The largest insects of the Crimea. Karakurt in Crimea

Tarantula. Crimean tarantula. Tarantula bite, help with a bite.

– common name several species of large spiders belonging to the wolf spider family. The tarantula is an invertebrate animal. Its body, consisting of two parts - the cephalothorax and abdomen, is covered with small hairs. Tarantulas are the largest spiders living in Ukraine, the size of large individuals reaches 4 cm. The spider is painted in brown-gray-black colors, and those that have not molted for a long time have a red tint. Very often, "tarantulas" are mistakenly called other large spiders, such as tarantulas.

Crimean tarantula. Habitat of the tarantula.

The name tarantula comes from the Italian city of Taranto (Tarantum). People in the Middle Ages believed that if bitten by a spider, they get sick. terrible disease- tarantism. It was expressed by complete indifference to everything and always ended in death. The only means of salvation was the wild dance of the tarantella. To pass the disease, it was necessary to dance to the point of complete exhaustion.

Tarantulas love dry areas such as steppes or deserts. In Ukraine, the tarantula is found in the steppe part of the Crimea. Tarantulas are nocturnal predators. During the day, they hide in vertical burrows up to 50 cm deep. Sometimes natural shelters are also chosen for shelter - various cracks and faults. In order to protect themselves from frost in winter, tarantulas deepen their mink, and bury the entrance.

At night, spiders come to the surface and start hunting. The diet of the tarantula consists of various insects, smaller than the size of the spider itself. Tarantulas do not weave trapping nets, they use the web only to build an egg cocoon and cover the walls of the hole.

Tarantula bite.

All tarantulas are poisonous, but this does not mean that they are especially dangerous to humans. Their venom is enough to paralyze a small animal, but for humans, a tarantula sting is equivalent to a wasp sting, well, maybe a little stronger. Edema appears at the site of the bite, the poison causes pain and numbness, and the temperature often rises. Only severe allergic reaction.

Tarantulas never attack anyone larger than themselves. And from this it follows that he will not bite a person first, only in case of self-defense, for example, when you accidentally pressed him.

First aid for a tarantula bite.

• Thoroughly wash the bite site big amount soapy water.
• Apply a tourniquet to the bitten limb and immobilize it as much as possible.
• Apply cold to the bite.
• Recommended plentiful drink. Then part of the poison will be excreted faster in the urine.
• An adult can be given aspirin or acetaminophen. It is better to give paracetamol to children.
• If possible, crush the tarantula, and smear the bite with blood. The fact is that his blood contains an antidote to his own poison.
• If an allergic reaction occurs, the victim is better in as soon as possible deliver to the hospital.

Photo of a tarantula:

Expert answer:

Good afternoon! Poisonous arthropods are indeed found in the Crimea, but everything is not as dramatic as your friend describes. Spiders that crawl into living quarters are generally harmless to humans. The poisonous creatures you fear dwell in wild environment, so hikers who go hiking are most at risk of encountering them.

dangerous neighborhood

The subtropical climate of Crimea is an excellent condition for the life of poisonous arthropods. How hotter summer, the more active these creatures become, and their population increases. Every year, people with spider venom poisoning end up in Crimean hospitals. That is why it is important to know what dangerous spiders live on the peninsula, how to protect yourself from their bites and what to do if unpleasant contact does take place.

SOLPUGA (SPIDER PHALANX)

Quite large arachnid gray-yellow color, having long limbs. Those who go to the foothills of the peninsula and to the South Coast are at risk of meeting with him. On the shores of the reconciled part of the Crimea, it is much less common.

You should not be afraid of a small salpug, because it is not able to bite through human skin. But for large individuals, it is just within the power to do this. The bite of this arthropod is very painful, however, as a rule, passes without any consequences. The fact is that the spider does not have poisonous glands, but putrefactive remains from previous victims often remain on its chelicerae. These particles enter the wound when bitten and cause inflammation.

