Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Bugs Sure Do Grow Big Down Here in Florida



Originally being from the outer suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, I am used to natural surroundings and an occaisional insect. But, since moving down to Florida, my knowledge of bugs has increased dramatically. Up north, there may be a few species of insect that can be troublesome. Down here, it pays to make sure the critters in your neighborhood stay outdoors, and don't come inside of your home.
It pays to live in a development that regularly sprays for bugs. Also, living on a higher floor helps, for the creepy-crawlies who don't care to crawl fly up high.

When I first moved here, I had a lovely apartment on the first floor of a classy building. Unfortunately, everything crawled in, even with spraying, including huge cockroaches, ants of every size, and even termites! The owners of the building had to have the entire building "tented" to keep the lovely, old building from being consumed by the wood-chomping little buggers. Buildings with termites have to be tented every so often, so I moved. The heck with that.

Now, I live up high, and have nothing more than fruit flies (they grow those big down here, too!) and a tiny sugar ant or two. Sugar ants are teeny, tiny little ants who show up occasionally here and there, everywhere down here but are easily kept under control with extermination. Nothing else. Oh, and down here in Florida, anyone with indoor pets STILL has to put Frontline or Advantage flea protection on them, because cats and dogs get fleas even indoors. It's unavoidable.

Other insects down here include Lubber grasshoppers, which are large, interesting creatures with pink wings, but they damage crops so farmers hate them. Recently, a swarm of them invaded the nearby city of Lakeland and drove the residents nuts with their large numbers and voracious appetites. Lubbers won't hurt you, they're just slow-movers who eat everything in their path.

One thing I don't deal with well are spiders. Down in the South there are Black-Widow spiders, which are poisonous. I remember visiting a friend's houseboat parked on a lake, and those hideous spiders were everywhere. I was laughed at for being a "lightweight city girl" as I made a beeline for the car, after one came down from the rafters and almost landed on me. Poisonous spiders and me don't mix.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/622908

Monday, July 30, 2012

Stuff of Nightmares



Spiders have been around for 130 million years. We must all be thankful none of them evolved to the size of a dog.

Of all the creepy crawlies that give people the willies, spiders, those eight-legged, twin-fanged arthropods with their six to eight pairs of eyes would have to be in the top league of nightmares had nature allowed them to grow to the size of a large dog. Fortunately for us nature limited their size to range from that of a pinhead to the 12-inch dinner plate spread of the Goliath Tarantula. As a result few are dangerous to man and the chances of being bitten by one of these is remote. That said if you travel a lot here are five it would be wise to avoid.
The Funnel Web Spider - Australia's most poisonous
The Redback Spider of Australia
The Brown Recluse Spider of the USA
The Black Widow Spider of the USA
The Wandering Spider of Brazil - often fatal to children
There is the case of paraplegic David Blancarte who was bitten by a Brown Recluse Spider that brought the nerves of his legs back to life some months later allowing him to walk again. But this is the only recorded case of a beneficial spider bite.

As a rule spider's prey is restricted to insects though some of the larger varieties are known to feed on frogs, lizards, snails and occasionally small birds. But it is their methods of devouring their meals that comes close to horrific. Being unable to eat solids, spiders predigest their food by injecting digestive fluids from their stomachs directly into the body of their prey to liquefy the inner tissues and organs to a thin soup before sucking them out, reducing the body of the victim to an empty husk in the process. Worse, if not hungry at the time of capture the spider will enmesh its victim in web, paralyse it with venom then leave it fresh and alive until hunger returns.

Mating is a problem for male spiders. Spiders have voracious appetites and the male being much smaller than the female has to approach his love with extreme caution, spending some time stroking her legs until she is sufficiently pliable for him to do his duty. But once sex is completed she usually awakes from her torpor, binds him in web and eats him. But though not around to see it he often has his revenge. After laying around 40 eggs, the Australian female social spider cannot reproduce again. During the summer she collects large insects for her young to feast on while she fattens on the leftovers. But as the young spiders get hungrier, they suck the blood from their unresisting mother's leg joints and when she becomes too weak to move, her young attack her, injecting her with venom and digestive juices before eating her alive.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6431642

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Prevention of Insect-Borne Diseases



Insect Pests
All sorts of insects attack and prey upon human beings. Most common of those that attack the body directly are the lice and the itch mites. Less frequent are bedbugs and spiders. In the woods and in tropical areas chiggers and mosquitoes, ticks and the biting flies annoy mankind.

Chiggers
Chiggers are known scientifically as Trombicula irritans. They hook themselves on to the skin. The skin becomes irritated, and an intolerable itching begins. Red blotches appear, and blisters form. The chiggers do not burrow into the skin, but they inject a substance which dissolves and softens the tissue, and this causes the itching.

Infestation with chiggers can be prevented by putting flour of sulphur or sulphur powder into the stockings or underclothing when going into tall grass or weeds. Protection can be had by wearing leggings and by closing off the bottom of the trousers.

If you have been seriously bitten by chiggers, wash the skin thoroughly with soap and water and allow the lather to remain on the skin ten minutes before removing. Then any of the anti-itch preparations can be applied to keep the itching under control until healing has occurred.

Insect repellents such as DDT, freon with pyrethrum, and similar preparations can be used to remove chiggers from infested areas, as well as mosquitoes, moths, and other insects.

Lice
The louse is an annoying inhabitant on the human body. Head lice are such a frequent annoyance among children in schools that health departments usually give special instructions for their control. Several specialized mixtures have been developed for getting rid of head lice, body lice, and pubic lice.
To kill head lice, ordinary crude petroleum or kerosene mixed with sweet oil or olive oil, half and half, is rubbed well into the scalp. Then cover the hair with a piece of muslin for at least two hours or, better, overnight. Petroleum is poisonous and inflammable. Never let the hair get close to any open flame, such as a gas jet or a lighted match. When the muslin is removed wash the hair and scalp with soap and hot water and rinse well with clear water. Repeat this process as long as live vermin are found in the hair. Nits may be removed by wetting the hair thoroughly with hot vinegar, then combing with a fine-toothed comb. Dry the hair completely after such treatments before going out. For body lice, the body, all clothing, and all bedding may be thoroughly dusted with a suitable DDT powder.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3494947

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Preventions And Remedies For Insect Bites And Stings



Insect bites can happen anytime and at any place which can cause either minor or major illnesses. Usual bites that we encounter came from ants, mosquitoes, cockroaches, ticks, bees and spiders. Although most of them don't possess serious health threats, you must still be cautious about this little bugs and know different home remedies for immediate self treatment.

Most of these insects are active at night because they are some what allergic to sunlight. Warm weather is another factor that causes this bugs to be more active and much likely to have physical contact with humans. They are usually found in messy areas of the house like kitchen, garage and the garden.

Mosquito bites for example seems so harmless. But there are kinds of mosquitoes who are carriers of deadly viruses like the dengue virus and the West Nile virus. Meanwhile, a bee sting and a cockroach bite can only cause skin allergic reactions but severe cases of allergic reactions are highly possible and could be deadly.
Below are some of the known bite symptoms of outdoor insects and bugs.

