Button Spider (Paperback)

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Button spider is a common name used in southern Africa to refer to local members of the spider genus, Latrodectus, the family Theridiidae. These spiders are also known as widow spiders elsewhere in the world. There are approximately six Latrodectus species found in southern Africa--five of them native, one is possibly imported. All species of Latrodectus are venomous to man, their bite constitutes a medical emergency. Envenomation by these spiders can be fatal to children and ill or infirm adults. Ordinarily, the body mass of a healthy adult is sufficient to dilute the venom to less than a fatal concentration.