Spiders in Salt Lake City - Research Paper Example

?Spiders in Salt Lake Spiders are often the creatures in which are depicted in the movies as horror creatures. Arachnophobia is a fear in which people suffer from a fear of spiders. Even though spiders are portrayed in a negative manner, they are extremely helpful in our environment. They help control pests, such as smaller bugs, and go relatively unnoticed. There are many variations of spiders ranging from small to large and harmless to lethal. Spiders are also arthropods and have an exoskeleton structure. Spiders also live in a variety of conditions ranging from dark, moist areas to dry, hot deserts. One of the spiders, which have recently become a primary concern of those living in Salt Lake City is the Hobo spider. The scientific classification for the Hobo spider is Tegenaria agrestis. It is in the family Aglenidae. It is not originally native to North America, but was brought over when Western Europeans began to colonize North America. The species was originally discovered in Europe by C.A. Walkenaer in 1802 and then was rediscovered in the United States in 1936 by Harriet Exline. The appearance of the Hobo Spider varies greatly, however there are a few core characteristics, which make it easier to identify. The abdomen has v-shaped patterns on its abdomen which aim down toward the head of the spider. They also have a light stripe, which runs down the middle of the sternum. Considering the size of typical spiders, the Hobo Spider is of a larger variation, usually ranging from twelve to eighteen millimeters in body length. Compared to other spiders, they have very poor eyesight and lack the normal climbing ability that many other spiders share. There are also sexual differences, which allow for further identification. The male Hobo Spider has two pedipalps in front of its two front legs, which is homologous to the male gentials in humans. The female Hobo Spiders have a much larger abdomen than the male Hobo Spider and lack the pedipalps (Ethan 4-12). The life cycle of the Hobo Spider is still lacking understanding even though there have been laboratory attempts to study this phenomenon. First, the eggs are laid in one to four egg cases. They are usually attached to some rock or other structure by the webs made by the parents. Each egg case is usually consisting of approximately one hundred eggs. After the new spiders hatch, they spend a majority of the first part of their life underground feeding and growing. After they have reached maturity, they begin searching for a mate. The females remain stationary and build their webs. The males come to the females. After mating, the males die first and then are followed by the females. The cycle then repeats itself over again. In the predator-prey relationship, the Hobo Spider does not fall at the top of the food chain. The Hobo Spider has three natural enemies that control the population: the preying mantis, wasps, and other spiders. Hobo Spiders especially have the disadvantage compared to other types of spiders. The first is that they lack the climbing ability and ability to escape from other spiders’ webs, which leaves them extremely vulnerable. The Hobo Spider tends to feed on smaller insects that it can catch, due to the type of web that it spins. It is known as a funnel web spinner. They are typically long in shape and have an empty hole in the middle in which the spider sits waiting for prey. Compared to other types of webs, they are not as thick (Vest). The venom of the Hobo Spider is potent. One important fact regarding bites made by the Hobo Spider is that those made in defense typically do not carry venom, compared to if it was the result of the spider hunting. This is because venom requires energy for the spider to make, so the spider tries to conserve this. The severity of the bite is often dependent on where the bite is located and how old the spider is. Another sexual difference between these spiders is that the male’s venom is more potent than that of the female. The venom is similar to the brown recluse in that it is a necrotic arachnidism. This means that once the venom is injected into a person, it begins breaking down the cellular components of the tissue. Typically, the area will become inflamed and obtain a reddish coloration. As time progresses, it will typically scab over. In some cases, it will form a lesion, which if left untreated will continue to eat away at the skin. Another important fact to remember about the venom bite is that as the venom enters the bloodstream, the venom will circle around the rest of the body, which can lead to other physiological symptoms. In particular, this leads to complications in the cardiovascular system as the poison can cause the blood to become deoxygenated (Goldfrank, and Flomenbaum 1610-11). The importance of spiders is under-estimated in society. Many people kill spiders, such as the Hobo Spider, right on sight without giving any thought as to the implications of eradicating the Hobo Spider population through the use of pesticides and other traps. Spiders control many pests, which can carry harmful diseases. They help keep the natural ecosystems in check by also controlling pests, which destroy crops and cause damage to other structures. In terms of living in the Salt Lake City area, it is important to acknowledge that because humans have moved into the natural dominion of other organisms, contact in between both is to be expected. Especially because spiders are so small, many times their presence will go unnoticed. The only times that spiders are brought into the media are when there are “attacks” on humans, which most of the time is due purely to the spider defending themselves. There is also great scientific value in studying the venom of the Hobo Spider due to its necrotic properties. Spiders such as the Brown Recluse and Black Widow Spider are much more potent and lethal than the Hobo Spider, however by collecting specimens and studying the venom, scientists learn more about how it works and how to synthesize anti-venom to combat bites. By understanding the life cycles of the Hobo Spider as well as the types of environments they live in, greater precautions can be taken to make sure no hostile encounters occur for either party. Works Cited Ethan, Eric. Hobo Spiders. Milwaukee, WI : Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2004. 4-12. Print. Goldfrank, Lewis, and Neal Flomenbaum. Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies. 8th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2002. 1610-11. Print. Vest, Darwin. "Competitors and Predators." Hobo Spiders. Eagle Rock Research, 1999. Web. 25 Mar 2011. . Read More