Itchiness
Swelling of the skin
Redness of the bite area
Fever
Chilling
Allergic reactions
Lyme disease
Rashes
Abdominal pain
Muscle cramps
Headache
Dizziness
Bacterial infections

To keep your household bug free and prevent frequent insect contact, you can restructure your house to ensure that it can effectively repel bugs. Use refined screens and netting in your windows and doors as defensive barriers for any types of bugs. Avoid walking in grass and stagnant areas of the house, spiders and other bug crawlers live in these areas.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5364735

Friday, July 27, 2012

The Medical Significance of the Arachnida Class of the Arthropods



The class Arachnida is a group of more than 100,000 species, including spiders, scorpions, ticks and mites. Most arachnids are adapted to kill prey with poison galnds, stingers, or fangs. Like crustaceans, arachnids have a body that is divided into a cephalothorax and an abdomen.

Attached to the Cephalothorax are 4 pairs of legs, a pair of Chelicerae, and a pair of appendages called pedipalps. The pedipalps aid in chewing; in some species pedipalps are specialized to perform other functions. Arachnids undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Class Arachnida includes 3 orders of medical importance:
1. Order Scorpions
2. Order Araneae (spiders)
3. Order Acari (ticks and mites)

Scorpions
The scorpions are familiar group of arachnids whose pedipalps are modified into pincers. Scorpions use these pincers to handle their food and tear it apart. The venomous stings of scorpions are used mainly to stun their prey and less commonly in self-defense. The sting is located in the terminal segment of the body, which is slender toward the end. The elongated, jointed abdomens of scorpions are distinctive; in most chelicerates, the abdominal segments are more or less fused together and appear as a single unit. The adults of this order of arachnids range in size from 1 to 18 centimeters. There are some 1200 species of scorpions, all terrestrial, which occur throughout the world, although they are common in tropical, subtropical, and desert regions. The courtship of scorpions is elaborate, with the spermatophores being fixed to a substrate by the male and then picked up subsequently by the female. The young are born alive, with 1 to 95 in a given liter. Scorpions differ from spiders in two ways. Scorpions have greatly enlarged pedipalps, which they hold in a forward position. They also have a large stinger on the last segment of the abdomen. Most scorpions hide during the day and hunt at night. Scorpions seize their prey with their pincerlike pedipalps. Then the fang injects paralyzing venom, the chelicerae tear the prey,, the animal is ingested, and digestion begins. Only a few species have a sting that may be fetal to humans. They do not sting a man unless attacked.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4667690

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Pest Control (Spider Control)



 Pest Control (Spider Control)
Many of these spiders are cytotoxic and so they will bite you with a cytotoxin. Many of the domestic spiders, though not all, are aggressive and that's why they bite. These bites can be nasty or fatal and will cause decay on areas that are bitten. Many of these bites can cause infection that is why they need to be taken care of immediately. It would be best to get rid of spiders at your house all together to avoid getting bitten by them. Some of the domestic spiders you should watch out for include the orb spiders and black widows.

The best way to take care of spiders is eliminate their food source. You want to make sure you don't have other insects in your house that would attract these spiders and that they're going to be preying on. Clean up any areas where you have debris. Put little webs between the debris. If you want to keep the spiders away, you have to keep things nice, tidy and clean.

You can put down a pesticide and there are a number of safe bio-pesticides and synthetics that you can use. One of the best ways to do this is by using dust. Spiders will crawl through dusts and it will attach to their bodies. Pesticides with dust will then be absorbed in the spider's body. Spiders are not like any other insects and they don't groom themselves like the cockroach does.

Spiders don't ingest pesticides through grooming but a little bit of dust in the area will work well. If you think the spiders are too creepy for you to handle, you can contact your local pest control company for assistance and the best results.
Are you looking for the best pest control advice in town? Learn the best ways of dealing with pest infestation problems in your home with the experts. pest control has never been this easy and effective.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5878852

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Pest Control - Getting Rid of Spiders



For many people, spiders represent the worst kind of insects. However, while many may have an inherent fear of spiders, they actually serve a very beneficial role in the ecosystem, controlling the rest of the bug population by being so high up in the food chain. Seeing one or two harmless spiders around should actually make you feel good about the cleanliness of your home. If they live outside in the yard or the garden, all the better. Still, fear is fear and no one wants their home overrun with arachnids. If you want to get rid of the spider population in and around your home, here are some valuable pest control tips.

There are certain environments that attract spiders like moths to a flame. If you want to control the spider population in your home, you'll need to make your home much less inviting. This means cleaning every corner of the house, especially those corners you've probably neglected to clean in the past. If you see any cobwebs, make sure and get rid of them. If you don't have screens on your windows and doors, now would be a good time to implement them.

While spiders may play an important role in the environment, having poisonous spiders around is just dangerous. If you've seen black widows, brown recluses, or any other type of poisonous spider in the house or around the yard, take precautions. Wear gloves and other forms of protective clothing if you're working out in the yard or in any areas where you've seen the dangerous spiders. A good system of pest control can usually eliminate your problem, but it doesn't make sense to take chances in the meantime. If you are bitten and you believe the spider was poisonous, seek medical attention at once.

If you've taken every precaution and cleaned your home thoroughly and are still plagued with spiders, contact your local pest control company. Any company worth its salt will be able to offer your a spider extermination plan. Often, the extermination will be a catch-all method and will also eliminate other bugs from the home, such as roaches and ants. Make sure and talk with the professionals about further steps you can take to prevent spiders from returning and also ask about what types of spiders are common in the area. This can help you to identify the next spider you see and determine if it's harmful or harmless to humans.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4855736

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The Spiders of South Africa



Black Button Spider
Also known as 'Widow Spiders' in the USA, Button spiders are common throughout South Africa and Madagascar. Their long legs, bulbous black abdomens and bright red markings make them easily identified, along with the funnel-shaped webs they make their homes in, and their large white egg-sacs. As opposed to several wilderness-dwelling spiders in the region, the Button spider prefers a little company, living in human inhabited areas and man-made structures for their warmth and dryness. You might find a Black Button spider enjoying an attic or two in South Africa! Although the species is shy, it is poisonous - interestingly, only females actually have the strength to bite through human skin and deliver the toxin.

Six-Eyed Sand Spider
As opposed to the Button spider, the Six-eyed Sand spider enjoys remote, uninhabited desert areas of South Africa. Sometimes referred to as 'Crab spiders' for their scuttling movements, they have squat, red-brown bodies covered in hairs, called 'setae', that help retain moisture - invaluable in the desert climate. With highly effective camouflage and burrowing skills, they're rare to spot. This might be a good thing - researchers consider the Six-eyed Sand spider to be one of the most lethal spiders in the world, based on the power and volume of their venom. Fortunately, victims are few due to their remote habitats, and the spider's timidity.

Violin Spider
Found throughout South Africa, Swaziland, and Namibia, Violin spiders take their name from the distinctive dark violin-shaped marking on their abdomen. With long, slender legs and a golden-brown colouration, the Violin spider can make its home in any one of a number of different locations, such as under floorboards or in rarely-used cabinets in human homes, under bark or stones, or within rotting logs in the wilderness. Most encounters with Violin spiders take place at night while they are hunting, and although their venom is not as lethal as other South African spiders, their venom is painful and can lead to inflamed wounds.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5043985

Monday, July 23, 2012

The "New Baby" Sweep



Lots of things we overlook in our day-to-day lives can create a harmful environment for a newborn. If you have a new baby in your future, now's the time to perform a "new baby clean sweep!"

