The morning call., 1891-05-18
THEIR BITE Is FATAL.
Species of Tarantula Whose Bite Mean
Certain Death.

Species of Tarantula Whose Bite Means
Certain Death.
It is fact not generally known. says a
Better Times writer, that there are two va
rietes of tarantulaS in Arizona and New
Mexico. This probably accounts for the re-
ports about the deadly nature of the taran-
tula poison. The SU-called Texas tarantula
is by no means an agreeable bed-feiI0w, but
his bite is by no means fatal. The venom
Gus Texan tarantula, in spite OF all discus
Sons to the contrary, does build and live in
the trap-dOor spider nest. There seems to
be a current idea that the trap-door spider is
harmless, which is certainly erroneous. 1t
uses no web-net, easily capturing its prey
by extraordinary springs. Those who have
seen this arachnidan by daylight can have
little idea OF its power and teetnesS. Dur
ing the day il moves slowly and clumSily in
the dazzling light, but when darkness comes
it can move with ease and certainty. Credi-
BILE accounts have appeared stating that the
tarantula can leap sixteen feet, SAYS the
Florence Companion. Repeated statements
have credited 1t with leaps Of three feet or
more. In the year 1870, or near that date,
three men disturbed several tarantula nests
in San Diego. They were Immediately at
tackled by the huge spiders and had to run
for their lives, taking refuge in the waters
of the bay
On the other hand the poison of the Nv
gaze SPECIES IL VI l6UTIul UdluIe-IlOT6
dreaded than that Of Northumberland
unless only slightly scratched and heroic
measures used the result is fatal. Many
deaths are on record caused by these
spiders. The most prolonged suffering was
that Of San Diego woman. A tarantua
sunk its fangS in her hand during the light.
The flesh was cut away with a razor and
medical assistance summoned at once. Her
life was prolonged for time as well as her
sufferings. For three months she fingered
under the effects, her hands constantly
creeping and crawling along the bedding IN
horrible limitations of the actions of the
tarantula.
The Mygale sometimes spreads over six
inches square, but more frequently four or
five inches. The writer has at the present
time stuffed specimen that extends about
six and half inches. A shaggy coat of hair
covers the surface of the great spider. 1t is
supplied with six strong, b0ny legs and two
dangerous pedipalps 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 creature has StlngS on It's feet. Two
powerful projections, resembling jaws, pro-
trude from the head. Under each of these
is a curved poisoned fang, similar to eats
claw, but longer exactly like those of
rattlesnake), which may be lifted. extended
and hooked into the victim. A person thus
stung Tor bitten?) must cut the tarantula
away at once, for the spider does not seem
willing to unhOok its fangS.
Tarantulas are considered deadly foes 10
each other, and are seldom found in COM
pany. When imprisoned together there is a
fght-one succumbs, and is eaten by the
victor. Nature has done a service in max
ing the tarantula so hideOuS and formidable
looking object. Indeed, it is wing to
this responsiveness that nc greater number
OF persons are stung The sight of the
great hairy spider crawling near by will
cause a cold, creeping sensation down the
back of almost any one.
The deadly foe of Mr.. Tarantula is the
tarantula 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
a moment, and with tireless energy fly and
walk rapidly along the ground, running
into every crevlce aud hole, and examining
every suspicious object, after the tarantula.
The fate of the giant spider when discov-
cred by the hawk is certain, and attended
with fascinating horror.
The winged insect hovers over the victim
until 1t finds good opportunity TO sting.
The poison acts in a peculiar manner, the
tarantula becoming paralyZed In this
state the eggs of the hawk arc laid in the
spider, who remains alive to be- slowly de-
voured by the hungry larva