Spider Brains: A Love Story (Book One)

by Wingate, Susan

  Mom didn’t need to hear that. Lest she go into back-flips with worry. We needn’t freak out mom, need we?

  No.

  So.

  I would get my homework done and slip into my lovely dreamy state of uber-consciousness (uber, uber, uber... I love to say uber) and go visit Ms. Morlson.

  It became quite the habit.

  Now, here’s where things get a little weird so hold onto your ponytails!

  Ms. Morlson called in sick that first night I went on the prowl.

  She said she’d gotten bitten by something and needed to go to the doctor because she felt ill, like all nauseous and headachy and stuff. Plus, she said her leg had swelled up around the bite. Like. God. It could get any bigger. Lord.

  Plus, I wasn't expecting the taste. Something like overly salty eggs sprinkled with parched garlic powder.

  The bite went deep when my fangs penetrated the layers of her skin. It felt like a release of sorts. Like, I needed to do it as part of my make-up. Like, it was the nature of things.

  Plus, in her druggy state from the booze, it was easy to sidle under her sheets, over her thick ankle and attack.

  She never felt a thing. It was sort of funny too. It was almost too easy.

  No worries! She'd survive it. My venom isn't that horrific necrotic-tissue-destroying type.

  “Hello people.” She always called us people. “Sorry for missing class yesterday. It seems we have a pest problem at our apartment building. I got bit by something that required medical attention. So, guess what we’ll be studying today?” We all did this look-between each other like we didn’t really care and she went on, “That’s right, insect bites. Specifically, spider bites. We’re going to do a little research.”

  Just then, she whips out copies of these enlarged color photos of her ankle showing the area where she got bit and, I mean, the size of the welt looked enormous. But, what was really gross about the photos is that they were so close up you could see the shaven nubs of her hair follicles, like little tiny black dots all over her moon white legs.

  Ew.

  She went on as she passed out the photos to each of us, “We’re going to determine which kind of insect has a bite that looks like this.” All I could think was probably a soon-to-be-dead-spider!

  I kind of thought the bite looked cool and giggled but Jamie and Ricki just made a yick noise when they got their photo copies.

  “Sick!” Billy Walton screamed and made a gagging noise when he stuck his finger deep into his mouth like he was about to puke or something. Everybody laughed. “A brave spider, indeed.” He continued in his most swashbuckling kind of voice.

  “Mr. Walton!” Morlson screamed. “This is a real assignment and accounts for twenty percent of your grade.” She started scribbling on the whiteboard but talked as she scribbled, like we couldn’t read. Jeez. She wrote so angrily, in fact, and fast that the flab on her upper arm waved at the class sitting behind her. No one uttered a word. It was that hypnotic.

  I looked over at Jamie who was looking over at Ricki who was looking over at Billy all googly-eyed. Then, Ricki looked at Jamie, who looked over at me. I shook my head and Jamie rolled her eyes and Ricki blushed. Things seemed to be changing, and fast.

  Crowing out the words, Morlson broke my concentration. “Due one week from today another 2000-,” ANOTHER ONE! “word essay based on research. Title your page: What kind of bite is it? Name and date.” She slammed the blue marker so hard onto the metal whiteboard shelf that the cap on its end popped off and bounced across the indoor-outdoor-commercial-grade composite tile floor like an ellipsis off the end of a straggling sentence.

  She turned around slowly. Her face had pinched into what Ricki and Jamie and I call a sphincter-face. And, when she talked, it felt as if she were peering directly at me and into my soul when she said the last words just seconds before the end-of-class-bell hummed.

  “The doctors couldn’t figure out what might’ve bitten me, so, I doubt if you will either.” She sneered.

  It felt like the biggest challenge of my life.

  That night, after I snapped off a few close-up photos of my teeth, I went to sleep.

  Then, I showed her.

  Chomp! Chomp!

  NINE - My Brain on Spiders

  So, like. I never thought I would get such a dismal grade. I mean. I did, unerringly, what Morlson instructed. I researched spider bites and put it into a report. Just like she asked.

  WHAT KIND OF BITE IS IT?

  by Susie Speider

  November 1, 2010

  A spider bite happens when a spider, or other closely related arachnids, bites you.

  Spiders are very active hunters. Which makes them very scary to me. They rely strongly on biting to paralyze and kill their prey before consuming them. Yikes. Since spiders are aware of the effect caused by their bites, they also bite to fend off intruders who might be risking damage to their homes, like, their cobwebs.

  While many spiders never attack animals larger than themselves (preferring to run away or feign death), some will exhibit rather aggressive behavior and do so even if no real danger exists.

  Eek! A creepy trait, if ever.

  Only a minority of spider species possess chelicera--FANGS!-- strong enough to penetrate human skin, however due to their strong survival instincts, the ones with the strong fangs are the ones most frequently encountered by humans. Coincidence? I think not. And. Double EEK!

  However. About 98% of bites inflicted by these strong-toothed creatures are harmless, but some symptoms can include necrotic wounds (dead tissue... pee-U), systemic toxicity (swelling and itchiness) and, in some cases, death. And, you know what that means--Bye Bye Birdie!

