Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, also known as the Mediterranean black widow,[2] or the European black widow,[3] is a species in the genus Latrodectus of the widow spiders. It is commonly found throughout the Mediterranean region, ranging from southern Iberia to southwest and central Asia, hence the name. Specimens from central Asia are also known by the binomial name Latrodectus lugubris; that name, however, is now considered improper, though it is still commonly found in the literature. Latrodectus tredecimguttatus was previously considered a subspecies of Latrodectus mactans.[4]
L. tredecimguttatus is black in color, similar to most other widow species, and is identified by the thirteen spots which are found on its dorsal abdomen (the species name is Latin for "with thirteen spots"). These spots are usually red in colour, but may also be yellow or orange. It is otherwise similar to other species in the genus Latrodectus. The Mediterranean widow primarily lives in steppes and other grasslands, and can be a significant problem in areas where grain is harvested by hand. The female of the species has a body length of about 7–15 mm (0.28–0.59 in), while the male is smaller and reaches 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) at best. Only the female spider's bite is dangerous (either for humans or cattle) as the male cannot penetrate the relatively thick epidermis.
Like all Latrodectus species, L. tredecimguttatus has a painful bite that is fatal in rare cases. They are not in close association with humans generally, although epidemics of bites have been reported.[5] There are many reports of Ukrainian farm workers receiving bites while working in the fields. The LD-50 of L. tredecimguttatus venom has been measured as 0.59 mg/kg,[6] and separately again as 0.59 mg/kg (with a confidence interval of 0.33–1.06).[7]
In Kazakhstan – where it has the common name karakurt (literally "black worm") – there are reports of this species biting and killing camels.[8] Pioneering entomologistJean Henri Fabre wrote of the spider's fearsome reputation in Corsica, where it is known as the malmignatte:
I have seen her settle in the furrows, lay out her web and rush boldly at insects larger than herself; I have admired her garb of black velvet speckled with carmine-red; above all, I have heard most disquieting stories told about her. Around Ajaccio and Bonifacio, her bite is reputed very dangerous, sometimes mortal. The countryman declares this for a fact and the doctor does not always dare deny it.[9]
One crustacean-specific and two insect-specific neurotoxins have been recovered from L. tredecimguttatus, as have small peptides that inhibit angiotensin-1-converting enzyme.[10]
ReferencesEdit
^ ab"Taxon details Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (Rossi, 1790)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
^Christie, A.E.; Chi, M. (2015). "Neuropeptide discovery in the Araneae (Arthropoda, Chelicerata, Arachnida): Elucidation of true spider peptidomes using that of the Western black widow as a reference". General and Comparative Endocrinology. 213: 90–109. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.02.003. PMID 25687740.
^Alexakis, L.-C.; Arapi, S.; Stefanou, I.; Gargalianos, P.; Astriti, M. (2016). "Transient Reverse Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Following a Spider Bite in Greece A Case Report". Medicine. 94 (5): e457. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000000457. PMC4602706. PMID 25654384.
^Levy, G.; Amitai, P. (1983). "Revision of the Widow-spider genus Latrodectus (Araneae: Theridiidae) in Israel". Medicine. 77: 39–63. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1983.tb01720.x.
^Bettini, S. (1964). Epidemiology of latrodectism. Toxicon, 2(2), 93–102.
^McCrone, J.D. (December 1964). "Comparative lethality of several Latrodectus venoms". Toxicon. 2 (3): 201–203. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(64)90023-6. PMID 14298228.
^"Spiders plague Kazakh camels". BBC News. 2 July 2004.
^Fabre, Jean Henri, The Life of the Spider (transl. A.T. de Mattos), Ch.1, p.40 (New York 1917).
^Krasnoperov, V. G.; Shamotienko, O. G.; Grishin, E. V. (November 1990). "A crustacean-specific neurotoxin from the venom of the black widow spider Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus". Bioorg Khim. 16 (11): 1567–9. PMID 2096828.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Latrodectus tredecimguttatus.
