PropertyValue
?:author
?:datePublished
  • 2021-11-09 (xsd:date)
?:headline
  • Is This 'Beach Spider' Dangerous to Humans? (en)
?:inLanguage
?:itemReviewed
?:mentions
?:reviewBody
  • In November 2021, a message was circulated on social media warning people about a dangerous beach spider whose poisonous bite could kill a human in five minutes. While the photographs attached to this social media are genuine, this spider doesn't generally live on the beach, and its bite is not particularly dangerous to humans: These photographs show a species of a trapdoor spider, a spider with an unusual abdomen that cuts off abruptly in a hardened disc shape that the creature uses to block burrows. These spiders aren't particularly venomous (this meme incorrectly uses the word poison which refers to a toxin that is ingested, as opposed to venom which refers to a toxin that is injected via a bite or sting), their sting won't kill a human in five minutes (or at all), and they aren't generally found on oceanside beaches. These photographs were taken by Nicky Bay, a macro photographer, and show a cork-lid trapdoor spider that was collected in Thailand. The photographs show the spider while in captivity, not on a beach. Bay posted a thread about these pictures in February 2020: The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS) writes that the trapdoor spider, like most spiders, is venomous. However, this spider's bite will not cause a human to die within five minutes. Rather, the trapdoor spider's bite is comparable to a wasp sting. NCMNS writes: The trapdoor spider is venomous like most spiders, but its venom is comparable to a wasp sting, causing only minor pain and swelling. These arachnids are not aggressive and will only bite people in self-defense. If you find one in your home, it’s best to capture it in a container such as a jar and release it outdoors. The spider in this photograph is most likely a ravine trapdoor spider (Cyclocosmia truncata). While most trapdoor spiders construct small doors to protect their burrows, the ravine trapdoor spider acts as its own door by blocking the entrance with the hardened disc at the end of its abdomen. In addition to the fact that they are not unusually venomous, these spiders don't live on beaches near the ocean. They are typically found in wooded areas or in ravines on the slopes near rivers. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources writes: (en)
?:reviewRating
rdf:type
?:url