Abstract Invertebrates that successfully colonize new habitats often share life history characteristics including high fertility, rapid development, and early maturation. Since its introduction into Florida, USA, the non-native Brown Widow, Latrodectus geometricus (Kock 1841, Araneae: Theridiidae), has rapidly expanded range urban areas as far north Kansas west California. During expansion, Wid...

These two cases illustrate many classical features of latrodectism. A subclinical bite followed by extensive systemic signs and symptoms in a recognizable pattern is strongly suggestive of the diagnosis. Pain and muscle spasms are refractory to standard therapy but are relieved by intravenous calcium. Finally, there should be complete resolution of the symptoms after only one vial of antivenin ...

Venoms are chemically complex secretions typically comprising numerous proteins and peptides with varied physiological activities. Functional characterization of venom proteins has important biomedical applications, including the identification of drug leads or probes for cellular receptors. Spiders are the most species rich clade of venomous organisms, but the venoms of only a few species are ...

The spider Latrodectus hesperus Chamberlin & Ivie (Araneae: Theridiidae) was subjected to low and ultralow oxygen (ULO) treatments at different temperatures. Complete control of the spiders was achieved in 24-h ULO treatments with 0.5% O2 or lower at 1 degrees C and in a 24-h low oxygen (2%) treatment at 15 degrees C. Oxygen level and temperature greatly affected spider mortality. At 1 degrees ...

We consider the evolution of black widow pulsars (BWPs). The large majority of these are members of globular clusters. For minimum companion masses < 0.1M ̄, adiabatic evolution and consequent mass loss under gravitational radiation appear to provide a coherent explanation of all observable properties. We suggest that the group of BWPs with minimum companion masses ∼> 0.1M ̄ are systems relaxing ...

Widow spiders have received much attention due to the frequently reported human and animal injures caused by them. Elucidation of the molecular composition and action mechanism of the venoms and toxins has vast implications in the treatment of latrodectism and in the neurobiology and pharmaceutical research. In recent years, the studies of the widow spider venoms and the venom toxins, particula...

Seven high molecular weight neurotoxins which stimulate secretion of various neurotransmitters were isolated from the venom of black widow spider Latrodectus mactans tredecimauttatus. Among them a-latrotoxin is very specific for vertebrate while latroinsectotoxins are active only for insects, a-latrocrustatoxin affects crustacean nerve endings. Latrotoxin preparation consists of 130 and 8 kD pr...