The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-24
4 Monster Spider.
Ugly BUT HARMLESS, AND LIABLE TO BE TUT
VICTIM OF LIVING DEATH.
baltimore SUM-

Mr.. L. ID. Todd private Waterman at the
corner of Mosher and Calhoun streets,
caught Monday in that locality monster
spider, with diameter when spread OF
over four inches. He brought it yesterday
TO the Sun office. Professor Otto Lugger
saws it is the " Mygale llcntzu," an Ameri-
can species Of the gigantic bird-spider, and
is supposed to have been brought to Baltl-
more i'm shipment Of bananas from
Florida. As the animal is nocturnal in
its habits, it may be IN locality
or wander about for some time
without being discovered. This spi-
der is enormously called tarantula.
1t is found throughout all the drier
portions Of the western and southwestern
States, extending into Mexico, where 1t is
replaced by still larger species. III Is con-
sidcred very POISONOUS animal, though
whether truly so or not is point still To he
demonstrated. Like all spiders, ITS fang
like mandibes are perforated, and a canal
communicates with bag OF poison located
in its base. When they bite the poison Is
injected into the wound. From the fact
that its mandiblcs cannot be separated to
any great extent il is very questionable
whether it even could inilict Il bite on Il
human finger. The habit OF this spider Is
| TO hide during the day i'm a closely-wOyen
tube OF silk. which is either suspended be-
tween foliage or between stones on the
ground.
| In the tropical parts Of South America
| these spiders are very abundant in houses,
where they feed upon various kinds OF do
nestle insect pests, and are NOT dreaded at
all. Large and formidable rs il appears. il
yet has deadly enemy in large species OF
"digger-wasp," which stings and paralyzes
! IL. The "digger-waSp is the so-called
- tarantula-killcr." This wasp. though
living itself upon nothing but honey,
still needs animal food for its Young.
The mother-waSp, after having dug hole
| in some hard and dry soil to the depth
| OF seven inches, tlies about in search
| Of one OF these large spiders. When
found il darts like lightning upon the spider
and stings IL. The poison infected into the
spider has the peculiar property OF para
lying without killing. The helpless sp-
der is dragged 10 the prepared nest and
| liquid egg deposited on It's soft parts, and
the hole closed. The larya batched from
this egg feeds upon the still living but de-
feneeless spider until fall grown. II such
an egg should not hatch, the spider willr
| main IN this hole for an indefinite Derjod
without dying or decaying.
Efforts have been made for long fine
10y scientists TO initiate artilicialIy nnid O,
this peculiar character, with a view al
treating Texas cattle as wasps treat spiders
ior transport TO Europe. While in the
paralyzed state, and not needing any food
or water. they could be packed on ships
Ike sardines, and killed rs wanted after
their arrival in Europe. It has been shoyyn
qua, s9ch poison taken internally is per-
fectly harmless TO the consumers Of The
meat. The system OF medicine known ~
Reconsideration had its origin IN conse-
qnence OF Baumscheidt being cured Of
rheumatism and paralysis by the sting OF n
common digger-wasp."