Deep cleaning the whole house
Usually the "white glove" test is reserved for mother-in-law visits. But it's essential when you're bringing home a newborn. Things like dust, mildew and mold can wreak havoc on a baby's respiratory system. This is a good time for those projects you've been contemplating, like cleaning the air vents, removing cobwebs and wiping walls, counters and cabinets clean. Get out the white glove-literally-for washing window sills, baseboards and tile and wood flooring. Use a non-toxic cleaner for washing every surface in your newborn's (and your) room.

Going au natural
Harsh chemicals have no place in a baby's lair. Think of everything that touches your newborn's skin as potentially entering his or her body. Here are some common sources of unhealthy chemicals: cleaners like bleach and spray disinfectants, air fresheners, even wet wipes. It is possible to find natural versions of most household cleaners. You can even go online and find recipes to make your own. Remember to keep windows open whenever possible to let breezes in and chemical agents out! New fabrics, carpeting and bedding, towels and baby clothes should be cleaned at least once before contact with a new baby's skin. Look for fabrics that are all-natural, like 100% cotton!

Blowing away the smoke!
Adults or family members who smoke should do so outside the home. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS, respiratory infections and asthma. Even bringing a baby home to a house where people used to smoke is risky, so make sure to wipe down walls, countertops, and clean fabrics to ensure a totally smoke-free environment. Ask visitors to your home to step outside if they need to smoke.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7007998

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Subterranean: A Story About Working in Small Spaces With Poisonous Things & How to Deal With It



Tim was a slender man. He was also a relaxed individual. Possibly because of this laid back style his keen intellect could catch people off guard. Sometimes people just assume that mellow people are also slow thinking. Tim was quite good at analyzing situations. However, when given the chance he was a proponent of making people do stupid things until they figured out what was happening. Wherever he went he was followed by an air of self-aware, and slightly shy, absurdity.

Tim worked with me up on the ranch for a little while. One of our projects when on the ranch was building a house. The site of our proto-house was nestled in the mountains south of the main ranch house. The idea was that this small cabin, when completed, could house the main ranch hand as well as a guest or two when needed. I particularly liked this project because it allowed me to proudly (and unusually truthfully) declare one of those "life goal" things, that I had "built a house."

One hot day Tim and I volunteered to put the insulation on the bottom of the house. This task involved crawling into the two foot high space under the house. Once under the house one would drag in a bunch of insulation and lie on one's back stapling it to the boards above.

For the most part, the crawl-space under the house was sealed off from the outside by the external wall. This meant that getting under the house involved going down one particular big hole on the side of the house. This entrance shaft looked sort of like an over sized dry square well.

Stepping down into that hole I remained blanketed in the New Mexican sun. However, while standing in that hole I was the only thing I could see that was well lit. The crunching and grinding of the gravel under my shoes, hands, and knees as I crawled under the house was surprisingly satisfying. The noise of my feet on the ground and the rough textures around me lent the experience a feeling of present reality.

As Tim handed me the insulation to pull under the house behind me it was also nice to think about how for the next few hours, at least, I would get to work in a cool place rather than the hot sun directly above us.

Once we were under the house I lay down on one side of a particular side of the building and Tim lay about an insulation lengths away from me. With the sudden twangy clicks of the staple gun I secured one end of the insulation to the boards above me and then passed the other end to Tim who then secured the other end.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/264103

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Camping With Poisonous Snakes and Spiders



 Camping With Poisonous Snakes and Spiders
Of course there are spiders, but I doubt any will crawl into our sleeping bags tonight. Living with someone with a newly developed passion for camping can teach you a lot about yourself. But since camping is a nice way to save money while still having a great vacation, I've learned to cope happily. Here's what I learned about camping with the neighborhood's snakes and spiders. Most are harmless to people and, in fact, provide great benefits, such as keeping rodent and insect pest populations in check. So it is important - for our own sake -- to be good neighbors to local snakes and spiders.Once you know where you plan to camp, learn about the poisonous snakes and spiders in the area. One of the best informational resources for photos and quick answers is venombyte.com.

Venombyte offers free descriptions, locations and photos of every kind of poisonous snake and spider in the U.S.Print out the appropriate photos so everyone, especially children, knows what to avoid and what to do if bitten. Any bite from a poisonous snake or spider should be regarded as a potential medical emergency so everyone in your camping group should have a number for emergency assistance available and know what to do until help arrives or until the person can be taken to a hospital. Even non-venomous snake bites should be treated because infections and allergic reactions are occasioned in some people. Common-sense approaches regarding your new neighbors prevent most unwanted encounters. If you leave your campsite during the day, zip up your tent against things that crawl along the ground. If you do leave it unzipped, carefully check your tent's interior and shake your bedding before crawling inside.

Snakes:
Hike along established trails, step onto then off (rather than simply over) logs, avoid tall grass and be careful when picking up firewood or rocks for your campfire. When rock climbing, remember a snake may be sunning itself or waiting for prey on the ledge you're reaching for. According to the NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, every one of the lower 48 states, except Maine, has at least one poisonous snake species. Poisonous snakes in the U.S. include: (1) Copperheads (Broad-banded, Northern, Osage, Southern and Trans-Pecos), (2) Cottonmouths (Eastern, Florida and Western), (3) Rattlesnakes (Animas Ridgenose, Arizona Black, Arizona Ridgenose, Banded Rock, Carolina Pygmy, Colorado Desert Sidewinder, Desert Massasauga, Dusky Pygmy, Eastern Diamondback, Eastern Massasauga, Grand Canyon, Great Basin, Hopi, Midget Faded, Mojave Desert Sidewinder, Mojave, Mottled Rock, Northern Black-tailed, Northern Pacific, Panamint Speckled, Prairie, Sonoran Desert, Southern Pacific, Southwestern Speckled, Tiger, Timber, Western Diamondback, Western Massasauga, Western Pygmy and Western Twin Spotted) and (4) Coral Snakes (Arizona, Eastern and Texas). If someone is bitten, some resources recommend keeping the bitten person's heart elevated higher than the bite until they can reach a hospital. If it will take more than 30 minutes to get a bite victim to a hospital, some resources suggest placing a suction device over the bite to help suck out the poison (commercial snake bite kits often include suction kits). But most medical authorities reportedly warn not to cut into the wound, use tourniquets or cool the bite area with ice. While some poisonous snakes may inject little venom (venom injection is a voluntary act by the snake), others - like the Eastern Diamondbacks which live in the South - can inject large amounts of venom in a single strike. In those cases, antivenins may be the only treatment to save someone.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1366275

Friday, July 20, 2012

The Northwest's Nastiest Spiders



As Pacific Northwest residents know, spiders are fairly common in our region. Though spiders can be very beneficial in that they prey on pesky insects we don't want around the house, there are a few types of spiders you want to avoid. If you believe you have an infestation of any of the following spiders, you will want to contact a pest control company. Not all infestations will require chemical pest control, and a qualified pest control company will know exactly how to handle the risks associated with these potentially harmful spiders.

The most well-known venomous spiders in the Pacific Northwest are the black widow and the hobo spider.

When crafting a plan to deal with spiders, the first step is to identify the type of spider you have, as this will determine the kinds of pest control and pest prevention actions to take. For correct identification, consider the spider's web design, habitat, and appearance.

Black widow: The female black widow is known for its shiny black body, around half an inch to one inch long, and the red hourglass shape on the underside of its body. The male black widow is smaller, much lighter in color and lacks the hourglass shape on its belly. Also, the male black widow does not produce dangerous venom as the female does.

