyxena is very rare, as the species is on the verge of extinction. Only 4 species of vines serve as food sources for the caterpillars of this butterfly.
Several species of hawkmoth butterflies have been preserved in Crimea: oak, oleander, etc. Occasionally, a rare species is found - the Death's Head. The individual is notable for having a pattern on its chest that resembles a human skull. The Death's Head caterpillar is also characterized by a memorable appearance - bright yellow, yellow-blue, yellow-lemon with blue oblique stripes. At all stages of development, hawk moths of this species are capable of making sounds.

Insects of Crimea

Mantises. The size of individuals reaches 7.5 cm in the female. Males are somewhat smaller. The color depends on the surrounding vegetation and varies from brown to green shades. There is also a rare, unusual species of praying mantis in Crimea - the striped empusa. The insect is difficult to see, despite the fact that it reaches 6.5 cm in length. The body of the mantis is so thin that it looks more like a stick or a blade of grass.
The Crimean ground beetle is one of the most beautiful beetles in Crimea. Color green, blue tones. The coarse-grained covering of the body creates an optical illusion that the insect changes its color and shimmers in different shades.
Grasshopper Akrid. The harmless insect captivates with its size. Females grow up to 8 cm.
Speaking about the insects of Crimea, one cannot help but recall the night singers - cicadas. Unlike crickets, their singing can only be heard during the daytime. Only males are endowed with singing abilities. The females are silent.
Rhinoceros beetle. A rather rare specimen, which leads to a reduction in the number of Scolia. Only males have a horn. Insects grow up to 5cm. The shell appears varnished, long legs protrude from under it, and the abdomen is densely covered with hairs. The larvae of the rhinoceros beetle are very similar in appearance to the larvae of the cockchafer, which is why they are often destroyed.
Stag beetle. No less beautiful than a rhinoceros. It is smaller in size than its fellow giants from Europe. Females also lack horns. Rarely found in mountain forests. Red Book insect.
The dragonflies of Crimea deserve special attention. Entomologists have studied 60 species of these insects. All of them are predators and amaze with their variety of colors. Among the large specimens, the most notable are the large rocker, the lattice dragonfly with blue wings, and the emperor's watchman.

A description of all the insects of Crimea would not fit in a multi-volume encyclopedia. Entomologists have been studying them for more than 200 years, but more and more new species are still being discovered.

Dangerous spiders that are found in Crimea

Let's look at what arthropods you should be wary of and what to do if you are bitten by a poisonous spider.

Tarantula

Tarantula is the largest representative of arachnids in Crimea. Its dimensions are more than 3 cm in length. Inhabits the arid regions of the steppe part of the Crimean Peninsula. During hot weather, it hides in a hole, the depth of which can reach half a meter. The Crimean tarantula feeds on beetles, insects, caterpillars, and grasshoppers. The tarantula does not attack first, but, on the contrary, hides in a hole, barely catching the vibration of the earth.

Salpuga (phalanx spider)

The salpuga spider is not inferior in size to the tarantula. Its yellowish-gray color and long legs are terrifying. Lives in the foothills and on the South Coast.

A salpuga bite causes a burning pain that soon goes away. The arthropod is not poisonous. The main danger lies in the fact that the spider's chelicerae store the remains of its diet - rotting particles of the flesh of its victims. When bitten, they enter the bloodstream and can cause infection and inflammation of the bite site.

Karakut (black widow)

The most dangerous spider of all that lives in Crimea is, of course, the Black Widow - a spider whose habitat is tall, dry grass. The male karakuta grows up to 7 mm, the female is slightly larger. A distinctive feature is four red dots on the back. After mating, the female devours the male, hence the name.

Bite symptoms:

What to do if you are bitten?

Agryope spider

This spider grows up to 1.5 cm. Because of its color, it is often called the wasp spider or zebra spider.

Agriopa's venom is not life-threatening , but the bite itself can cause a lot of trouble. Allergy sufferers and people with weakened immune systems can especially suffer from it. In some cases, an abscess may form at the site of the bite, accompanied by further tissue necrosis.

Scolopendra. Features of the Crimean scolopendra. How to protect yourself from Crimean centipede.

