Most spiders will only bite humans in self-defense, and few produce worse effects than a mosquito bite or bee-sting.[78] Most of those with medically serious bites, such as recluse spiders and widow spiders, are shy and bite only when they feel threatened, although this can easily arise by accident.[79][80] Funnel web spiders' defensive tactics are aggressive and their venom, although they rarely inject much, has resulted in 13 known human deaths.[81] On the other hand, the Brazilian wandering spider requires very little provocation.[82]
There were about 100 reliably reported deaths from spider bites in the 20th century,[83] but about 1,500 from jellyfish stings.[84] Many alleged cases of spider bites may represent incorrect diagnoses,[85] which would make it more difficult to check the effectiveness of treatments for genuine bites
Cooked tarantula spiders are considered a delicacy in Cambodia,[87] and by the Piaroa Indians of southern Venezuela – provided the highly irritant hairs, the spiders' main defense system, are removed first.[88]
Spider venoms may be a less polluting alternative to conventional pesticides as they are deadly to insects but the great majority are harmless to vertebrates. Australian funnel web spiders are a promising source as most of the world's insect pests have had no opportunity to develop any immunity to their venom, and funnel web spiders thrive in captivity and are easy to "milk". It may be possible to target specific pests by engineering genes for the production of spider toxins into viruses that infect species such as cotton bollworms.[89]
Possible medical uses for spider venoms are being investigated, for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia,[90] Alzheimer's disease,[91] strokes,[92] and erectile dysfunction.[93]
Because spider silk is both light and very strong, attempts are being made to produce it in goats' milk and in the leaves of plants, by means of genetic engineering.
There were about 100 reliably reported deaths from spider bites in the 20th century,[83] but about 1,500 from jellyfish stings.[84] Many alleged cases of spider bites may represent incorrect diagnoses,[85] which would make it more difficult to check the effectiveness of treatments for genuine bites
Cooked tarantula spiders are considered a delicacy in Cambodia,[87] and by the Piaroa Indians of southern Venezuela – provided the highly irritant hairs, the spiders' main defense system, are removed first.[88]
Spider venoms may be a less polluting alternative to conventional pesticides as they are deadly to insects but the great majority are harmless to vertebrates. Australian funnel web spiders are a promising source as most of the world's insect pests have had no opportunity to develop any immunity to their venom, and funnel web spiders thrive in captivity and are easy to "milk". It may be possible to target specific pests by engineering genes for the production of spider toxins into viruses that infect species such as cotton bollworms.[89]
Possible medical uses for spider venoms are being investigated, for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia,[90] Alzheimer's disease,[91] strokes,[92] and erectile dysfunction.[93]
Because spider silk is both light and very strong, attempts are being made to produce it in goats' milk and in the leaves of plants, by means of genetic engineering.
