Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Black widow spiders identified in Yucatán for 3 years now

Black widow spiders have had a presence in Yucatán for three years now, according to a state health official who says that on average two people are bitten every year.

The poisonous spiders, which are not endemic to the state, are thought to have arrived inside boxes of imported goods.

So far, most black widow bite reports have come from the southern part of the state, but infectious disease specialist Daly Martínez Ortíz said some have been sighted farther north in Valladolid, Tizimín, Tekkit and Mérida, the state capital.

“Some patients can overcome the effects of the venom by themselves,” explained Martínez, “but some experience lasting effects that can end in death.”

The specialist recommended that medical care be sought within two hours following a bite, because that window of time is ideal for the antidote to fight the effect of the venom.

Black widows have an unusually potent venom containing the neurotoxin latrotoxin. Females have unusually large venom glands and their bite can be particularly harmful; however, despite the arachnid’s notoriety, medical consensus is that its bites are rarely fatal or even produce serious complications.

Only the bites of the females are dangerous to humans.

This spider, which grows to about two centimeters long, is readily identifiable by the reddish markings on the abdomen, which are often (but not always) hourglass-shaped.

Source: El Universal (sp)

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.

Annual inflation rose in August, but remains within central bank’s comfort zone

0
After easing in June and July, the consumer price index accelerated by 0.06% from July to August, a modest rise that leaves the door open to another possible interest rate cut on Sept. 25.
aerial view of blue trash bags in street

Ecatepec, Mexico City’s sprawling neighbor, sets a Guinness World Record for trash collection

1
Residents of the highly populated CDMX suburb demonstrated Sunday what a sense of community and a little bit of hard work can accomplish.
2026 economic package presentation

Finance Ministry unveils 10 trillion-peso budget with 18% increase to welfare spending

10
The 2026 Economic Package, presented by Finance Minister Edgar Amador to the Chamber of Deputies on Monday night, outlines significant spending on welfare programs, Pemex and rail projects.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity