The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-05-21
THEY CITE TO DEATH,
Two Species al TarantuiaS " hose Sting Ia
AS Deadly as Lightning.


AS Deadly a> Lightning.
1t Is Il fact not geuerallv known that
there are two varietie, of tarant,las in
Arizona and New Mexico. This prob
ably accounts for the conflicting reports
about the dcadl V nature If the tarantula
poison. .'he 50 called Texas tarantuia
Is by no lneans an agreeable bedfeiIow,
but his bite is by no means fatal. The
venomons Texan tarautula. in sui.c of
all discussions to the contrary, does
build and live in the trap-door spider
nest. There seems to be Il current idea
that the trap-door s. ider is harmless
which Is certainly erroneous. 1t uses
no web net, easily capturing its prey by
extraordinary springs. Those who have
seen thi. arachnidan by daylight can
have little idea Of its power ard fleet
ness. During the dav it move, SLOWLY
and clnnsl!y IN the 'taZz ing light, but
wien darnne IS comes it can move with
ease and certainty. Credible accounts
| have Appeared stating that the tarantula
ca1 leap sixteen feet. saws the Florence
CompaittDn. EeYeatcd statements have
credited it with leaps of three feet or
more. In the wear 1870, or Eear that
date, three men disturbed several taran-
tula nests in San Diego. They were
Immediately attacked by the huge
spiders and had t. run for their lives,
taki s refuge il the waters Of the bay.
On the other hand the poison Of the
Mygalc species is Of Il fearful nature
more drealed han ,hat Of n rattlesnake
and unless only slightly scratched
aud heroic measures used the result is
fatal. Many deaths are on record
caused by these spiders. The most
prolonged suffering Wa, that of San
Diego woman. 4 tarantua sunk its
fangs IN her hand during the night.
he flesh was cut away with razor
and medical assistance summoned mt
once. Her life was prolonged for a
time as well as her sufferings For
three months she fingered under the
effects, her hands constantly crawling
along tie bedding in horrible imitation
OF the motion of the tarantula
The Mygalc sometimes spreads over
six inches square, but more frequently
ionr or five inches. The writer has at
the pre- ent time a stuffed specimen that
extends about six and a half inches. A
shaggy ccat Of hair covers the surface
of the great spider. 1t is supplied with
SIX strong, bony legs, and two danger
ons edi lalls, or strikers, each armed
with sharp sting and poison sac. The
strikers are frequently mistaken for two
front legs, and from this arises the idea
that the c.eature has stings on its feet.
Two powerful projections. resembling
jaw, protrude from the head Under
each Of these Is Il carved poison fang.
similar to cats claw. but longer
teNactiv like those Of rattlesnakel,
which may he lifted, extended, aud
hoo~ed into the Victim. A person thus
stuug tor bitten p must cut the taran-
tua away at once, for the spider does
not seem willing to unhook its fangs
Iarantu rs are considered deadly foes
to each ether, and are seldom found in
company. When imprisoned together
there is fight, one succumbs, and is
eaten by the victor. Nature has done a
service in making the tarantula so
hideous and formidable looking OBJ
Jeet. Indeed. Ii is owing to this re-
pulslyeness that no greater number of
ersons are stung. The sight of the
great hairy spider crawling near by vii
cause cold, creeping sensation down
the back Of almost any one
The deadly foe Of Mr. Tarantula is
the iarantula hawk. These giant blue
wasps, with their fiery wings. are
deadly foes to the tarantula. and should
be encouraged in every locality. They
seem never to rest for Il moment, and
with tirelcss energy fly and walk
rapidly along the ground, running into
every crevice and hole, and examining
every suspicious object, after the taran-
tula
The fate Of the giant spider when dis
covered by the hawk is certain and at
tended with fascinating horror.
The winged insects hover over the
victim until it finds good opportunity
t" sting. The poison acts in peculiar
manner, the tarantula becoming para
lyzed. In this state the eggs of tie
hawk are laid IN the spider, who re-
mains alive to be slowly devoured by
the hungry Larvae.