KARACURT (BLACK WIDOW)

It is a small black spider that lives in dry grass. The male reaches a size of no more than 5-7 mm, the female is larger - up to 1.5 cm. On the abdomen of females, 4 red spots can be seen, however, individuals come across without them. After mating, the female devours the male, hence the name "black widow".

Karakurts feed on insects, spreading their nets in the steppes and even on summer cottages. Resting in nature, you should not wander through the grassy thickets. Steppe widow bites are extremely dangerous for both humans and animals and can lead to death. Don't leave your belongings outside as there are times when spiders crawl into bags and unsuspecting tourists bring home a nasty surprise.

Remember, karakurt is the most dangerous of all Crimean spiders. Its poison is 15 times stronger than that of rattlesnake. Fortunately, the deadly liquid is ejected in extremely small doses, which gives the victim a chance to survive. At the same time, pain immediately appears at the bite sites, which intensifies in some 10-15 minutes, spreading to the chest, back and stomach. The victim is dizzy, his legs go numb, there is a fear of imminent death. The face turns blue, the pulse slows down, convulsions and vomiting often appear.

Since the poison of this spider is of a protein nature, its effect can be neutralized with the help of fire. To do this, you need to burn the bite with a burning match, but do this no later than 1-2 minutes after the accident, otherwise the toxin will have time to spread, and the fire will no longer help.

SPIDER ARGIOPE

This arachnid reaches a size of 1.5 cm, has a yellow-black color, for which it is often called "spider-wasp", "spider-zebra" by the people. Argiope weave a web at dusk, and very quickly - for an hour of work it turns out quite a lot trapping net. The female argiope eats her male after mating.

The poison of this spider is not fatal to humans, but the bite causes a lot of trouble to its victim. An allergic reaction to poison is especially dangerous. Usually, abscesses form at the bite sites, but tissue necrosis can sometimes develop.

SPIDER TARANTULA

This gray spider lives underground, in burrows where it weaves webs and waits for its prey. It lives in all corners of the peninsula. You can’t call a tarantula small: its length is 3.5 cm.

The tarantula never attacks first, and stings only in cases of self-defense. Before an attack, warns the victim by standing on hind legs and lifting the front up. Leave if you see a spider in such a fighting position, he does not like to joke.

The bite of this spider is similar in degree of pain to a wasp sting, causing local inflammation and itching. Literally immediately, a fever sets in, the lymph nodes may become inflamed, nausea and muscle pain begin.

By the way, the name of the Italian dance tarantella comes from the name of this type of arachnid. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that it was an unbridled dance that saved "tarantism" from the disease - caused by the bite of this spider. Now, when bitten by a tarantula, they no longer dance. The wound must be treated with alcohol or brilliant green, provide the victim with peace and give him tea.

First aid for a spider bite

1. Treat the bite site with hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
2. Cool the wound by applying a cold compress to it;
3. Call an ambulance.

VERY IMPORTANT!

1. You can not apply a tourniquet so as not to disrupt the blood supply, otherwise the limb may become dead;
2. You can not cut the wound or make an incision near it;
3. You can not crush a spider that crawls on the skin or clothes, it must be reset with a flick of a finger.

Now you know quite a lot about the spiders of the Crimean peninsula, about how to avoid meeting with them, and what to do if it does take place. You can safely go on vacation!

Behind last years this spider began to attack the Crimeans many times more often

In the photo: Karakurt is 1.5-3 times smaller than a tarantula (the size of a female karakurt is 1-2 cm, the male is even smaller), but this spider is almost 50 times more poisonous than a tarantula! Karakurt is easy to distinguish by bright red spots covering its body, although sometimes they may not be. Photo source: http://www.arachnoserver.org

Mosquitoes, bees and wasps are not the most pleasant, but an essential attribute of the Crimean summer. However, in the hot season, there is a risk of getting to know not only these annoying insects, but also much more dangerous, our smaller brothers.

Matches will help, but you can’t do without a doctor

Tarantula is the largest spider living in Ukraine and Crimea. But by no means the most dangerous.