These spiders typically create thin webs and are found in dark, moist, undisturbed areas like wood or debris piles, under large stones, and basement or shed corners. If you are bitten by a female black widow, you should go to an emergency room or call your physician immediately.

Hobo spider: The hobo spider is one of the most common in the Pacific Northwest region. With its tan to light brown color and light banding on the body, it can easily be mistaken for several similar-looking varieties of spider. The hobo spider has a body typically about half an inch long and features two palpi (like an extra pair of shortened legs) near their mouths. They create funnel-shaped webs designed for trapping insects and are frequently found in dark, damp spaces that can support their webs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5307848

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Australian Spiders - Should I Worry?



Many people are worried about living in, or visiting, Australia all because of its poisonous spiders. Is there really a reason for you to be worried? Could you be killed after being bitten by a spider if you visit, or move to, Australia? Should the possibility stop you from going to Australia?

In case you did not know it, Australia has only two spiders that should be of a major concern for anyone visiting, or living there. The two spiders that you need to be most concerned with are the funnel-web spider and the red-back spider. These spiders have caused deaths in the past.

But, with a little common sense and caution these spiders are not the major concern that they used to be. There now is anti-venom for both and neither one has caused any reported deaths for many years.

Funnel-Web Spiders Where are they found?
These hazardous funnel web spiders are found most often in the Brisbane and Sydney area. There have been a few isolated funnel web spider bites in the Adelaide area. The are not usually found in Perth or Melbourne area.

How big are they? The females are usually bigger than males and they are most often found to be around 6 or 7 cm long when including their legs. If you put this into perspective you will realize that a female funnel web spider is found to be about the same width as the palm of a person's hand.

The funnel web spider is not like the timid red-back spider. The funnel web spiders are aggressive creatures. They will not hesitate to attack if they feel that they have been provoked at all. What's more, their venom is very quick acting and if they are not promptly treated their bite can end in a rapid death. This can happen within an hour so that quick action is a must.

Even though the funnel-web spiders are much more aggressive than the red-back spiders, their bites are not near as common because the funnel-web spiders are much bigger and so they are easy to see. As far as how many people fall prey to the funnel-web spider? The average seems to be around 5 or 6 bites requiring anti-venom treatment each year in Australia.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/225092

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Cannibals on the Porch



No, ghosts of the Donner Party have not started haunting my porch, nor have others of the human type I may have reference to. I am speaking of cannibals in the insect world of which there are many, but two in particuIar that make me stop and wonder. The first is waxy black with a small red hourglass on her abdomen.

She dangles on a thin thread late on warm summer nights in doorways or dark corners waiting for the what ever comes her way. I am sure you guessed, it is the female black widow spider, (Latrodectus Mactans) that I am referring to, and she is no stranger to many porches and gardens around the world . Her potent neurotoxic venom is more deadly than a rattle snake, although the actual bite is less noticeable. But she is only one of the many cannibals waiting outside.

If you are lucky, your porch may attract a less deadly, human friendly cannibal, with lightning strike reflexes and human like characteristics. The adult praying mantis, of whom its been said, is the only insect able to swivel its head around 180 degrees. Mantis is the Greek word for prophet, and if you see one of these on your porch you are immediately impressed by its show of awareness and seeming lack of fear as it turns its head and watches you walk by. The praying mantis, also commonly called mantids, like the black widow, have a reputation of sexual cannibalism, in that the females are known for eating the males head after and sometimes during mating, which in truth only happens some of the time, however in the case of the mantids, the young nymphs emerging from their egg cases will begin to eat each other if another food source is not found within one or two days and they are kept caged together with no means of escape. They emerge from their eggs as tiny strings, one attached to the next, through a row of pin-sized holes in the egg. As the string grows longer they individually begin to unfold into tiny little creatures looking just like their parents, only wingless, stringy and weak, but able to walk or run to high ground, or I should say elevated branches and leaves as they seem to have an instinct to climb, like tiny infantry soldiers searching for a safe place to lie in wait for any soft bodied insect they can over-power while avoiding any large ants or meat bees which can easily carry them of at this age.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/59612

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Top 10 Little Black Dresses of All Time



Barely a hundred years ago, the black dress was somber and depressing. It was no more than the traditional mourning garb for grieving widows to make sure their dead husbands won't come knocking late at night. Thankfully, the great Coco Chanel had a vision, and in 1926, she single-handedly rescued the black dress from its morbid reputation. It has since been reinvented into the LBD, the little black dress. The rest, you could say, is fashion history. Here's a look at the top 10 most unforgettable LBDs of all time.

10. At first glance, it looked like no more than a piece of black fabric held together by a few giant safety pins. That was Elizabeth Hurley's Versace outfit at the 1994 premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral. That black dress was literally little, and though it was severely criticized back then, it certainly was unforgettable. It paved the way for the short-lived and the now-defunct giant safety pin trend (does anybody still remember that?).

9. It's hard to put a list together without Kirsten Dunst making an appearance. In this case, who can forget the oh-so feminine Rodarte number that she wore at Spider-Man 3's 2007 London premiere? It was almost eerie how the LBD contrasted with her naturally pale skin, completing a look that was romantic, ethereal, and unbelievably fresh.

8. Even before she became THE Halle Berry, Halle Berry already had a style of her own. She turned heads back in the 1992 Soap Opera Digest Awards when she waltzed right in donning a strapless, poufy, full-skirted LBD that looked suspiciously like a Karl Lagerfield creation. She might have been almost unknown then, but she had the press scrambling for pictures!

7. Very few people can pull off a dress that looks like something you catch fish with, but Gwyneth Paltrow did at the 2008 premiere of Iron Man in Rome. Gwyneth stunned spectators when she arrived at the red carpet wearing a peculiarly deceptive Jean Paul Gaultier creation. At first look, it looked scandalously transparent - a surprise, considering it's the ever demure Ms. Paltrow.

6. If there's one person who's often seen in little black dresses aplenty, it's Reese Witherspoon. Seen promoting her film Rendition at the Toronto Film Festival in a form-fitting strapless Jean Paul Gaultier creation, Reese looked fabulously sleek and smoldering. Accessorized with diamonds aplenty, Christian Louboutin peep-toe pumps, and squeeze, Jake Gyllenhaal the look is nothing short of historical.

5. Of course, who can forget the black lace cocktail dress immortalized by Julia Roberts in the fairy tale to end all fairy tales, Pretty Woman? It's a classic. Enough said.

4. Who would've though that a star would be caught dead wearing something that was originally intended for recycling? Well, apparently it could happen, just like the black bandage dress Cindy Crawford wore to the 100th Anniversary of Vogue back in 1993. Since it was created by Herve Leger in 1985, the dress has made numerous comebacks.

3. Devilish - that's what the LBD Nicole Kidman wore to the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival is. With a simple bodice, gorgeous diamond-studded straps, and a backside that teases, the Azzaro creation is no less than stunning!

2. Of course, you can't have a list of LBDs without Victoria Beckham in it. From her Spice Girls days to her Mrs. Beckham fame, it seems like Posh can't be seen without one for very long. Who can miss the be-ribboned Giambattista Valli frock that she wore to the TomKat wedding in 2006? Even the Philip Treacy hat is unforgettable.

