Button Spider

Southern Africa is home to hundreds of spider species. The medically important spiders of southern Africa are divided into neurotoxic spiders and cytotoxic spiders. Both black and brown button spiders belong to the group neurotoxic spiders, whose bite is usually accompanied by severe pain. They affect the central nervous system of a human being. Thirty one species of button spiders belonging to the genus Latrodectus of the family Theridiidae, are known, who produce neurotoxic venom. Button spider is also known as widow spider. Brown and black widow spider facts are described below.

Button Spider Facts

The black widow spiders are the most well-known members of the genus Latrodectus. While the males almost never bite humans, the female black widow's venom is particularly harmful to humans. The name 'black widow' reveals the fact that sometimes, after mating, the female black widow spider eats up her male partner. But the common name widow spider is applied to all the members of the genus. In some species, the males are not usually eaten after mating and they can go on mating with other females.

Spiders of the genus Steatoda (belonging to the Theridiidae family) are often misidentified as widow spiders, and so are known as false widow spiders or false button spiders. They are significantly less harmful to humans.

Along with black widows, gray, brown and red widow spiders are found in the United States. In fact, widow spiders are found on every continent of the world except for Antarctica. All six Latrodectus species found in southern Africa are not only venomous to man but their bite constitutes a medical emergency. So, identifying spiders is very important. Instead of red hourglass figure on the underside of its abdomen, many button spiders have red patterns on a glossy black or dark background, which naturally serve as a warning.

Normally, a healthy adult body is capable of diluting the venom to less than a fatal concentration but envenomation by the spider can be fatal to children and ill or weak adults. Button spider is one of the most poisonous spiders in the world.

What do Button Spiders Eat

Like the spiders of the Theridiidae family, button spider also constructs a cobweb which consists of an irregular tangle of sticky, silken, gleaming fibers. The spider can be frequently seen hanging upside down near the center of its web and waiting for insects to get stuck. It's quite thrilling watching this spider rushing over the insect to bite it and swathe it in a silken shroud before the insect can untangle itself. The spider jabs the prey with its fangs to inject its venom. As the prey stops moving, the spider with the help of its cheliceral teeth crushes it, instills it with digestive enzymes, and carries the prey to its hiding place before feeding on it. It sucks up the prey and surprisingly, the whole process of digestion happens outside its body. If the spider finds itself in a dangerous situation, it will normally rush towards the ground on a safety line of silk, as fast as it can.

Like other web-weavers, button spiders have very poor eyesight. They have the power to recognize the vibrations reaching them through their webs and with the help of those vibrations, they orient themselves to prey. Vibrations perfectly guide them and warn them of larger animals that could injure or kill them.

Actually, button spider is not aggressive by nature. If you unknowingly insert your finger into the web, the spider might consider your finger as its normal prey and can bite. Most injuries to humans are nothing but defensive bites delivered by spiders when they get accidentally squeezed or pinched somehow. A female protecting an egg sac, if disturbed, can bite you. It is also observed that invasion by any large creature will cause these spiders to flee.

One of the most amazing facts about spiders is that if weight is taken into account, Latrodectus spider silk is much stronger than any kind of steel, though the density of spider silk (1.3 g/cm³) is much less than steel (7.8 g/cm³)!

Button Spider Bite: Symptoms and Treatment

The bite of a button spider feels like a pinprick. Nausea, muscle ache and paralysis of the diaphragm resulting in shortness of breath are some of the main spider bite symptoms. As mentioned above, though rare, bites can be fatal, especially to small children or elderly people.

Maintaining cleanliness, a web free environment in and around your house is necessary to prevent these spiders from making your house their home. If an individual experiences pain in the entire body after the bite, you should seek proper treatment from a health-care provider immediately. The treatment usually involves using narcotics and antivenins.

Button spider is really a fascinating creature but its bites are deadly and can easily become infected. So, you need to take utmost care while handling this spider. The anti-venom is produced by the South African Vaccine Producers Institute in Edenvale or can also be obtained from the South African Institute for Medical Research in Johannesburg.