Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-30

A expert on the subject of poisonous
~ reptiles and insects of this coun-
- try is c. F. Swarz of the National
Museum Moreover, Mr. Swarz. is thor
oughly in line with the anti-alarmists
who contend that danger from such
sources is much exaggerated in the pop
uIar mind.
The one really poisonous insect OF
North America said My. swarz, when
seen recently in his laboratory in the
museum. the bite of which is nearly as
bad as that of a rattlesnake, is found in
abundance in this city and its vicinity
1t is a small black spider. SO entirely diff
ferent in appearance from any other
spider that there can be no mistake in
identifying it. The bug. which can con-
stitute deadly menace TO young children
especially, is of such retiring habits that,
in fact. it is very seldom seen. This
spider is a globular shining body. devoid
of hair; black in color. and usually with
a red spot which at once distinguishes it.
investigations into all reported fatal
or harmful results from the bites of spi-
derS which the Department of Agrl-
culture has been conducting for the past
couple of decades have led to the deter
mination of one instance in which the
designation is latrodectuS mactans. has
resulted in the death of one victim. The
case was that of child about two years
of age, who was bitten upon the lip. and
there is absolutely no doubt that the
death of the child d few hours afterward
was the result OF the bite. OF course. in
the case of full-grown person, the bite
of this spider. from the small amount o.
poison injected. would not be likely TO
prove fatal. though there are tolerably
we'll authenticated instances where ii has
caused great pain and Inconvenience. the
venom remaining in the system of the
victim for a considerable period.
This dangerous spider chiefly Il
menace to persons handling old wood, as
it is usually found under logs and in
woodsheds l would undertake TO 90
out now and find "a dozen specimens in
the course of an hour.
You will say that il is strange that
more persons are not poisoned by latro-
dectus mactans, for such cases are really
very rare. The creature is, however.
fortunately, quite lazy, slow in move
ment. and when discovered in its lair
assumes a logged, sullen attitude. rather
than an offensive one. Still, il is very
possible to conceive d mans carrying a
log upon which is one of these spiders
and being bitten upon the face or neck.
in which event that man would probably
be laid up for several weeks with "a
very severe case of poisoning. Frequent
reports are received at the Agricultural
bite of the latrodectuS mactanS but il
has been impossible to satisfactorily ver-
ify any of these. 4 North Carolina
farmer communicated not long ago a
very circumstantiai account of one of his
labOrerS being killed by the bite of this
spider. He described symptoms exhibited
by the victim, which We're similar to in
stances recorded in southern Europe.
where this spider is known by the name
of 'malmigniatte.
This common black spider is. so far
as we can determine, the only insect of
the country which can properly be called
poisonous. Contrary to popular belief,
and the old story of Italian origin. the
bite of the tarantula is not poisonous
This formidable looking spider is pro-
vded with large mandibles and infiicts a
painful bite, but that is all. \ man in
the Agricultural Department was bitten
by tarantula, but in five minutes all
the pain had vanished and there were no
evidences of poison.
II have allowed myself to be bitten by
several SPIDERS" said Mr.. Swarz, mot,
however by the latrodectuS mactans, and
have experienced no ill effects. The pop
ular notions entertained by persons as to
what insects and reptiles are poisonous
and what are not are curiously erroneous.
stories are told of the effects of the bite
of the gila monster. This grotesquely
hideous lizard is. however. quite harm
less. a professor in the Department of
Agriculture allowed himself to be bitten
by one, and. for this purpose. had to
tease the creature for "a long time. So
tenacious is the life of the gila monster
that, in endeavoring to Kill specimen.
We put 1t in water and kept it there for