1. And finally, who can forget Audrey Hepburn's legendary little black dress from 1961's Breakfast at Tiffany's? Sold for £410,000 in a 2006 auction, this Givenchy LBD is, hands down, a star in its own right!
Without a doubt, LBDs are forever. And we owe it all to a woman named Coco.
You never have to worry about what to wear if you visit http://www.Goddiva.co.uk. Find LBDs and celebrity dresses [http://www.goddiva.co.uk/home.php?cat=6] aplenty right here!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1905739

Monday, July 16, 2012

One More Day Proves That Joe Quesada Does Not Understand Spider-Man



It's official.
Joe Quesada does not understand Spider-Man in the least.
(I would say that if you haven't read Amazing Spider-Man 545 yet, you should stop here until you do read it, but I actually recommend that you just don't read it at all.)

But unlike some people, I am not going to call for his head. At least not completely. Other than the horrible Black Panther and Storm wedding, most of what he's done outside of Spider-Man has been pretty good. I liked Civil War (for the most part). I love Astonishing X-Men. Grant Morrison's X-Men was good, but not really for me. Planet Hulk was a ton of fun (I am behind and haven't read WWH yet). But with all that in mind, let's look at some of the Spider-Man stories that came about under his watch (some of which were his idea)

Sins Past
Spider-Totems
Ezekiel
One More Day
(I will admit that making Peter a science teacher was fun and I liked that)
He's certainly trying. And I think the stories he's given us have seemed great in his head. But the fact that they seemed like good ideas to him makes it even worse. The fact that he seems to really think these are all great ideas shows that he is severely lacking in any understanding of the character. If he was phoning it in, I'd probably be more willing to cut him some slack. And since he has made many statements defending OMD, let's look at some of them.

First off, he insists that the marriage was a bad idea because free and single Peter is more interesting. First off, Peter is supposed to be the "everyman." Stan Lee started the trend of maturing Peter Parker when he sent him off to college.
 Granted, that was largely due to John Romita drawing him less dorky, but it was still Stan "the Man" Lee who had Peter grow up. And part of growing up for most people is getting married. He says that there are no good stories to tell with married Peter. If that's the case, he needs to hire better writers. It's not our fault they're not creative enough to come up with good stories that don't involve manufactured romantic woes. Peter's motto is "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility." Nothing involves more responsibility than maintaining a marriage and treating your wife with love and respect. There is much more responsibility involved in a marriage than in a dating relationship so play off of that. I am not anywhere near as creative as the people working at Marvel and I've already thought of a way to work that with the character.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/912949

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Search Engine Spiders - How They Work



When we talk about search engine spiders, we are not referring to common, garden variety arachnids - and not even to exotic black widows or tarantulas. Instead, we are talking about the electronic signals that search engines send to crawl all over the internet, collecting data about websites. This data, in turn, drives the results of keyword searches.

Spiders are also known as "bots". They penetrate a website and copy information that is sent back to the search engine's database. All the major search engines - Bing, Yahoo! Search, Google, etc. - use this technology. Once on a website page, a spider records links and dispatches additional spiders to follow them and copy the content that they find there. The process is continual and results in huge search engine databases of tens of billions of pieces of information.

In order to take advantage of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), you need to know how these crafty bots work. It will be to your advantage whether you post specialized, high quality content or bulk content. Think of how you read a newspaper. You begin at the top left hand corner and move across the page of newsprint. When reading columns, you begin with the left hand column and read down to the bottom. Then you move to the next column on the right, and so on. Spiders read websites in exactly the same manner.

Nothing on the internet escapes these intelligent spiders. In addition, they can analyze a theme or topic that they find on a page, and they can use this information to determine how pages that are linked together relate topically. However, they are unable to process certain subtleties, like a particular intent that may be required to understand a theme or relationship.

Because spiders are important to internet search, you need to build your website in a way that facilitates their navigation of it. To provide a clear way for the spider, build strong links on every page of your site or on the Navigation Menu's key pages. Build at least one link to access a site map. This should be text based and should provide a listing of each page on the site with corresponding links. (Google can also use SML site maps.) Contrary to popular belief, site maps are not for the human site visitor. Instead, they are used to provide information to search engine bots.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6379253

Saturday, July 14, 2012

About Spiders and Why They're a Danger to You in Your Home



Aside from Halloween decorations, it's never a good thing when you have spiders in your home. Yet some people don't realize what a real problem these creepy crawlies actually are. Some of them, such as the brown recluse, a very common spider in Florida and the Tampa area, can have fatal consequences.

The reasons spiders and other pests are an issue during the fall months is because that's when the climate and temperature varies as the weather cools. This makes all insects restless, and more likely to roam, and that includes roaming into places like attics, book shelves, closets, cabinets, sheds, and garages. They are particularly fond of dark places.

All spiders carry venom, which is used to paralyze their prey. Some of it is more dangerous than others, with the brown recluse and the black widow having the most dangerous bites.

The brown recluse is said to have venom that is more powerful than a rattlesnake's bite. It can cause dizziness, fainting, severe headaches, low blood platelet count, and even death. The brown recluse's venom destroys the tissue surrounding a bite. People who are bitten by these dangerous spiders must undergo one to several rounds of antibiotic treatment, in addition to having the bite drained.

You can prevent spiders in your home by cleaning and dusting regularly. Be on the lookout for spider webs, especially in dark areas, or places that aren't frequently visited. Garages, sheds, and doorways are popular places for spiders to congregate.

Have pest control come out to your home and spray for bugs annually, and more frequently if needed. Pest control can also inspect your home for places that could be vulnerable to insects.

If you suspect you've been bitten by a spider, call a doctor immediately, especially if you feel faint or dizzy. Sometimes the bites are minor, but other times, they can be fatal. In this situation, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5166651

Friday, July 13, 2012

All About the Wolf Spider



Coming across a Wolf Spider within the home during late night hours can often be a truly traumatic experience. Not only are they rather large and intimidating as far a spiders are concerned, but they also bear a slight resemblance to both the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse. Even though they are by far the least dangerous to humans of the three arachnids, this insect still contains powerful venom that can cause problems within children or those who experience allergic reactions. The area of skin where the attack took place will normally have a moderate amount of pain and swelling involved, and seeking medical care is highly recommended with any type of venomous spider bite.

The Wolf Spider has several unique characteristics that allow it stand apart from other arachnids. This species can most easily be identified by their eight total eyes; which are located in three separate rows and varying in size. While capable of producing silk, this insect does not weave webs and instead prefers to borrow down into the ground when building a home. The nest will normally be a narrow opening that is cleverly hidden behind sticks, leaves, and other objects the Wolf Spider has placed there herself. During heavy rain, if this species den is threatened by running water the arachnid will effectively construct a dam out of rocks and other nearby materials, and sometimes webbing is also used to create further concealment from the outside world.

The Wolf Spider is one of the few species that carries her unborn young with her from within an egg sac that is attached to her lower abdomen by silken strands, and during this period the spider is still fully capable of hunting or defending herself. Once her offspring are born they travel with her until reaching a suitable age to fend for themselves; but after that original bonding period expires they will likely never again cross paths without attacking one another. This species definitely prefers a solitary life.