Scolopendra is an armored centipede that looks like a long, dark brown worm, sometimes with a greenish tint. It mainly lives in tropical countries and only a few species are content with a temperate climate. In Crimea there is a ringed scolopendra, reaching 12 cm in length. The Crimean scolopendra loves dark and slightly damp places, hiding under stones, in cracks in the soil, under old trees. During the day it leads a secretive lifestyle, but after sunset it goes out hunting. I must say that this centipede is an excellent hunter! The scolopendra grabs the victim with its front legs, and then plunges its poisonous jaws into it. Eats very slowly. The diet of the Crimean centipede consists of various insects, beetles, larvae, arachnids, and does not disdain mollusks. On hot sunny days, food often finds itself to the hunter, who hides from the sun in a cozy hole or crevice.

How to protect yourself from being bitten while hiking

In nature, you need to be careful, especially in the evening and at night, when spiders are most active and go out hunting at night.

Medicines you should carry with you

In case of an allergic reaction from a bite, carry antihistamines with you, as well as antiseptics: hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol.

Now you know what spiders there are in Crimea, how to protect yourself from meeting them and what to do if you are bitten by a spider.

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What to do if bitten by a spider

If you are bitten by a spider, you need to act quickly:

Treat the bite site with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate.
Apply a cold compress to the affected area
Call an ambulance.

Carefully!

Do not apply a tourniquet, as this can lead to disruption of blood supply and necrosis of the limb.
Do not crush a spider crawling on your skin or clothing; brush it away.

Description and photos of spiders in Crimea

People who come to Crimea on vacation are often interested in the question of what dangers may lie in wait for them there, besides crumbling cliffs and storms at sea. Those who are afraid of arachnids are very concerned about which spiders in Crimea can be really dangerous.

Among the real spiders in Crimea there are few species with strong poison. Some arthropods are intimidating in size, but are not dangerous to humans. And this is for the best, since on the peninsula you can find representatives of all types of spiders, living in the southern regions of Europe and a little in the northern ones.

Tarantula. Crimean tarantula. Tarantula bite, help with a bite.

Tarantula is the common name for several species of large spiders belonging to the wolf spider family. Tarantula is an invertebrate animal. Its body, consisting of two parts - the cephalothorax and abdomen, is covered with small hairs. Tarantulas are the largest spiders living in Ukraine, the size of large individuals reaches 4 cm. The spider is colored brown-gray-black, and those that have not shed for a long time have a red tint. Very often, other large spiders, such as tarantulas, are mistakenly called “tarantulas.”

Dangerous spiders

Dangerous spiders found in Crimea:

Until recently, the last species of spider was not found in Crimea. It was discovered only in 2022.

Karakurt

A medium-sized spider, quite common in Crimea. Belongs to the family of black widows. The body size of the female is up to 2 cm. The size of the male is on average 6 mm. It is not dangerous for humans.

The female's abdomen is spherical and shiny. The legs are relatively long. The paw span reaches 4 cm. The arthropod has a pure black color or black with red spots.

The female makes her home in the voids under stones, under roots, and in animal burrows. It often crawls into human homes.

The spider is not aggressive. Attacks if disturbed. The female can attack while protecting the cocoons.

Of all the poisonous spiders in Crimea, the karakurt is the most dangerous creature. Deaths after its bite are not as frequent as legends say, but the pain a person experiences is very serious.

The verbal descriptions of karakurt and Paikulla steatoda are very similar to each other. Due to their similarities, these two types of spiders are often confused with each other.

Cellar spider (Segestria florentina)

This species has a small range. The cellar spider is found in the Crimea, the Caucasus, the Black Sea region and the Azov region. One of the largest spiders in Crimea and the largest representative of its family. He prefers to choose forested areas for living. Lives in the forest floor, in moss, on trees and under stones.

Body length is about 2.5 cm. Elongated shape. The paw span is about 5 cm. The abdomen is elliptical in shape and covered with thick short bristles. The cephalothorax is 8 mm long and shiny. The bristles on the cephalothorax are sparse. The chelicerae are powerful and are half the length of the cephalothorax.