latrodectus, tredecimguttatus, karakurt, redirects, here, 2015, episode, blacklist, karakurt, blacklist, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material,. Karakurt redirects here For the 2015 episode of The Blacklist see Karakurt The Blacklist This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Latrodectus tredecimguttatus news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Latrodectus tredecimguttatus also known as the Mediterranean black widow 2 or the European black widow 3 is a species in the genus Latrodectus of the widow spiders It is commonly found throughout the Mediterranean region ranging from southern Iberia to southwest and central Asia hence the name Specimens from central Asia are also known by the binomial name Latrodectus lugubris that name however is now considered improper though it is still commonly found in the literature Latrodectus tredecimguttatus was previously considered a subspecies of Latrodectus mactans 4 Latrodectus tredecimguttatusFemale L tredecimguttatus swollen with eggsScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaSubphylum ChelicerataClass ArachnidaOrder AraneaeInfraorder AraneomorphaeFamily TheridiidaeGenus LatrodectusSpecies L tredecimguttatusBinomial nameLatrodectus tredecimguttatus Rossi 1790 1 Range of L tredecimguttatusSynonyms 1 Aranea tredecimguttatus Rossi 1790Male L tredecimguttatus Contents 1 Description 2 Toxicity 3 References 4 External linksDescription EditL tredecimguttatus is black in color similar to most other widow species and is identified by the thirteen spots which are found on its dorsal abdomen the species name is Latin for with thirteen spots These spots are usually red in colour but may also be yellow or orange It is otherwise similar to other species in the genus Latrodectus The Mediterranean widow primarily lives in steppes and other grasslands and can be a significant problem in areas where grain is harvested by hand The female of the species has a body length of about 7 15 mm 0 28 0 59 in while the male is smaller and reaches 4 7 mm 0 16 0 28 in at best Only the female spider s bite is dangerous either for humans or cattle as the male cannot penetrate the relatively thick epidermis Toxicity EditMain article Latrodectism Like all Latrodectus species L tredecimguttatus has a painful bite that is fatal in rare cases They are not in close association with humans generally although epidemics of bites have been reported 5 There are many reports of Ukrainian farm workers receiving bites while working in the fields The LD 50 of L tredecimguttatus venom has been measured as 0 59 mg kg 6 and separately again as 0 59 mg kg with a confidence interval of 0 33 1 06 7 In Kazakhstan where it has the common name karakurt literally black worm there are reports of this species biting and killing camels 8 Pioneering entomologist Jean Henri Fabre wrote of the spider s fearsome reputation in Corsica where it is known as the malmignatte I have seen her settle in the furrows lay out her web and rush boldly at insects larger than herself I have admired her garb of black velvet speckled with carmine red above all I have heard most disquieting stories told about her Around Ajaccio and Bonifacio her bite is reputed very dangerous sometimes mortal The countryman declares this for a fact and the doctor does not always dare deny it 9 One crustacean specific and two insect specific neurotoxins have been recovered from L tredecimguttatus as have small peptides that inhibit angiotensin 1 converting enzyme 10 References Edit a b Taxon details Latrodectus tredecimguttatus Rossi 1790 World Spider Catalog Natural History Museum Bern Retrieved 2016 01 28 Christie A E Chi M 2015 Neuropeptide discovery in the Araneae Arthropoda Chelicerata Arachnida Elucidation of true spider peptidomes using that of the Western black widow as a reference General and Comparative Endocrinology 213 90 109 doi 10 1016 j ygcen 2015 02 003 PMID 25687740 Alexakis L C Arapi S Stefanou I Gargalianos P Astriti M 2016 Transient Reverse Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Following a Spider Bite in Greece A Case Report Medicine 94 5 e457 doi 10 1097 MD 0000000000000457 PMC 4602706 PMID 25654384 Levy G Amitai P 1983 Revision of the Widow spider genus Latrodectus Araneae Theridiidae in Israel Medicine 77 39 63 doi 10 1111 j 1096 3642 1983 tb01720 x Bettini S 1964 Epidemiology of latrodectism Toxicon 2 2 93 102 Rauber Albert 1983 Black Widow Spider Bites Clinical Toxicology 21 4 5 473 485 doi 10 3109 15563658308990435 PMID 6381753 McCrone J D December 1964 Comparative lethality of several Latrodectus venoms Toxicon 2 3 201 203 doi 10 1016 0041 0101 64 90023 6 PMID 14298228 Spiders plague Kazakh camels BBC News 2 July 2004 Fabre Jean Henri The Life of the Spider transl A T de Mattos Ch 1 p 40 New York 1917 Krasnoperov V G Shamotienko O G Grishin E V November 1990 A crustacean specific neurotoxin from the venom of the black widow spider Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus Bioorg Khim 16 11 1567 9 PMID 2096828 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Latrodectus tredecimguttatus The World Spider Catalog https archive today 20121220052505 http www srv net dkv hobospider widows html BLACK WIDOW Bite Intoxication Treatment Wayback Machine http naturdata com Latrodectus tredecimguttatus 13272 htm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Latrodectus tredecimguttatus amp oldid 1165602042, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
