,,poisonous ,,dwellers ,,of ,,the ,,desert ,popular ,series ,no4 #c ,southwest ,parks and ,monuments ,association ,illustration3 ,deserts of the ,southwest are not desolate expanses of sand as many persons believe4 ,this photograph1 showing vegetation in ,organ ,pipe ,cactus ,national ,monument1 ,arizona1 is a typical illustration of the variety and density of plant growth in the ,sonoran desert area of northwestern ,mexico and southwestern ,arizona4 ,,poisonous ,,dwellers ,,of ,,the ,,desert by ,,natt ,n4 ,,dodge ,,twelfth ,,edition 7revised71 #aigj ,published in co-operation with the ,national ,park ,service by the ,southwest ,parks and ,monuments ,association in keeping with one of its objectives1 to provide accurate and authentic information about the ,southwest4 ,illustration3 ,association logo ,southwest ,parks and ,monuments ,association ,globe1 ,arizona 7formerly ,southwestern ,monuments ,association7 ,copyright1 #aieb1 by the ,southwestern ,monuments ,association ,box #aefb1 ,gila ,pueblo1 ,globe1 ,arizona #heeja ,published ,october #ba1 #aidg ,second printing1 revised1 ,october1 #aidh ,third printing1 revised1 ,december1 #aidh ,fourth printing1 revised1 ,january1 #aieb ,fifth printing1 ,june1 #aiec ,sixth printing1 ,march1 #aiee ,seventh printing1 ,december1 #aieg ,eighth printing1 revised1 ,january1 #aifa ,ninth printing1 revised1 ,march1 #aifd ,tenth printing1 ,june1 #aiff ,eleventh printing1 ,august1 #aifh ,twelfth printing1 revised1 ,august1 #aigj ,printed in the ,united ,states of ,america by ,,pabsco ,printing and ,business ,supply ,co4 ,globe1 ,arizona ,,contents ,,illustrations vi ,,editorial ,,note ,,about ,,insecticides vii ,,acknowledgements vii ,,giant ,,desert ,,centipede #c ,,scorpions #d ,treatment of scorpion stings #f ,where scorpions live #g ,,black ,,widow ,,spider #g ,where black widows live #h ,black widow bites #i ,treatment of black widow bites #i ,control of black widows #aj ,,brown ,,recluse ,,spider #aj ,where found #aa ,the brown recluse bite #aa ,treatment for bite of the brown recluse spider #ab ,,tarantulas #ac ,,conenose ,,bug 7cross bug1 bellows bug1 ,walpai tiger1 kissing bug7 #ad ,habitat of conenose bug #ad ,treatment of conenose bites #af ,control of conenose bugs #af ,,ants1 ,,wasps1 ,,hornets1 ,,bees #ag ,ants and velvet ants #ah ,control of ants #ai ,wasps1 hornets1 yellowjackets1 bees #ai ,,honeybee #bj ,how a bee stings #ba ,treatment of bee stings #bb ,,puss ,,caterpillar #bc ,,arizona ,,coral ,,snake #bd ,,rattlesnakes #be ,where rattlesnakes are found #be ,protective clothing #bf ,rattlesnake relatives #bf ,the sidewinder #bf ,helpful precautions #bg ,first-aid for rattlesnake bite #bg ,,back-,,fanged ,,snakes #cj ,,gila ,,monster #ca ,food and habits #cb ,poison of the ,gila monster #cc ,,harmless ,,creatures ,,mistakenly ,,believed ,,poisonous #cd ,,banded ,,gecko #ce ,,solpugid #cf ,,jerusalem ,,cricket #cf ,,vinegaroon #cg ,,references ,,cited #ci ,,index #dj ,,illustrations ,deserts of the ,southwest ,frontispiece ,map of western ,united ,states viii ,centipede #b ,enlarged view of under side of centipede's head #b ,deadly and non-deadly scorpions #d ,giant desert hairy scorpion in alert position #e ,underside of black widow spider #h ,brown recluse spider #aa ,tarantula #ac ,conenose bugs #ae ,common ant #af ,wasp #ag ,velvet ant #ah ,bumblebee #ai ,honeybees on the honeycomb #bj ,poison mechanism of worker bee #ba ,puss caterpillar #bc ,arizona coral snake #bd ,western diamondback rattlesnake #be ,sidewinder or 8horned0 rattlesnake #bg ,poison mechanism of the rattlesnake #bh ,western black-headed snake #bi ,sonora lyre snake #cj ,gila monster #ca ,underside of the ,gila monster #cb ,poison mechanism of the ,gila monster #cc ,two adult banded geckos #ce ,solpugid or sun spider #cf ,jerusalem cricket 7sand cricket or chaco7 #cg ,vinegaroon #ch ,,editorial ,,note ,,about ,,insecticides ,recommendations given in previous editions of this book regarding use of ,,ddt and other 8hard0 pesticides are withdrawn in this #abth edition4 ,we advise1 until questions about merits and dangers of these products are resolved1 that you contact a local agency before deciding what pesticides1 if any1 to use4 ,we believe that every citizen should make a real effort to become informed about pesticides and potential changes in them1 for use or non-use will likely have great impact on mankind's future use of this earth4 ,,acknowledgements ,the author has conducted no original research1 but has simply assembled information provided by others who have made painstaking scientific investigations into the lives1 habits1 and poisons of desert creatures4 ,to these men all credit for the information contained herein is due4 ,the writer considers it a privilege to present partially herein the results of work conducted by ,dr4 ,herbert ,l4 ,stahnke1 ,poisonous ,animals ,laboratory1 ,arizona ,state ,university1 on scorpions and other poisonous creatures4 ,valuable assistance has been obtained from ,dr4 ,howard ,k4 ,gloyd1 former