“People don’t get to us with tarantula bites, where the toxic effect is less pronounced. Another thing is the bite of a karakurt, this is really dangerous, - says Alexander Sheresh, head of the toxicology department. intensive care and extracorporeal hemocorrection of the clinical hospital named after. Semashko.

Karakurt compared to a tarantula at all little spider, but it can cause big trouble. His bite is similar to a needle prick, and 15-30 minutes after it, severe pain begins in the bitten limb, and then throughout the body, convulsions appear, and the temperature rises. Arise severe pain in the abdomen, lower back, chest, there is a sharp tension in the abdominal muscles, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, vomiting. In severe cases, without medical attention, a person can die. So, if, God forbid, you are bitten by a spider with red dots (this is how karakurt most often looks), immediately call an ambulance.

Not so long ago in the Crimea, two or three patients bitten by karakurt (well, a maximum of a dozen) got into the hospital every year. Now, every summer, almost fifty victims are recruited.

“In the last six or seven years, such cases have become more frequent, this may be due to hotter weather, because karakurts are active in the heat,” explains Alexander Alexandrovich. - Six bitten karakurt have already visited our department this summer (And this, apparently, is only the beginning, the peak of spider activity occurs at the end of July - August. - Auth.)

At the same time, karakurts, apparently, are determined and went on the warpath: they used to bite people mainly when they worked in gardens and summer cottages. And now with dangerous spiders, it appears, and on city streets it is possible to meet. One of the recent patients of the toxicology department was bitten by a karakurt near Simferopol Moskolets: a man left the house in the evening, wearing flip flops (of course, on his bare feet), and after this walk he ended up in the hospital.

When bitten by a karakurt, it is often advised to immediately cauterize the wound: attach two or three matches with their heads directly to the wound and set them on fire with the third, hold for as long as possible.

- Yes, this method really helps to partially neutralize the poison of the karakurt, another thing is that not everyone dares to this painful procedure. You can try to squeeze out the poison, you need to try to move the affected limb as little as possible. And immediately go to the hospital: without medical care the consequences can be very sad, Sheresh warns.

Viper venom serum is more dangerous than the bite itself

“Almost every year there are several patients who are bitten by a viper. There were no deaths, at least during my work (since 1975) I have not seen this, - says our interlocutor. And he adds that as a first aid, if a viper has bitten, you can try to suck the poison out of the wound or squeeze it out, then, if possible, apply cold to the bite, and, of course, go to the hospital as soon as possible. But the tourniquet above the bite should not be applied in any case: medicine has long recognized this as harmful.

- But the most big mistake- to chase the serum from viper venom and insist on its introduction, - says Alexander Alexandrovich. - This serum is available in our hospitals, it is not a problem to get it, but the trouble is that after its administration a very serious allergic reaction can develop, a lightning-fast form of anaphylactic shock can occur, and this is much more dangerous than a viper's bite, and to predict in advance, who will be allergic to whey, and who will not, is impossible. Two or three years ago in Kerch there was a case: a Russian was bitten by a viper, he and his relatives insisted on the introduction of a serum - so they barely saved the person later.

“Now we walk around the garden in boots and with sticks”

This summer, Vladimir Denisenko, a Feodosian, celebrated his birthday in the hospital - the day before, a man was bitten by a viper.

- On Thursday morning, my aunt went to the garden (the site is located in one of the suburban areas of Feodosia, on Ochistny. - Auth.), But she returned unexpectedly quickly, - says Olga Denisenko, Vladimir's wife. - It turns out that she saw a snake in the garden, noticed how she crawled between the beds with strawberries. I was frightened, of course, and immediately went home. Aunt saw the snake well, began to search on the Internet - and realized that she saw a viper. In the evening, we went to the garden already with my husband - it was necessary to water it. Volodya went for the hose (he was just lying in strawberries), we understood that the snake could be there, but we thought that she would behave as they write: she would hear steps, noise and crawl away. But she didn’t crawl away, apparently she didn’t notice us. And Volodya did not notice her either - he stepped right on her. When he shouted that the viper had bitten him, at first I thought he was joking. But it was not a joke - she thumb legs grabbed.

