“Highly toxic” spiders are invading American states

-
Reports indicate that deadly black widow spiders will invade Texas, Arizona and other southwestern American states, amid warnings of their deadly venom.

Experts said that females of this type of spider can release a powerful neurotoxin, 15 times stronger than the bite of a rattlesnake, and use it to defend and paralyze prey.

The poison, known as "latrotoxin", can cause severe pain, muscle spasms, heart problems and abdominal cramps, and can paralyze the diaphragm, leading to great difficulty breathing. It also often poses a threat to children, the elderly and the infirm.

Entomologists at Texas A&M University advised local residents to "take necessary precautions when handling stored goods or working in areas where these spiders may hide."

“I have personally encountered black widow spiders in outdoor trash cans and under patio furniture,” said pest management specialist Bryant McDowell.

In general, these spiders prefer to hide in sheltered places, including under stones, wood piles, holes dug by other animals, and hollow tree trunks.

The scientific consensus remains that this species is not aggressive towards humans unless threatened.