  Which makes me wonder why they include this deadly population of spiders in this section of the 98% harmless ones. Doi.

  There exist two hundred species in twenty genera (out of, like, over 40,000 known spider species) that are known to have serious, potentially lethal bites.

  For most bites, the major concern is venom. But, I'm thinking that the biting part really totally sucks (get it?). And, in some cases these seemingly non-significant spiders can even transmit infectious diseases. Kee-Rikey!

  There are only three genera of spiders known to be non-venomous, because they do not possess venom glands or any proper way to deliver venom if they have venom glands. These "harmless-to-human" spiders include the families Uloboridae, Holarchaeidae and Liphistiidae. (None of which I can pronounce no matter how I've tried. I think it's my braces.)

  These spiders, however, do possess fangs and can deliver sharp, unpleasant bites. In addition, the fangs of Liphistiidae can often inflict infections spread through the skin, mostly due to their large size, which in theory could represent more of a danger than the bite of a non-lethal venomous spider. Shiver & shake!

  Spider bites may be misdiagnosed by both the general public, like me, and medical practitioners. So it's probably wise to find a spider expert to diagnose your bite if you find your leg beginning to fall off.

  The primary concern of the bite of a spider is the effect of its venom. I think we established this earlier however it is reiterated here so that we can get back onto the venom track. A spider envenomation occurs whenever a spider injects venom into the skin. Not all spider bites involve envenomation. Plus, the amount of venom injected can vary widely based on the type of spider and the circumstances of the spider encounter. With very few exceptions (such as the so-called camel spider which, btw, is not a true spider nor is it a true camel), the mechanical injury from a spider bite is not a serious concern for humans.

  Some spider bites DO leave a large enough wound that infection may be a concern, and other species are known to consume their prey which is already dead and you know how big a spider would have to be to consume and entire human being, even a baby? That's one big spider. I mean.

  However, it is generally the toxicity of spider venom which possesses the most risk to human beings and, this is the real gruesome part of my essay
--several spiders are known to have venom which can be fatal to humans in the amounts that a spider will typically inject when biting. Holy.

  Still, all spiders are capable of producing venom, with the exception of the hackled orb-weavers which we find mostly in the fall. Their scientific name is the Holarchaeidae, and the primitive Mesothelae. These spiders get big and round, hence earning their name "Orb Spiders." Other arachnids often confused with spiders, such as the harvestman and sun spiders, also do not produce venom. And, that's good to know. They get their names, Harvester & Sun Spider we assume because they harvest by night and bask in the sun by day.

  Nonetheless, only a small percentage of species have bites which pose a danger to people. And, while 'venoms' are by definition toxic substances, most spiders do not have venom which is sufficiently toxic in the quantities delivered, to require medical attention, and, for those that do, only a few are known to produce fatalities. Dum da da da DUM!

  Spider venoms work on one of two fundamental principles--they are either neurotoxic meaning they attack the nervous system; or, they are necrotic meaning they attack the tissue surrounding the bite. In some cases, spider bites can effectively attack vital organs and systems. Causing a deadly effect if you don't get to the hospital right away.

  Definition/Example: Neurotoxic venom--the majority of spiders with serious bites possess a neurotoxic venom of some sort, though the specific manner in which the nervous system is attacked varies from spider to spider.

  The ever lonely Widow spider venom contains components known as latrotoxins, which cause the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, stimulating muscle contractions. This can affect the body in several ways, including causing painful abdominal cramps, as well as interfering with respiration, and causing other systemic effects. We must remember to stay away from widow spiders... at all costs.

  The venom of Australasian funnel-web spiders and the really cute mouse spiders work by opening up sodium channels, causing excessive neural activity which interferes with normal bodily function. Think seizure here.

  The venom of Brazilian wandering spiders (a nomadic group, if ever), is also a potent neurotoxin, which attacks multiple types of ion channels. Additionally, the venom contains high levels of serotonin, making an envenomation by this species particularly painful. And, I would think causing you to stay far too awake so you might want to avoid a bite from these hideous creatures close to bed time.

  Definition/Example: Necrotic venom--Spiders known to have necrotic venom are found in the family Sicariidae, a family which includes both the recluse spiders and the six-eyed sand spiders. Spiders in this family possess a known dermonecrotic agent sphingomyelinase D. I will never be able to pronounce any of that anytime soon. This agent, is found only in a few pathogenic bacteria. Some species in this family are more venomous than others. According to one study, the venom of the chilean recluse and several species of six-eyed sand spider indigenous to southern Africa (phew!), contains an order of magnitude more of this substance than do other Sicariidae spiders such as the brown recluse. So, if you get bit, start digging a hole big enough for a coffee can 'cause that's all that'll be left of you in no time, flat.

  Bites by spiders in this family can produce symptoms ranging from minor localized effects, to severe dermonecrotic lesions, up to and including severe systemic reactions including renal (that means kidney) failure, and in some cases, death, which in my estimation can never be really good.