The Wolf Spider also differs from many other arachnids in that it feels comfortable hunting during daylight or evening hours, and will often attack prey much larger than itself when the element of surprise favors them. Common meals for this species are mosquitoes, small rodents, flies, moths, and other spiders.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4154271

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Prevent The Scare Of House Spiders



 Prevent The Scare Of House Spiders
Causing jumps, screams and scares to homes across the country is the dreaded sighting of a house spider. We have all had encounters with a creepy spider and whether you are the one who screams for help or the one that comes running to the rescue, we can likely all agree they are not good company to have in our home.

Although very few spiders are capable of causing humans any harm, does not make these critters any better to be residing in your home. Only the black widow and the brown recluse are known to have the ability to cause severe reactions when they bite and this is only in some people. For the most part spiders are very docile and try to avoid any human interactions. Due to this fact, you will most likely find spiders in the following areas of your home:
  • back of the closet
  • old boxes or bins
  • stacks of newspaper
  • in the attic
  • in the basement
  • in crawl spaces
  • or anywhere else that is remote and away from constant human contact
Even if you do meet up with a spider while cleaning out the closet or your attic, do not fear. They are very unlikely to become aggressive unless they feel seriously threatened. And even so, most spiders are not capable of piercing through human skin when they bite.
Still not convinced that you want to see a spider ever again? Here are some ways to help prevent finding these critters spinning webs in your home:
  • trim back bushes and shrubs so they do not touch the side of the house
  • make sure all windows and doors have screens that fit tightly and do not have holes or tears
  • seal off cracks on the exterior of your home
  • de-clutter your storage spaces so spiders cannot hide out
  • contact your local pest control company to set up a routine pest control service
In order to keep a spider free home, try to follow the spider prevention tips above. Not only will your home be more organized in the end, but you will also have less pest problems. No matter what time of the year, the best way to prevent pests is to maintain a routine pest control service. The pest control pros can treat your home as necessary in order to get rid of any existing spiders and also prevent future ones from getting inside.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7021399

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Pest Profile: Spiders



A fear of spiders is one of our most primal instincts, one that evolved in humans as we were learning as a species to fear the things that could easily kill us. The vast majority of people either fear or dislike spiders, with only a very small minority claiming to like them. So when we come across a spider in our homes, the reaction many people have is to kill it as quickly as possible. However, where one spider has managed to get in, others can and will follow.

Spiders 101
Spiders are relatively unique in the insect world because in reality they aren't insects at all! Spiders are in fact arachnids. Where insects have six legs and three body segments, arachnids have 8 legs and two body segments. They have fangs which can inject venom to kill their prey. Spiders mostly feed off of insects and other spiders, but some larger species have been known to kill and eat birds and lizards. Spider venom is incredibly powerful, especially considering the size of the prey they normally feed on, and this high-powered venom makes them potentially very dangerous to humans and domestic animals. Spiders generally use the silk they produce to create webs to ensnare their prey instead of seeking out prey, but they can and do leave their webs to find better locations and will bite perceived threats.

Why They're Pests
Nobody likes uninvited visitors in their homes, and spiders are more than willing to move in without welcome. They can stay unnoticed by hiding in corners, crevices, nooks, and crannies, and they are able to populate your entire house with their offspring without your knowledge. Furthermore, certain kinds of spiders that like to move in to our homes can be deadly.

Why They're Dangerous
The majority of spiders we find in our homes are not actually harmful. The problem arises when you run across those spiders that are poisonous to humans or pets (the most common offenders in Georgia are the Brown Recluse and the Black Widow). These spiders can easily remain unnoticed in your home until you or your child or pet has been bitten and an emergency situation arises. Spider bites can range from merely annoying to life threatening, so it is essential for any spider bite victim to see a doctor immediately. What may not seem like a bad bite could end up costing a limb or a life if it does not receive proper medical attention.

Extermination and Control
Because they are so adept at hiding, it can be difficult to find everywhere spiders have set up shop. You may believe that you've killed every last one in your home only to find an occupied web floating from your ceiling the next moment. The only way to truly control spiders in your home is to call out a professional extermination team and have them address your problem. Your professional exterminator will exterminate the spiders living in your home, create a barrier around your home to prevent newcomers from finding their way inside, and remove spider webs from around your structure. They can also recommend further exclusion measures you can take to avoid having eight legged "friends" move into your home in the future.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7019189

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Big Little Bite - Brown Recluse Spiders, Your Home, and You



Crickets, and snails and other creepy-crawlies...they don't scare me. Snakes? Nah, they don't scare me either unless they're making rattling noises or standing at attention to an accompaniment of music from a snake charmers' flute. Neither do I suffer from arachnophobia (a general fear of spiders). Perhaps that lack of general concern for critters and such is a product of having been reared in central Florida where bugs are seemingly everywhere.There is one particular fear, though, that I do have...whether it be founded or unfounded, good or bad...and that's the quite reasonable (in my estimation) fear of unknowingly coming in too close contact with a Loxoceles reclusa...a Brown Recluse spider. If the truth were to be accurately conveyed...the very thought gives me the heebie-jeebies. The Brown Recluse is one of the few spiders that are harmful to humans. Another spider that is harmful to humans is the Black Widow with which most of us are at least vaguely familiar...but for some reason they just don't bother me too much although I am always "on the lookout" for them too.

Having performed thousands and thousands of Raleigh home inspections, I have had the opportunity to go in some great homes. I have also had the...opportunity, if you will...of going into some homes that were, well, not so great. Even in homes that look perfectly safe and in near pristine condition, there are potential dangers that may be lurking about.

Here in the eastern United States a large percentage of homes are constructed upon crawl space foundations. Crawl spaces have the deserved reputation of being less than desirable places to "hang out". I don't know anyone who finishes dinner, for instance, and says to their significant other "Honey, let's go down in the crawl space for a little while and...." You get the picture; it's just not the favorite part of the average persons' home. But it is an important place into which I must willingly and gallantly venture in the performance of my professional duties as a Home Inspector. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't relish the thought of being bitten by anything, really, but especially not a Brown Recluse spider. These spiders can be found in places other than crawl spaces. But it's usually there...in darkness and separated from the outside world, that I sometimes think about them (and other potential local hazards) and am usually in a heightened state of alert for any creature that might be observing me while I am making my observations...it's the things we don't see or hear that often impart the most fear in us, is it not?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5499106

Monday, July 9, 2012

How to Kill Spiders



Spiders have eight legs and can range from small to medium in size. Usually, they eat other insects such as flies, and breed in moist conditions. They can be found outside near humid areas and inside homes in basements and damp places. Some spiders actually prefer to stay in dry areas and can be found in corners of houses, dark areas, and near air-vents. When inhabiting these areas, they create webs made of spider silk to aid in movement and nesting. Many of them are harmless, but some can be fatal. The two most dangerous spiders in the United States are the black widow and the brown recluse. Bites from these spiders require immediate treatment. Although most spider bites are considered harmless, it essential to consult a physician about the seriousness of the bite.

Methods on how to kill spiders include simple and effective strategies. Using residual insecticide sprays tend to kill most spiders and are easy to apply in dark corners and underneath furniture. The insecticide will kill spiders and the eggs it may have laid on the cobweb. Once the spray has dried and spiders have died, carefully remove the cobweb and sanitize the area. Because dust also attracts spiders, it is important to frequently clean around the house and in the basement to avoid dust accumulation. Spider traps are also helpful in getting rid of spiders. The glue on the trap prevents the spider from moving and can easily be placed in hard to reach areas such as behind furniture. Aerosol sprays and glue traps can also be used outside if spiders are on the patio. Contact a professional exterminator to ensure quick, effective, and safe spider pest control.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4566978

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Spiders, Spiders, and More Spiders



Most people do not like spiders let alone have one for a pet. I had to overcome my fear of spiders when my older son brought home a tarantula from college. Victor, the newest member of our family, taught me that you can always learn something new and that fear alone is not a good enough reason to object. I did some quick research when Victor arrived and this is what I learned.

