The most famous and dangerous spiders in Russia

More than 1 thousand species of spiders inhabit the territory of Russia. Some are quite common in residential premises and the proximity to them is not a threat, others can be seen only in the wild, but contact with them is advisable to avoid. Their complete list is quite large and therefore today we will focus only on a few - we will talk about those who really deserve attention. What are the most famous big and dangerous spiders of Russia?

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It should be noted right away that absolutely all spiders are poisonous, but only a few will be dangerous to human health - arthropods with highly toxic poison. In this chapter we will look at those whose venom is deadly exclusively for insects.

House spiders

These are perhaps the most famous and most common spiders that live in Russia. They got their name due to the fact that they love to be with a person - they can be found in a private house, in a city apartment, and in outbuildings. This spider usually weaves a web in the shape of a funnel in dark corners under the ceiling or in more secluded places, for example, somewhere behind a closet. The owner himself usually sits in the center of the hunting net and patiently waits for the prey to fall into it. And as soon as the victim is in the web, the spider runs up to it with lightning speed and immediately straightens out.

You can recognize a house spider by the following signs:

• integument painted yellowish-gray or brown-gray;
• on the back there are usually brown spots folded into the pattern;
• legs of a dark brown shade, their length is approximately two times the body;
• the size of the females is about 12 mm, the male is not more than 10 mm.

Knitting spiders

There are quite a few types of knitters, and these spiders are found in Russia more often than others. They are distributed throughout the country and live exclusively in nature. Their hunting nets are circular in shape and very large cells. Because of them, at first glance, it might seem that such a web is not suitable for hunting. However, it is not. The network is designed for a specific victim, namely for mosquito-centipedes, which for knitters are a favorite treat.

The knitting spider has the following description:

• elongated body;
• legs are long;
• chelicerae are covered with numerous outgrowths;
• the sizes of the females are usually about 10 mm; the males are slightly smaller.

It is interesting! In case of danger, the knitting spider stretches its legs along the body and becomes like a tiny straw. If you disturb him, he will immediately throw himself down a stone and try to hide!

Who should be wary of?

Other arachnids live on the territory of Russia - their poison is very toxic and procrastination after a bite is fraught with serious health consequences. And in order to protect yourself and to know in which cases you should immediately seek medical help, it is advisable to know such representatives of the spider kingdom “in person”.

So, then we propose to find out the names, as well as consider the description of poisonous spiders living in Russia.

Cross spiders

The diet of spiders of this species includes mainly flying insects: hornets, flies, butterflies, mosquitoes, bumblebees and bees. Hunting takes place with the help of a web. Crossed prey, the crosses immobilize with poison, entangles with cobwebs and injects digestive juices into the wound. After a while, he eats the partially digested contents of his victim. If the spider is not hungry at the moment, then it suspends prey on the edge of the hunting net in reserve.

These spiders are common throughout central Russia. Often they are found in spruce, beech and pine forests, as well as on high marshes, less often in gardens, arable lands and meadows.

Characteristics of a spider-cross:

• females are approximately two times larger than males with body sizes of about 20-25 mm;
• the main color depends on the ambient light, cross pattern on the upper side of the abdomen;
• the body covers a layer of waxy substance necessary to prevent the evaporation of moisture;
• the cephalothorax is covered with a dense “shield”, on the front of which there are 4 pairs of eyes.

As a result of a bite of a cross, an infection can be introduced into the wound, therefore, seek medical help without fail and as soon as possible.

Chiracantids

Hiracantids belonging to the species Cheiracanthium punctorium are dangerous to humans. You can find them in the grass and in bushes. These creatures won the title of the most poisonous spiders in central Russia.

It is interesting! Some species of chiracides have matriphy - hatched spiders eat the female that protects them!