The color of the cellar spider's abdomen can be:

The cephalothorax is black with a purple sheen. The chelicerae are greenish-bronze. The paws are plain, without dark rings.

The cellar spider builds funnel-shaped burrows. It extends signal threads from the entrance. When the prey approaches, it jumps out of the hole, grabs the prey with its chelicerae and immediately drags it into the hole. The spider's hunting objects are large insects and small vertebrates.

A mouse weighing 20 grams dies 3-30 minutes after the bite.

In humans, due to the significantly larger body weight, the consequences will be less fatal. But muscle pain and significant swelling at the bite site are guaranteed.

Karakurt and Pogreborny are often confused because of their color, since from the entire description, people only remember “he is black.”

Black eresus (Eresus kollari)

A member of the Eresus family. The second name is “black fathead”. Widely distributed throughout the Palearctic, but in Russia spiders in some areas are listed in the Red Book. Among the Crimean spiders it has been listed recently, since 2022. This year, black eresus was discovered in Crimea in the coastal steppe zone.

This is a large spider, the body length of which is 3 cm in the female and 1 cm in the male. The name and photo of the black eresus slightly disagree with each other. And neither “official” nor popular. In the black fathead, the red color of the upper part of the abdomen first catches the eye. There are also characteristic 4 black dots in a square. The abdomen is egg-shaped. The sharp end of the “egg” is attached to the cephalothorax.

Karakurt - a poisonous inhabitant of Crimea

The karakurt is recognized as the most dangerous representative of spiders. It feeds on insects. Favorite habitats are rodent burrows, from which the spider easily expels the inhabitants. Even if the mouse decides to resist the karakurt, it instantly dies from its bite. Also settles between stones, in rock cracks. It places its trapping nets in the grass, in the steppes and even in summer cottages. From Turkic the name “karakurt” is literally translated as “black worm”; a photo of the dangerous spider of Crimea is presented above.

What does the most dangerous spider in Crimea look like:

Sexually mature females are rich black in color with a glossy sheen, up to 2 cm long.
The length of males does not exceed 7-8 mm.
Juveniles and males have 13 red spots on the abdomen. Sometimes they are framed with a white border.
Two pairs of eyes help to navigate well during the day and at night.
Random networks are located mainly near the ground.

Karakurts are very prolific. Periodically, at intervals of 10-12 or 25 years, there is a massive outbreak of population growth. They spend winter time in cocoons, several of which are suspended in nests. In mid-spring, the young generation appears and is carried away on the web by the wind. At the end of June, having become sexually mature, females and males look for shaded places and weave nets for mating.

Interesting! Due to the bloodthirstiness of the female during mating, the karakurt is also called a black widow. The mating games of the female are very peculiar - at the end of the process, she eats the male. The female has an excellent appetite: her network for mating can simultaneously contain up to 5 candidates.

The males' life cycle ends in mid-July. After mating, females look for new places, weave a network and lay offspring. After the last laying of eggs they die.

How karakurts bite

Representatives of the black widow genus are not characterized by aggressiveness towards humans. Only if they sense danger do they defend their lair - only in emergency cases are they able to attack people. Most often, this type of spider in Crimea bites accidentally. This is due to the peculiarity of their reflexes. When pressed on the abdomen, they release poison; for this reason, a spider crawling on the body should not be slammed, but carefully thrown off.

The greatest threat to humans is the female karakurt, while males, due to their small size, are not able to bite through human skin

On a note! After picnics or trips to nature, it is recommended to inspect things, as spiders can easily get into them. It is best to walk through thickets of grass in closed high shoes, and to work in summer cottages and fields with gloves.

The concentration of poisonous components in karakurts is 15 times higher than in a rattlesnake. This feature is due to the fact that spiders wage a constant fight against rodents and other small mammals, and to neutralize them a strong poison is needed. In humans, the probability of death after a bite is 2-4%. The poison has a neuroparalytic effect.

Symptoms of a karakurt bite:

the appearance of severe burning pain, which intensifies and spreads throughout the body within 15 minutes;
difficulty breathing;
dizziness, possible bluish discoloration of the skin on the face;
disturbances of heart rhythm and kidney function;
cramps, muscle spasms in the abdominal area;
depressive state, the appearance of a feeling of irresistible melancholy and fear of death.