“I didn’t even feel how I stepped on it, I only heard a sharp, severe pain in my leg, I jerked my foot and saw a snake flying away from me,” says Vladimir. - It was a viper, I managed to see it. Olya immediately called the ambulance, they said: they say, you are in a car - well, go to the hospital faster. Well, we drove off, of course, I got behind the wheel, Olya does not know how to drive. We've arrived. The doctor, when he found out that I myself was driving, first attacked us, then, when it turned out that we called the ambulance and they gave us such advice there, the ambulance flew very cool. After all, not only was it impossible to move a bitten leg, but it could also be emergency situation: What if I lost consciousness? They put me in the hospital: they gave me an injection for tetanus, they gave me a dropper, they took my blood for analysis, they took a cardiogram. They told me that there is a serum, but at the same time they explained what the consequences could be from it, and Olga wrote an official refusal of the serum, such rules. I went to the hospital on Thursday, and on Friday my leg began to swell, the swelling rose above the knee. We panicked a little, but we were told that this was normal. Although, to be honest, I got the impression that they themselves had never seen anything like that there and didn’t really know what to do with me. The edema subsided gradually, now the foot only hurts a little. On Monday, that is, on the fifth day after the bite, I was discharged, but now (we talked on Saturday, July 28. - Auth.) I still can’t go to work, my leg hurts a little.

“And now we walk around the garden in rubber boots and with sticks: we knock on the grass, on the bushes,” says Olga. - Hedgehogs hunt snakes, and we used to have a hedgehog in the garden, but he died, his stray dogs tore. So now we have to defend ourselves.

Tatiana Shevchenko

Bees and wasps can be deadly

If a bee or wasp stings on the neck, face, mouth, or eye, severe swelling may occur that makes it difficult to breathe and speak. Multiple bites are also dangerous when it enters the body. a large number of poison. In such situations, you should immediately consult a doctor.

In addition, bee and wasp stings can cause severe allergic reactions. Interestingly, in response to the first bite (if a person was stung for the first time in his life by a bee or wasp), an allergic reaction never develops. If it appears, then only after the second bite and subsequent ones. In this case, each time the reaction can become more difficult. The risk group includes all allergy sufferers, but first of all, those people who are allergic to honey and bee products - for them, every bite can be potentially fatal. Therefore, such patients, under the guidance of an allergist, must definitely develop an algorithm of behavior in a situation where they were stung by a wasp or a bee, and carry certain medicines with them in the summer.

Crimea and karakurts.
IN summer period publications on the Internet and the media on this topic are quite common.
Someone uses this topic year after year as one of the factors influencing the tourist flow, someone simply fills their pages with rating information, and someone states sad facts(although they are extremely rare).
So what is this mega-predator that is so much feared?
I must say right away that karakurt or black widow is actually the most dangerous inhabitant Crimea and its bite can really be fatal. But if you delve deeper, everything is not so scary and it is important to just know a few aspects in order to have a completely calm rest, swim in the sea and walk along mountain paths.

2. As I said, karakurt is the most dangerous representative animal world that lives in the Crimea.
This type of spider belongs to the infamous Black Widows, which inhabit almost a third the globe- from Central Asia to the coast mediterranean sea, from southern Europe to northern Africa, as well as some areas of the Urals and the steppe Crimea.

3. This dangerous "beast" has a rather modest size - the female has dimensions from 10 to 20 mm, and the male is a dwarf at all - a maximum of 6-7 mm. Only females are dangerous to humans, because. the male is not able to bite through human skin.
Karakurts have a completely black belly, often with red spots on the belly or white rims.
Important distinguishing feature Black Widows have very long front legs.

