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by JESSICA
BURALI-FORTI
I decided to do a little investigating on the internet and present some information on the insects we are warned about here in Cuernavaca. I don't know if you felt the same, but when I first got to town, I heard about all the horrible, poisonous insects that were just waiting to sink their jaws, claws, stingers, and pincers into my family and me. The maid, the gardener, friends, acquaintances, and even the guy at the Red Cross all had wildly different, and in most cases wildly inaccurate, versions of what all these insects could do to you. They assumed mythic proportions in my mind and I was sure that legions of scorpions were just passing the word that juicy babies awaited them at my house. Of course, I stepped on a scorpion within 3 months of moving here, and survived with nothing worse than a numb foot for a week, but I still was terrified that my children would be stung before they learned to talk properly and could tell me what had happened to them. As Smadar’s letter proves, children, because of their lower body weight, often suffer the worst reactions to venomous insect stings. Also, adults who tend to be allergic to bee stings have higher probabilities of having dangerous reactions to scorpion stings. In any case, here are pictures and descriptions of the insects that I heard were dangerous when I arrived, and the truth about them. First of all, according to one internet source, scorpions, black widow spiders, and centipedes are mostly our friends. (I personally disagree on this point, but…..)When the hot summer begins and the numerous insects become active, these predators supposedly help us. Scorpions, Black widows, and Centipedes are very effective predators, if they do n’t get in our way while pursuing their prey. This source also says we should be aware that when we deposit toxic pesticides to control spiders and scorpions, we are simply increasing the dangers of high level of poisons in our homes. The spiders will prosper while we suffer the toxic effects of the pesticides. (I must admit, I agree on this one, I absolutely hate to fumigate my house.) I leave these points to your judgment. I’ll skip a discussion of scorpions because I believe all of us have seen one by now and Smadar covered the pertinent points in her letter. I did find out that they also live in many parts of the USA, especially Florida, Texas, Arizona and California, and are by no means an exclusively Mexican creature.
The defense mechanism, and the reason for its name, is this same tail... when threatened, it "whips" its tail in the direction of the annoyance, spraying a mist of acetic acid. Acetic acid smells like vinegar to most people, but, this acid is 20 times stronger than vinegar and it can burn the whip scorpions' enemies. Hence, the name, Vinagrillo, or Vinegaroon in English. To a small predator (like a shrew or bird) this mist burns the eyes and nose... a bit more painful than the average skunk, but the same idea. To its prey, if it's an insect or arachnid, it's a bit more of a weapon, as the acetic acid supposedly damages the creature's shell. The only reason we have to fear this creature is if the acidic spray were to hit us in the eyes. I was unable to find anything about treatments for this, but suffice it to say, if you ever see one, do not get your face too c lose to it. If you are a really a kind hearted soul, you can put it in a jar and set it free far from your house.
TARANTULAS - These are the gentle giants of the spider world. They usually mind their own business and only want to be left alone. When adequately provoked, they will bite and their formidable fangs can produce painful puncture wounds. There is another route of envenomation by the tarantula - urticating hairs located on the abdomen serve as a deterrent to predators. These are hairs that cause itching and burning. Bites are unlikely to cause problems other than pain at the site. Skin exposure to the urticating hairs will cause itching and a rash. Clean the bite site with soap and water and protect against infection. Skin exposures to the urticating hairs are managed by removing the hairs with tape.
STINGING FUZZY CATERPILLARS - Only a few people realize, usually from first hand experience, that handling some fuzzy caterpillars can produce some painful results. Caterpillar stages of moths often have spines and barbed hooks. Generally, these are for show and are quite harmless. But there are a few stinging caterpillars of various shapes, sizes and colors. Stinging caterpillars possess hollow quill-like hairs, connected to poison sacs, that are used as defensive weapons. When these hairs are touched they break through the skin releasing the poison. Reactions can range from a mild itching to the more severe pain, dermatitis, and even intestinal disturbances. Most encounters with stinging caterpillars result from accidently brushing against them on furniture or plants. If you find one on yourself, don't brush it off or slap it with a bare hand. Use a stick or other object to remove it carefully. Hollow spines may break off in clothing or gloves. No really effective home first aid treatments for caterpillar stings are available. Adhesive tape or transparent tape may be used to pull out some of the broken spines in the sting area. Washing the area thoroughly with soap and water may help remove some of the irritating venom. Prompt application of an ice pack or baking soda may help to reduce pain and prevent swelling. Antihistaminic drugs, often administered for bee and wasp stings, are reportedly ineffective. See a physician if severe reactions occur. Very young, aged or persons in poor health are more likely to suffer severe reaction symptoms.
The target lesion will enlarge over the next few days and produce extensive tissue death. There is no antivenom. The lesion will have to be soaked in antiseptic and possibly antibiotics. Surgery may be necessary to cut out the dead tissue.
The black widow is a spider with a shiny black body, thin legs and an hourglass shaped red/white mark on its abdomen. The female is much larger than the male. Males generally do not bite. Females bite only when hungry, agitated or protecting the egg sac. The black widow is not aggressive. They are usually found in dry, secluded, dimly lit areas. More than 80 percent of all bite victims are adult men. Probably because they get the job of cleaning such spaces (garages, attics.) Black widow spider bites are the leading cause of death from spider bites in the United States and Mexico. The venom is 14 times more toxic than rattlesnake venom. It is a neurotoxin that causes little local reaction but does cause pain and spasms in the larger muscle groups of the body within 30 minutes to three hours. Severe bites can cause respiratory failure, coma and death. Those at the highest risk are children under age 16, the elderly, people with chronic illness and people with high blood pressure. Signs and symptoms of a black widow spider bite:
The symptoms usually last 24-48 hours. The suggested treatment is to apply a cold compress but do not apply ice. Transport to the hospital as quickly as possible. An antivenom is available, but it must be administered as soon as possible after the bite occurs. As I discovered from my investigation, most of the so-called “awful, poisonous” bugs are not as awful as I have been led to believe all these years. Black Widow spiders definitely present the worst danger. In any case, I hope this little guide is helpful in identifying and dealing with these creatures who share the nooks and crannies of our homes. Click here for more info on Scorpions
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VINAGRILLO - One creature I was told to be careful of is known as the Vinagrillo
or "Whip Scorpion". It is not really a scorpion, but looks
almost like a small black lobster. It is quite horrifying in appearance,
and can be up to 5 or 6 inches long. It has sharp looking c laws, a
bulbous body, and a tail that looks like a hairy toothpick. Whip scorpions
use this sensitive tail like a feeler to keep track of their surroundings.
CENTIPEDES - Centipedes all have poison jaws for paralyzing prey. The smaller
centipedes are harmless to humans, but a painful bite can be inflicted by
larger ones. Centipedes have an elongated, segmented body with each
segment bearing a pair of legs. The name inaccurately implies one hundred
legs when, in fact, the number of legs varies between 20 and more than
100. They range in length from 1 to 9 inches. A centipede bite will cause
local inflammation and a painful response. Symptoms are frequently
short-lived, lasting only a few hours. Although cases of persistent
tenderness lasting for several weeks can be found, they are extremely
rare. Many centipede bites can be treated at home. The patient is advised
to encourage bleeding from the puncture site, clean the site well with
soap and water and apply a cool compress. To relieve local pain, a
solution of ammonia diluted in water, if applied early, has been reported
to help. If the pain is severe, or lasts longer than 12 hours, you may
wish to call your doctor.
JERUSALEM CRICKET OR “CARA DE NIÑO” - So called because the markings on their
heads supposedly look like a baby’s face, these large, flightless
crickets are found in Mexico, California, and possibly other places in the
U.S. as well. I have been assured by my gardener that these are really “malos”,
but, contrary to popular misconception, they are harmless and not
venomous. They are, however, large enough and strong enough to inflict a
painful bite, or jab with their leg spines, if handled carelessly. So far
as is known, they feed on vegetable material, and are primarily nocturnal,
hiding during the day. Most species seem to thrive only in areas of sandy
soil. They live underground and eat roots. They are not pests. They can
bite with their powerful jaws. They have no stinger. They are not
poisonous. They live for about two years. If you find one, just leave it
alone, or if you are worried that small children may try to pick it up,
move it to a safe place.
BROWN SPIDERS - There are several types of brown spiders or
brown recluse spiders. They are found in most parts of the US and Mexico.
They often are called violin spiders because of the characteristic
"violin-shaped" marking on the upper back. They are generally
brown but can range in color from yellow to dark brown. They are timid,
with webs in dry undisturbed areas. The bite of the brown spider is a
serious medical condition. The bite is non healing and causes tissue death.
Sometimes surgery is necessary. The bite causes only a mild stinging
sensation if any at all. Victims often are unaware they have been bitten.
Several hours after the bite, the following signs and symptoms begin to
result:
BLACK WIDOW SPIDER - This is the one to be REALLY afraid of
and kill whenever you find it. As you can see below, they are truly
dangerous to children and adults alike.