Hirakantids of hunting nets do not weave, as they are roving hunters. Activity is shown exclusively at night. They respond tactilely to the victim - when the insect touches the legs of the spider, it attacks it with one sharp jump. The diet usually includes cicadas, caterpillars, moths, aphids, grasshoppers and some types of ticks.

It is interesting! When studying chiracanthides in the laboratory, it was noticed that they avoid any contact with ants and parasitic wasps!

Description:

• integument is painted in yellow, light brown, sometimes in greenish color;
• body size is from 5 to 15 mm;
• abdomen oval, slightly pointed at the end;
• the front pair of legs is approximately two times longer than the body.

After a bite of a spider of the species Hirakantida, intense burning pain occurs in the affected area, which soon spreads over almost the entire corresponding segment of the limb. In this case, itching or "locking" of the muscles is not noted. After a few minutes, the lymph nodes that stand in the way from the site of the bite begin to “whine” and swell. A little later, edema develops in the affected area and mobility is impaired. Shortness of breath is sometimes noted. The pain disappears after about 10-20 hours, local symptoms - after 1-2 days.

Karakurt

This is the most poisonous spider living in Russia. Belongs karakurt to the family black widows. His body is painted black and has 13 red spots with a white border on it. Adult individuals no longer have spots - their body is painted, as a rule, evenly in glossy black. The body size of the female can be from 10 to 20 mm, the males are much smaller - their sizes usually do not exceed 7 mm.

Such poisonous spiders as karakurt are found in the following regions of Russia:

• Saratov;
• Kurgan;
• Orenburg
• Rostov;
• Novosibirsk;
• Volgograd.

Despite the fact that karakurs are considered the most dangerous spiders in Russia, for no reason they do not attack a person, but bite them solely for the purpose of self-defense. After a bite, the poison acts immediately and within a quarter of an hour the pain spreads throughout the body. Especially strong pain occurs in the abdomen, chest and lower back. In this case, a strong tension of the abdominal muscles is felt.The victim may experience shortness of breath, tremors, increased heart rate, increased heart rate, headache, nausea, dizziness, pallor, or flushing of the skin.

In Russia, to treat the consequences of a bite of these poisonous spiders, anticaracourt serum is used.

In hot years, karakurts are also found in the northern regions, for example, in the suburbs; sometimes they rise to much higher latitudes, where they can live until winter

South Russian Tarantula

Another quite famous and at the same time the largest spider in Russia is south russian tarantula. The size of females reaches 3 cm, males - 2.5 cm. Their integument is painted in gray, brown, brown or red, usually with a pattern on the upper side of the abdomen. The body is densely covered with short hairs.

These spiders prefer a dry climate and settle mainly in forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert and desert zones. The South Russian tarantula digs for itself a vertical hole, about 40 cm deep, and lines its inner walls with a layer of its own web. Hunts from a hole, focusing on a shadow passing by an insect. When the prey is nearby, he jumps out of his hiding place and immediately bites the victim.

In addition to the southern regions tarantula spiders in large quantities were seen in such areas of Russia as:

• Saratov;
• Astrakhan;
• Kursk;
• Belgorod;
• Lipetsk;
• Oryol;
• Tambov.

As for their toxicity, South Russian tarantulas are not particularly dangerous. After a bite, a small swelling usually occurs in the affected area. Sometimes the skin in this place turns yellow and retains this hue for two months. The poison of these spiders does not cause a fatal outcome in humans, but nevertheless certain health problems can be observed.

Like karakurt, the South Russian tarantula does not attack itself, but attacks only when a threat arises. However, in any case, it is extremely undesirable to provoke it - being in an aggressive state, this spider is able to bounce about 15 cm in height and flash its chelicera into the enemy’s body with lightning speed.

It is the South Russian tarantula that many fans of exotic choose. In content, these spiders of the south of Russia are quite unpretentious, and all that is required is a vertical terrarium, high litter, food and clean water. But be careful with him and do not provoke aggression, remember that the tarantula will certainly protect itself and its home.