director of the ,chicago ,academy of ,sciences4 ,to ,laurence ,m4 ,klauber and the late ,c4 ,b4 ,perkins1 formerly of the ,san ,diego ,museum of ,natural ,history1 are expressed our thanks for much valuable information relative to poisonous snakes4 ,the help and cooperation of ,dr4 ,sherwin ,f4 ,wood of ,los ,angeles ,city ,college has made possible inclusion of the section on the conenose bug4 ,the late ,dr4 ,forest ,shreve1 for many years director of the ,desert ,laboratory in ,tucson1 and the late ,dr4 ,charles ,vorhies1 zoologist at the ,university of ,arizona1 proved to be founts of knowledge regarding plant and animal life of the desert4 ,the late ,dr4 ,c4 ,p4 ,russell1 of the ,national ,park ,service1 checked many statements to assure accuracy4 ,we are indebted to ,dr4 ,w4 ,ray ,jones1 physician and hobby beekeeper in ,seattle1 ,washington for his findings on1 and treatment of1 bee-sting poisoning4 ,also to ,dr4 ,f4 ,a4 ,shannon of ,wickenburg1 ,arizona for his especially helpful commentary4 ,we take this opportunity to thank ,dr4 ,paul ,wehrle1 entomologist1 ,university of ,arizona1 and ,dr4 ,w4 ,j4 ,gertsch of the ,american ,museum of ,natural ,history1 for kindly checking the contents for authenticity4 ,illustration3 ,map of western ,united ,states and ,mexico showing location of deserts ,poisonous ,dwellers of the ,desert ,the late ,dr4 ,forrest ,shreve of the ,desert ,laboratory in ,tucson1 ,arizona1 stated that the principal characteristic of a desert is 8deficient and uncertain rainfall40 ,from our grammar school geographies we gained the impression that a desert is a great expanse of sand piled into dunes by the wind1 without moisture or vegetation1 a land of thirst1 desolation1 even death4 ,although sand dunes devoid of vegetation are characteristic of the ,sahara and some other deserts of the world1 those of the ,united ,states support a variety of plant and animal life which1 through generations of adaptation1 are able to meet the conditions imposed by this environment 7see frontispiece74 ,persons who misunderstand our deserts fear them1 while others who have visited them become fascinated and return periodically or settle down and live in them4 ,some of the creatures living in deserts are known to be poisonous to man4 ,western thriller fiction of press1 screen1 and ,,tv has emphasized and exaggerated this fact1 developing in many people a wholly mistaken fear of the desert and its inhabitants4 ,in contrast1 other persons may under-estimate the possibility of injury from these animals and become careless4 ,it is the purpose of this booklet to discuss accurately the various poisonous dwellers of the desert1 as well as to debunk some of the superstitions and misunderstandings which have developed4 ,a majority of the poisonous creatures in the desert are by no means restricted to that environment4 ,rattlesnakes1 for example1 so often associated with the arid regions of the ,west1 occur in nearly every section of the ,united ,states4 8,a poison10 states ,encyclopedia ,brittanica1 8is a substance which1 by its direct action on the mucous membrane1 tissues1 or skin1 or after absorption into the circulatory system can1 in the way which it is administered1 injuriously affect health or destroy life40 ,a poisonous creature may be defined as one which produces a poison for the administering of which it has developed a special mechanism4 ,since1 due to personal differences1 the bite or sting of a poisonous creature may injuriously affect the health of one person and not that of another1 and since the poison of one individual creature may be insufficient to cause an unpleasant reaction1 while that from several hundred might produce severe illness or even death1 it is difficult to determine which creature should be included in a publication of this nature4 ,the writer1 therefore1 has exercised his judgment in discussing in the following pages such creatures as he feels may offer a menace to the welfare of a visitor to the desert4 ,in addition1 a few paragraphs are included for the defense of several harmless desert dwellers which are mistakenly believed poisonous and which1 as a result1 have been mercilessly persecuted4 ,illustration3 ,giant desert centipede ,illustration3 ,enlarged view of underside of centipede's head1 showing the double pair of jaws4 7,photographs by ,marvin ,h4 ,frost ,sr47 ,it should be understood that the author has not himself conducted scientific research among the desert animals regarding which he writes4 ,the material in this book is a digest of the findings of various competent scientific and medical authorities1 and has been carefully checked for accuracy and authenticity4 ,don't be frightened as a result of reading this booklet4 ,the desert is just as safe--perhaps safer--for homemaking as many other parts of our country4 ,giant desert centipede 7,scolopendra heros7 ,many species of centipedes of various sizes and colors are found throughout the world4 ,the majority are small1 harmless1 and not sufficiently numerous to