Latrodectus indistinctus is a species of spider in the family Theridiidae, found in Namibia and South Africa.[1] It is one of six species of Latrodectus found in southern Africa, four of which, including L. indistinctus, are known as black button or black widow spiders. Like all Latrodectus species, L. indistinctus has a neurotoxic venom. It acts on nerve endings, causing the very unpleasant symptoms of latrodectism when humans are bitten.[2]
Like all spiders in the genus Latrodectus, females are larger than males. Females range from 7 to 16 mm, and the males 2.5 to 5 mm. In maturity, most retain at least short red stripes radiating upward from the tip of the dorsal abdomen.
Like many black widows, it is not aggressive. Its defense method when it feels threatened is to drop to the ground and play dead. Their egg sacks are usually hung in bush vegetation, where prey, which includes insects and arthropods, is available nearby. Females will occasionally attack to defend their eggs. [3]
Habitatedit
Its distribution is limited in Namibia and South Africa. Found in habitats such as tangled bushes, uncut grass, tall vegetation in dry places, agricultural areas and forests.[3]
Venomedit
They have neurotoxins known as latrotoxins. Within 15 minutes after a bite there is intense pain, burning sensation, and swelling. Systemic effects, such as intense muscle pain and cramps, can occur hour later. Other symptoms include anxiety, slurred speech, feeling sick, headaches, sweating, and fever.[3] Rapid pulse, increased blood pressure, and tightness in the chest together with difficulty breathing are important symptoms, which are usually more dangerous for children and elderly people with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.[2]
In a case that occurred in 2016, in South Africa, in a 38-year-old man reported symptoms such as intense muscle pain, erythema, stiffness at the location of the bite that radiated to the trunk, arm and neck, muscle spasms, and mild tachycardia.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abc"Taxon details Latrodectus indistinctus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1904", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2016-02-02
^ abMuller, G. J.; Wium, C. A.; Marks, C.; Plessis, C. E. du; Veale, D. J. H. (2012-09-19). "Spider bite in southern Africa: diagnosis and management". Continuing Medical Education. 30 (10): 382–391.
^Thomas, Teressa Sumy; Kemp, Alan; Roberg, Kim Pieton (2018-07-03). "Black widow spider bite in Johannesburg". Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases. 33 (3): 86–88. doi:10.1080/23120053.2018.1453271. ISSN 2312-0053.
January 01, 1970
latrodectus, indistinctus, species, spider, family, theridiidae, found, namibia, south, africa, species, latrodectus, found, southern, africa, four, which, including, indistinctus, known, black, button, black, widow, spiders, like, latrodectus, species, indist. Latrodectus indistinctus is a species of spider in the family Theridiidae found in Namibia and South Africa 1 It is one of six species of Latrodectus found in southern Africa four of which including L indistinctus are known as black button or black widow spiders Like all Latrodectus species L indistinctus has a neurotoxic venom It acts on nerve endings causing the very unpleasant symptoms of latrodectism when humans are bitten 2 Latrodectus indistinctus Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Chelicerata Class Arachnida Order Araneae Infraorder Araneomorphae Family Theridiidae Genus Latrodectus Species L indistinctus Binomial name Latrodectus indistinctusO P Cambridge 1904 1 Contents 1 Description and behavior 2 Habitat 3 Venom 4 ReferencesDescription and behavior editLike all spiders in the genus Latrodectus females are larger than males Females range from 7 to 16 mm and the males 2 5 to 5 mm In maturity most retain at least short red stripes radiating upward from the tip of the dorsal abdomen Like many black widows it is not aggressive Its defense method when it feels threatened is to drop to the ground and play dead Their egg sacks are usually hung in bush vegetation where prey which includes insects and arthropods is available nearby Females will occasionally attack to defend their eggs 3 Habitat editIts distribution is limited in Namibia and South Africa Found in habitats such as tangled bushes uncut grass tall vegetation in dry places agricultural areas and forests 3 Venom editThey have neurotoxins known as latrotoxins Within 15 minutes after a bite there is intense pain burning sensation and swelling Systemic effects such as intense muscle pain and cramps can occur hour later Other symptoms include anxiety slurred speech feeling sick headaches sweating and fever 3 Rapid pulse increased blood pressure and tightness in the chest together with difficulty breathing are important symptoms which are usually more dangerous for children and elderly people with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases 2 In a case that occurred in 2016 in South Africa in a 38 year old man reported symptoms such as intense muscle pain erythema stiffness at the location of the bite that radiated to the trunk arm and neck muscle spasms and mild tachycardia 4 References edit a b c Taxon details Latrodectus indistinctus O Pickard Cambridge 1904 World Spider Catalog Natural History Museum Bern retrieved 2016 02 02 a b Muller G J Wium C A Marks C Plessis C E du Veale D J H 2012 09 19 Spider bite in southern Africa diagnosis and management Continuing Medical Education 30 10 382 391 a b c Living Hazards Database PDF www acq osd mil Retrieved 2021 02 12 Thomas Teressa Sumy Kemp Alan Roberg Kim Pieton 2018 07 03 Black widow spider bite in Johannesburg Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases 33 3 86 88 doi 10 1080 23120053 2018 1453271 ISSN 2312 0053 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Latrodectus indistinctus amp oldid 1157614537, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
