The Mediterranean Recluse Spider: Symptoms, Identification, and First Aid

It can hide in the house and is the most widespread in the Mediterranean area. It is the violin spider. A nocturnal species that hunts freely without the aid of a web; it weaves only a few disordered threads in the narrow crevices it uses as shelters, from which it never strays far. A 52-year-old carabiniere (from the escort service of the Palermo court) died last night at the Cervello hospital in Palermo due to the bite. Symptoms Franco Aiello, 52 years old, realized last Sunday after gardening that his ankle was red. After a few days, he was admitted to the Cervello hospital. Yesterday he passed away. On Facebook, there are dozens of condolence messages for the carabiniere. How to recognize it A first element to recognize the violin spider is the color. What color? Brown, almost yellowish. Then the size, which is small. On average, a violin spider measures about 4/5 cm, including the legs. The arachnid does not exhibit aggressive behavior, it tends to flee in the presence of humans. It moves predominantly nocturnally, so bites are accidental and rare. The bite What mark does it leave in case of a bite? A blister appears, surrounded by a bruised/whitish area. This, in turn, is surrounded by an erythematous area. Where it is found The habitat of the violin spider is Mediterranean and dry, so it can easily be found in open countryside, but also in sheltered and dark areas of the house, such as behind furniture, in basements, or behind baseboards. What to do In case of a bite, you should contact emergency services and a poison control center. Unconscious patients should be placed on their side. If anaphylactic shock is occurring, it is advisable to assume the lying position. If the situation is not serious, while waiting for help, it is good to wash the wound and compress the affected area, elevating it if it is a limb.