Spiders are arachnids, not insects. Other types of arachnids are ticks, mites, and scorpions. So far I was not impressed. However, I learned that spiders had two body parts and eight legs. If a spider looses a leg, it can grow one back. Now that was impressive. It also relieved me of my guilt from childhood when I know I pulled at least one leg off of a Daddy long legged spider.

Most spiders have eight eyes, one main pair and another three smaller pairs. Another impressive fact for such little creatures. And spiders have no bones, but a hard outer skeleton.

Spiders are hatched from eggs and few mother spiders stick around to raise their babies. Most newly hatched spiders are on their own.

There are 35,000 known species of spider and they live anywhere except Antarctica, too cold I guess. They make their home in forests, caves, fields, swamps, buildings and my house. Some spin webs, and others just spin silk strings to travel from place to place and jump out of danger.

The fact that spiders jump certainly didn't make me comfortable when Victor got out of his glass aquarium. But tarantulas like dark and warm places, which explains why we found him behind the stove. See nothing to fear.

Most spiders are harmless. The poisonous spiders are the black widow, the brown recluse,and the Australian funnel-web spider, but spider bites can get infected. Spider bites can get red, swollen, hot to touch, painful, or itchy. It is wise to seek medical attention if you think you have been bitten. As for the poisonous bites, there is antivenin now available to help a person to recover from a bite. And, just so you know, spiders have fangs, not teeth. Doesn't that make you feel warm all over.

These facts should help to alleviate any fear of spiders you may have developed. It helped me, or at least that's what I tell myself in order to sleep under the same roof as our tarantula.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1889497

Saturday, July 7, 2012

A Natural Spider Repellent That Works



There are many kinds of spiders in the world some good and some very bad, such as the Black Widow and the Brown recluse spider, but on the whole spiders are very harmless. They are harmless but can become an awful nuisance especially if they end up in your home or around it. In a way spiders are insect repellents themselves as they control any insects they come across by having them for dinner or providing dinner for some birds or bigger insects but all of this means very little when you find yourself with a spider problem. There are remedies for spider control.

The most annoying spider could be the wolf spider. This species is a little different as spiders go and they are UGLY! Even your pets, whether it is a cat or dog or both, will take the same attitude towards these spiders. One way to get rid of your spiders or at least control them safely is with a product called Victor (although there are great alternatives online). This spray comes in an aerosol can and is totally safe for your family and pets. It is an insecticide but the only active ingredients you will find in this product are mint oil mixed with a bit of detergent. The detergent is used to penetrate the skin of the spider and a bit of oil is also added to make the spray last much longer. You can find this product at most hardware stores. It is a natural spider repellent that does work. There are many aerosols on the market so be careful when you're choosing your product and make sure it is completely natural and safe.

This can work outside as well as inside and gives off a lovely minty smell. This is one way of getting rid of annoying spiders and to make sure your home stays free of them. You do want the only inhabitants inside your door to be you and your family.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1821389

Friday, July 6, 2012

How to Get Rid of Spider Bites



Spiders are one of the most feared creatures not only because of their creepy appearance but their potentially lethal venomous bite. Though not all spiders are venomous, there are quite a number that have this trait. The effects of spider bites vary, depending on the species and the amount of venom that has been injected into you. Some symptoms may simply be swelling and itching for a few minutes to several days, or may be as bad as muscular pain, difficulty breathing, or diarrhea.

In most cases, spider bites are not serious and can be easily treated with home remedies or by over-the-counter drugs like pain killers and anti-inflammatory medicine. However, there are a few spider bites that really need to be treated immediately and be administered with anti-venom to counteract the deadly poison. Spiders like the black widow, brown recluse, hobo, and wolf spider are some of the ones that give nasty, painful, and deadly bites.

The Spider
A spider is not an insect; it is an arachnid. If you look closely at one, you will notice that it only has two body segments, the prosoma and the abdomen, while insects like ants and bees have three. They also have eight legs, while insects only have six. Spiders may have from two to eight eyes, depending on the species. They spin silk to form webs that they use for various purposes such as for their homes and as a means of catching their prey.

Spiders are natural predators, meaning they hunt for their food - insects like ants, bees, and flies. With that, these arachnids are naturally aggressive. Spiders bite either to defend themselves or to catch their prey. A bite is not enough, so they inject venom, a toxic mix of poisons that either paralyze or kill their prey or enemy. Most spiders use their venom to liquefy internal tissues so that they can easily consume the creature with their proboscis-like feeding tube.
Deadly spider bites are quite rare in adults, but they do happen, especially when left untreated. However, children, the elderly, and those who are sick are more prone to allergic reactions that may be life threatening.

Dealing with Spider Bites
Depending on the spider that bit you, effects or symptoms vary. Doctors suggest that when a spider does bite you, you should try your best to capture the spider, especially when you are not familiar with the type that bit you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1277923

Thursday, July 5, 2012

What to Do If You Suspect You Have a Spider Bite



If you suspect you have been bitten by a spider you probably have a lot of questions. It is important to realize that rarely are spider bites dangerous, but many conditions that are mistaken for spider bites can be dangerous themselves.
What does a spider bite look like?

It really depends on what type of spider you have been bitten by. Brown recluse bites, for instance, will typically become dark circles around a small bump that looks like acne. In fact, many times when people suspect they have been bitten by a spider it is only acne.

Just because you have a small red bump somewhere on your body, though, does not mean that you have a spider bite. Many times what people think are spider bites end up being MRSA, a very serious type of staph infection that is difficult to treat with traditional antibiotics. If you have a red bump that will not go away you should go see a doctor.

When do spiders bite people?
Spiders are nocturnal so they sleep during the day and are active at night. If a spider comes in to your house and bites you it will probably be at night. This is very rare (and usually you won't even know because only a few types of spiders can administer venom through a spider bite).

It is much more likely that a spider will bite you when you are on the spider's turf. If you have a woodpile, for instance, and you grab a log with spiders on the bottom they might feel threatened and attack you to protect themselves. If you have been bitten in this way you should try to get a good look at the spider; if it has a red hourglass-shape on it's abdomen it could be a black widow and you should be treated immediately.

How to get rid of spiders
It should not be normal to have a lot of spiders in your house. If you see spiders frequently you need to look for a possible point of entry. Look at your windows and make sure none are cracked and even look for cracks in the seam of your house.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6802453

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Spiders Are Beautiful



Have you ever watched a spider spinning a web? It is one of the most fascinating sights you can see - it is a wonder, a marvel of nature. My wife had never really though about it until one morning when we woke, I was staring out of the window and she asked what I was staring at - I pointed at the tiny spider painstakingly making a beautiful silk pattern across the corner of our window frame. She laughed at me - I had been watching the creature for around 45 minutes, absolutely in awe and focussed on th beauty that was unfolding before me.