On a note! The sensations of the bite field depend on the person’s pain threshold. There are cases when people in a dream did not notice at all that they had been bitten by a spider.

What to do if you are bitten by a karakurt:

The most effective way to eliminate the consequences of a bite from the most dangerous spider in Crimea is to administer a serum. However, it is not always available at medical centers. In its absence, an intravenous injection of potassium manganese or calcium gluconate is administered. The need for a second injection is determined by the condition of the victim.
In the field, the cauterization method, which was developed by Marikovsky, is used. Immediately after the bite, in order to neutralize the effect of the poison, 3 matches are applied to the wound (heads to the wound), and the fourth is set on fire. High temperature destroys the protein structure of the poison and thereby avoids poisoning the body.

Low-venomous spiders

These little spiders may scare only arachnophobes. But large spiders with striking bright colors are able to alert any person who is not familiar with them. Such spiders in Crimea include:

Because of their coloration, argiopes are considered dangerous spiders. The cross can be intimidating only by its size.

Argiope bruennichi

Argiope is also called the wasp spider because of the color of its abdomen. Argiopes are classified as orb-weaving spiders that build webs on trees and shrubs.

The spiders are small in size: females up to 1.5 cm, males up to 5 mm. In both sexes, the abdomen is colored with black and yellow transverse stripes. But the female has a rounded abdomen. The male's body shape is indeed very similar to a small wasp. These are arthropods common to the Crimea, but the population is not as large as that of the crosses.

The bite of the argiope is quite painful. But it causes only short-term pain and local irritation at the bite site.

Argiope lobata

Another species that is found in Crimea in small quantities. When you look at the spider, you get the impression that it is dressed in a hard chitinous shell. But this is deceptive. In fact, Argiope lobata has the same soft abdomen as other spiders. It looks like an armored monster due to the silver-white color of its abdomen, “equipped” with 6 deep notches on the sides. The color of the notches can range from dark to orange.

Common cross (Araneus diadematus)

The most common large spider in Crimea. You can come across his nets everywhere: from tall grass in the steppe to a tree on a Crimean yaila. Krestovik loves to settle in vineyards and gardens. There's more loot there.

The female's body size is 2-2.5 cm, the male's is 1 cm. The female has a large, convex egg-shaped abdomen with an exaggeratedly sharp tip. The “blunt” end of the “egg” is connected to the cephalothorax. The male has a “flattened” abdomen, elongated and narrow. The cephalothorax is round and wider than the abdomen.

The color of crosses can be yellow-white or gray-white. On the back there is a characteristic pattern in the form of a cross, for which the spiders received their name.

The bite of the cross is weaker than that of a mosquito and is not capable of causing harm. The spider cannot even bite through the skin of a 6-year-old child, but it is able to explain to the mischievous child that there is no need to hunt funny “crusaders.” Crosses are dangerous only for people with a tendency to allergies and those suffering from arachnophobia.

Solpuga - an inhabitant of the southern coast

Salpugs, also known as phalanges, are another interesting species of spider in Crimea, listed in the Red Book. They live in arid areas, mainly in the foothills of the southern part of the peninsula. They are active at night. The body length can reach 5-7 cm. The entire body and paws are covered with hairs. The forelimbs resemble tentacles. They feed on insects, small lizards, and scorpions. The structure of compound eyes, which provide instant reaction and visibility in the dark, makes salpugs excellent hunters.

Salpugs are very mobile, run well and even jump high

In South Africa, such arachnids are called barbers. This name stuck due to the developed strong front tentacles, through which they are able to deprive a person of hair on his head, as well as animal hair. Spiders line the bottom of their nests with “cut” hair.

Small individuals cannot harm humans, since not yet fully formed chelicerae are not able to bite through the skin. But a meeting with an adult spider does not bode well. Their chelicerae are equipped with teeth and their bites are very painful. And although the spider does not inject venom when it bites, its jaws retain the remains of previous victims, which can penetrate the wound and cause rotting. It is noteworthy that salpugs are not afraid of people and can easily join gatherings near the fire.