  Even in the absence of systemic effects, serious bites from Sicariidae spiders may form a necrotising ulcer (open weeping puss-producing sore. Gag.) that destroys soft tissue and may take months and very rarely years to heal, leaving deep scars. The damaged tissue may become gangrenous (this just keeps getting worse, doesn't it?) and eventually slough (like leprosy) away. OMG.

  Initially there may be no pain from a bite, but over time the wound may grow to as large as 10 inches big! And, can you imagine walking around with a sore that big on your face or hand or calf! People would barf if they saw that.

  Bites usually become painful and itchy within 2 to 8 hours, pain and other local effects worsen 12 to 36 hours after the bite with the necrosis developing over the next few days. And, no, a little neosporin isn't going to help so get your cadaver to the ER lest the side of your head falls off.

  Serious systemic effects may occur before this time, as the venom spreads throughout the body in minutes. Mild symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, rashes, and muscle and joint pain. Rarely more severe symptoms occur including hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Which I don't know what any of those mean but it sounds like they're not good things. Debilitated patients, the elderly, and children may be more susceptible to systemic loxoscelism. Deaths have been reported for both the brown recluse and the related South American species L. laeta and L. intermedia. Those six-eyed sand spiders. Heeby jeeby time, if ever.

  Numerous other spiders have been associated with necrotic bites in the medical literature. Examples include the Hobo spider and the Yellow Sac spider. However, the bites from these spiders are not known to produce the severe symptoms that often follow from a recluse spider bite, and the level of danger posed by each has been called into question. So, if you're up for a test? Find one and let it bite you then report it to the wise and oh-so knowledgeable AMA. I'm sure they would like to know. You can assist them in their research.

  So far, no known necrotoxins have been isolated from the venom of any of these spiders, and some arachnologists (a suspicious lot, known for siding with spiders--think defense attorney) have disputed the accuracy of many spider identifications carried out by bite victims, family members, medical responders, and other non-experts in arachnology.

  There have been several studies questioning danger posed by some of these spiders. In these studies, scientists examined case studies of bites in which the spider in question was positively identified by an expert, and found that the incidence of necrotic injury diminished significantly when "questionable" identifications were excluded from the sample set. Which makes me question the word "questionable"--a Scooby moment, if ever.

  It is often asked (by whom, one might wonder) which type of spider is the most "dangerous" in the world. I'm thinking, they should develop some sort of World Wide Wrestling match for spiders. There isn't a simple answer to this question, as there are many things which must be taken into account when considering the amount of danger posed by spider bites:

  Firstly, it is often the case that a spider bite is "dry" – the skin may be pierced, but little or no venom is injected into the victim. In such an instance, little or none of the spider's dangerous potential for harm is manifested. It's like when your nose gets stuffy and you have to breathe through your mouth and your tongues gets all dry. Asky yourself, "If I bit someone right now, would it leave saliva or not? NOT! Which leads me to believe, now, that spiders get stuffy noses too.

  Secondly, there have been reports of spider bites (by spiders considered otherwise harmless)--it's amazing these spiders write these reports themselves, isn't it? Thus, causing allergic reactions in some individuals, up to and including anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening condition (much the same as a sting from an ant, bee, or wasp may produce a harmful effect apart from the toxic quality of its venom).

  Thirdly, many spiders listed as dangerous are seldom encountered (Phew!), or have dispositions (a more laid back chamomile-drinking group) that make them unlikely to bite despite the high toxicity of their venom.

  Finally, little is known about the toxicity of many spiders, due to their infrequent encounters with humans; the list of venomous spiders is limited to those that are linked to medical events in humans or who otherwise have been extensively studied.

  It should also be noted that, for healthy adults, a bite by even the most toxic spiders on the list may require hours before death ensues--in order for you to have the time to count your blessings; if timely appropriate emergency medical treatment is adminis
tered, victims may be expected to recover. The scenario given in movies such as Arachnophobia, where bite victims die within minutes, does not occur. One exception to this picture occurs because in the case of very small children the amount of venom dispersed throughout the body is many times the concentration in an adult. There is at least one recorded case of a small child dying within 15 minutes of a bite from a Sydney funnel-web spider; that event occurred before the development of an antivenom. Since the antivenom was developed there have been no fatalities due to this species.

  The spider-bites documented as the most dangerous to humans are those of the Sydney funnel-web spider and the Brazilian wandering spider (but he's usually off galavanting somewhere else). These spiders are potentially more dangerous than widow spiders because they have longer fangs and can inject greater quantities of venom to greater depths. Egad. Phoneutria nigriventer (huh?) has approximately 2 mg of venom, but frequently gives dry bites or at least does not deliver all of its available venom. Atrax robustus (I can pronounce this one) has approximately 1.7 mg of venom. Bites of Six-eyed sand spiders have been described as dangerous to humans, but there is a lack of proof for this, though Sicarius venom has been shown to be fatal to rabbits. Poor little lab bunnies. :(