I love spiders, my wife never will! A lot of people never will, but once you can appreciate their place in nature, then I think you can grow to love them. You will find them anywhere and everywhere, they come in all sorts of colours and shapes and sizes, all are poisonous - some just affects their prey, some are poisonous to humans (deadly even). Some species of spiders grow as large as a dinner plate - the Huntsman Spider in Australia is huge. When I lived in Melbourne, they were everywhere....garages, toilet, garden...they are not poisonous, but their bite can be painful. They do make your heart stop though, when you see one!! Despite my love of spiders, I still took a breath when I saw one move. I also saw a redback (related to the black widow) and a white tail (which has a venom which can cause necrosis to the bite area). The latter are hunters and do not spin a web, but seek their prey (which is other spiders) out. I spotted both of these spiders at some point, and being new to the country, I tried to get close to them, absolutely fascinated until the Aussie friend I was staying with explained the specie of each to me. After that I maintained a respectful distance!!!

There are many things that make spiders beautiful - the way they move: they actually fill their legs with blood which straightens them out, the front legs reaching forwards and pulling as they empty and the back legs straightening out and pushing. Amazing. Some of the larger tarantula type spiders come in amazing colour variations - cobalt blue, red knee (gorgeous orange hairs), pink toes (they do have pink hairs around their feet). I saw a tiny lime green spider in our garden the other day, absolutely stunning.

The structure of a spider's web is a truly amazing thing - since watching Charlottes Web as a child, I still look for messages spelled out in them! The spinning of a web actually takes up a lot of energy. There is a lot of protein in the silk used to make webs and it is not uncommon for a spider to eat its own web daily in order to get back the protein expended in spinning it. The threads of silk, though extremely thin, are very strong and sticky. They are spun very tightly, and as the prey gets stuck and struggles in the web, the spider senses the vibrations, and administers a bite to the prey. The bite contains a venom, that dissolves the inside of the prey, once it has taken effect the spider returns and literally sucks it's prey dry. Disused webs are known as cobwebs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4717768

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Most Common House Spiders



With a little under 4000 different species of spiders in the United States alone, spider identification can be quite difficult. You'll hear names like 'house spider' and 'cobweb spider' tossed around frequently and out of context. The truth is, house spiders and cobweb spiders are actual species, not generalizations. This page is geared towards identifying the most common spiders in the United States (in no particular order):

  • Black Widow - Shiny black with a red hourglass on its abdomen. It is only the females who have a dangerous bite. They like to hide in shoes left outside (seriously), under rocks, between bricks, and will not usually get inside. They make very messy webs.
  • Brown Recluse - This a brown spider that has a horrible painful bite. On its back is the signature violin pattern. They do not build webs and will reproduce very fast inside of a home.
  • Daring Jumping Spider - Black, small and furry. It's pretty fast and curious too. May have a white spot on its abdomen.
  • Yellow Sac Spider - Yellow or green bodied spider that can be found running around outside. This spider is responsible for more bites than any other spider in the United States.
  • Wolf Spider - Large brown spider with a tan strip running across its carapace. Does not construct webs and sometimes mothers can be seen carrying live babies on her back.
  • Cellar Spider - Translucent tan color, very long legs and skinny abdomen. They make messy webs in the corners of your home.
  • Nursery Web Spider - Looks just like a wolf spider except the females can be seen carrying eggs with their mouth parts. They are prominent around creeks and bodies of water. Does not usually get inside the house.
  • Garden Spiders - Black and yellow with white in between. This spider is huge and terrifying. They build large webs between shrubbery to catch and eat crickets.
We've skimmed the surface briefly. Spiders belonging to the order Agriope are very common as well, but because there are so many subspecies, it is impossible to provide a unique description. Spiders in the Agriope order build webs around eaves, windows, and below decking. They have a bulbous abdomen and vary in colors of orange, red, black, yellow, etc. The legs are usually striped as well.

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Monday, July 2, 2012

Warning! Spiders Invade Homes During Winter



During the cold winter months everyone needs a place to stay warm, including those nasty eight legged critters called spiders. They also need a place to find food as other critters move inside for winter and you can bet your house is the perfect place!

Though spiders are unpleasant looking and frightening, most are harmless. Even if they do bite the result is usually a minor irritation to the skin. However, some spiders can be extremely aggressive and their venom can be extremely dangerous. Here are two poisonous spiders that you'll want to look out for this:

Dangerous Spiders
Black Widow: the Black Widow is known for the red markings on its underbelly. Their venom is 15 times more deadly than a rattlesnake's, and can cause muscle aches, nausea, and a paralysis of the diaphragm that can make breathing difficult. Contrary to popular belief, these spider bites cause no serious damage to most people. However, bites can be particularly fatal to small children and the elderly. Fun fact: the Black Widow got its name because the female will often kill and eat their mate after courting.

Brown Recluse: if there is any other spider in the world that terrifies me, it's the Brown Recluse. If this statement confuses you, I suggest you research 'Brown Recluse' spider bite pictures online and then you'll know what I'm talking about. These spiders typically hide out in houses and bite when people are peacefully sleeping. Their bites can turn from a painful red bump to a massive annihilation of the skin that can get so severe that bone is exposed in seven to ten days. It's important to note that the majority of brown recluse spider bites do not result in any symptoms, but because these bites can get so severe its worth checking out pictures online to know what this spider looks like and if they dwell in your area.

How to Protect Your Home from Deadly Spiders
In order to adequately protect your family and even your pets don't wait for a large spider invasion or a painful bite to secure your home, especially if you're living in an area where either of these spiders hide out.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5393849

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Facts About the Deadly Banana Spiders



'Banana Spiders' are deadly and highly poisonous. It is useful to keep informed about these harmful insects to keep yourself protected. The species are of two different nature whose scientific names are 'Phoneutria', found in Central and South America, and the other one is 'Nephila Clavipes', found in North America. Among both species, the former one is more deadly and poisonous than the latter. Bananenspinne, Wandering Spider and Kammspinne are the other names by which phoneutria species are also known as.


The South American banana spiders, also known as 'phoneutria', are the most dangerous. They are 1.3 inches long and is quite big and aggressive. Though the dense rain forests are their primary home, they can also be located in the cities. From 1970 to 1980, this spider caused for hospitalization for about 7,000 people in the southeastern parts of Brazil.

This species of banana spider has poison that acts as neurotoxic on the nervous system of human body. These poisons are equivalent to the poisons of the 'Red Back Spiders', also known as 'black widows'. If a phoneutria bites, then immediate medical care is to be provided. This is because anti-venom has yet been discovered to cure the poison. The symptoms of this spider's bite are that of cold sweat, pain, and uneven heartbeat.

The North American 'Nephila Clavipes' banana spiders have poison that is similar to the poison of the 'black widow', but its poison are not so harmful as those of the 'black widow'. These spiders have a stretched-out body, resembling a banana shape and its color is also black and yellow. The body of the female spiders is large with a length of around 1.1 inches or 33 cm, whereas the male counterparts are around half the size of the females.

These North American spiders generally prefer areas that are sunny and are found in tall trees. They tend to build their web across pathways and cover quite a large area with the shape of an orb. They are gold-colored and are quite stronger than other spider's web.

Some of this spider's other names are: the 'golden orb weaver' or the 'writing spider'. Sometimes, it is confusing to distinguish between the yellow and black 'garden spider' and this North American spider. The garden spider is also called a 'writing spider' because its web has a criss-cross pattern This spider may not be very harmful but it is advisable to consult a doctor if you are bitten by it because it can cause some allergic reactions, which can be deadly.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1763000