4. Karakurts are very prolific.
For housing and reproduction, the female builds a lair in various depressions in the soil, often in rodent burrows, weaving nets of chaotically and incorrectly intertwined threads at the entrance. Eggs overwinter in cocoons, which are hung in the lair two to four. Juveniles emerge in April and are dispersed on the web by the wind. By June, the spiders are already sexually mature. With the onset of heat, females and males migrate, looking for protected places where temporary mating nets are arranged. After that, the females wander again in search of places for a permanent lair, where cocoons are placed.
It is the period of the onset of heat and mating that is the most dangerous, because. at this time, the likelihood of an encounter with the Widowmaker increases.

5. By the way, these spiders got the name Black Widow for a reason. After mating, the female kills the male.
Then she is entirely busy searching for a new home for the cocoon and offspring.

6. Where do travelers most often encounter karakurts?
The spider's favorite habitats are virgin lands, river banks, slopes of ravines, wastelands. Karakurt likes to settle in the burrows of field mice, in stone rubble, cracks, dry heaps of old garbage. The spider does not like thick grasses and shrubs, nor does it like high humidity.
This is important to know when you are hiking or looking for a place to pitch a tent.
By the way, one of the features of karakurt is their network. Basically, they do not weave it vertically, like most spiders, but horizontally. And as I said above - it is chaotic and is located in the habitat of the Widow.
For example, in the photo there is a seashore near Koyashsky Lake, which is inhabited by just a huge number of karakurts. Among these rare shrubs, and also in the heaps of garbage collected by the wind, I found cobwebs and widows' lairs everywhere.
It was these spiders that served as the source of photographic material for this post.

7. It is useful to know one important thing!
Karakurts never attack themselves. Most often they bite, if you disturb the network, step on the spider itself.
But if there was a bite - it's bad.
The poison of karakurt is 10-15 times stronger than one of the most poisonous snakes- a rattlesnake.

8. The bite of the Black Widow is painless and does not cause discomfort at first. A small red spot appears at the site of the bite, which quickly disappears. 15-30 minutes after the bite of a karakurt spider, severe sharp pain occurs, which spreads to the abdomen, lower back, and chest. The abdominal muscles tighten, breathing becomes more difficult, the legs go numb. There comes a strong mental excitement, the victim experiences anxiety and fear of death. There is also dizziness, suffocation, vomiting, convulsions. After a bite of a karakurt, a blue face, an irregular pulse and its slowdown are characteristic.
At the end of the primary excitation, the bitten person becomes lethargic, but does not behave calmly, severe pain does not allow to fall asleep. Symptoms usually last a day or two, in severe cases much longer. Usually than less time between the bite of a karakurt and the manifestation of the first symptoms - the more severe the consequences. Full recovery from a bite of a karakurt occurs after 2-3 weeks, but general weakness lasts more than a month. In severe cases, if not provided medical care, death after a bite of a karakurt occurs in 1-2 days.

9. What to do if the karakurt did bite you?
First of all, during the first minutes, the bite site of the karakurt should be burned with two or three matches. To do this, attach 3 matches with heads to the bite site and set them on fire with the 4th. Damaged when bitten upper layer skin, so the flame of matches is enough to partially neutralize and destroy the poison.
The bitten person should drink warm tea or water. Give a little, because after the bite of a karakurt, urine output worsens.
To relieve pain, you can inject painkillers (analgin 2 ml + diphenhydramine 1 ml, ketanol 1 ml).
But all this is just supporting measures! In the event of a bite, urgent medical attention is required.
The only remedy for neutralizing the poison of karakurt is the Tashkent antikarakurt serum.

10. It is worth saying that there were no deaths from the bite of a karakurt in Crimea, but you still need to be careful. First of all, do not walk barefoot anywhere except on the equipped beach. If you take off your shoes while outdoors, be sure to inspect them before putting them on.
And be careful when choosing a place for a tent, as well as when setting it up in places of potential habitat for karakurts.
It is best to carefully inspect the nearby area for chaotic ground webs.

11. The back of the spider, which secretes the substance for weaving the web. By the way, the web of the karakurt is very strong and "viscous".

12. In the photographs, karakurts found on the shores of the Koyashsky salt lake, including those blown by the wind onto salt crystals, where they posed for this post