be considered seriously1 even as pests4 ,usually they are found under boards1 in cracks and crevices1 in basements and closets1 and in other moist locations where they hide during the day and venture forth at night in search of small insects for food4 ,the large1 poisonous desert centipede attains a length of #f or even #h inches and has jaws of sufficient strength to inflict a painful bite4 ,glands at the base of the jaw produce poison which causes the area about the bite to swell and become feverish and painful4 ,persons who have been bitten report that the swelling and tenderness may persist for several weeks1 that the bite sometimes suppurates and is difficult and slow to heal4 ,because the bite of even a large centipede is usually a painful inconvenience rather than a serious injury1 no specific treatment has been developed4 ,application of an antiseptic such as iodine immediately following receipt of the bite1 working it well into the fang punctures1 is advised4 ,bathing the site of the bite with strong ammonia will bring relief if done immediately1 while soaking the area in a solution of hot ,epsom salts may shorten the period of discomfort4 ,prompt treatment by a physician will reduce duration and intensity of pain4 ,although the bite of a large centipede is no joke1 it is not cause for fear or worry4 ,exaggerated stories of the deadly effects of the bite1 and reports that the tip of each leg carries a poisonous spur1 have caused many persons to be overly afraid of centipedes4 ,hysteria and shock resulting from this unfounded fear probably have been the cause of more suffering than the bites themselves4 ,the tip of each of the #db legs of the giant desert centipede is equipped with a sharp claw4 ,it is possible when the centipede scurries across a person's arm or leg for these claws to make pin-point punctures4 ,infection introduced through these tiny openings readily leads to the belief that poison has been injected4 ,prompt application of an antiseptic will greatly reduce the possibility of infection4 ,illustration3 ,left3 ,yellow1 slender-tailed4 ,deadly species4 ,centruroides sculpturatus ,center3 ,striped-tail4 ,not deadly4 ,vejovis spinigeris ,right3 ,desert hairy4 ,large1 not deadly4 ,hadrurus hirsutus ,scorpions ,more deaths have occurred in ,arizona from scorpion sting than from the bites and stings of all other creatures combined4 ,it is apparent that scorpions are dangerous1 that all persons should be informed regarding them1 and that details of first-aid treatment should be common knowledge4 ,in some parts of the ,south1 scorpions are called 8stinging lizards40 ,this is unfortunate because it has caused many people to think of lizards as poisonous and capable of stinging4 ,not all scorpions are deadly4 ,danger from the two deadly species 7one shown above7 which look so much alike that only an expert can tell them apart1 is greatest to children under #d years of age4 ,unless prompt action is taken small children might succumb to the poison from a single sting from an individual of either of the deadly species4 ,older children may die from the effect of several stings1 and adults1 especially those in poor health1 may suffer serious injuries4 ,of the more than #bj species of scorpions recorded in ,arizona where detailed studies have been made1 the two deadly forms have been found only across the southern portion of the ,state and in the bottom of ,grand ,canyon4 ,as far as is now known1 no other deadly species occur in the ,southwest1 except in ,mexico where there are several4 ,it is important1 then1 that all persons should recognize the deadly species4 ,study the photograph4 ,note that the deadly species 7left7 is about #b inches in length1 is straw colored1 and that its entire body1 especially the joints of the legs1 pincers1 and 8tail10 are long and slender4 ,it has a streamlined appearance4 ,this is in contrast with the stubby or chunky appearance of the many non-deadly species4 ,scorpions sting1 they do not bite4 ,the pincers at the head end of the body are for the purpose of holding the prey1 which consists primarily of soft-bodied insects1 while the scorpion tears it to pieces with its jaws4 ,the sting is located at the extremity of the 8tail0 and consists of a very sharp1 curved tip attached to a bulbous organ containing the poison-secreting glands and poison reservoir4 ,the sting is driven into the flesh of the victim by means of a quick1 spring-like flick of the 8tail40 ,muscular pressure forces the poison into the wound through two tiny openings very near the sting tip4 ,thus the poison is injected beneath the skin1 making treatment difficult1 as the impervious skin renders surface application ineffective4 ,whereas the poison of non-deadly species of scorpions is local in effect1 causing swelling and discoloration of the tissues in immediate proximity to the point of puncture1 that of the deadly species is general over the entire body of the victim4 ,there is intense pain at the site of the sting but very little inflammation or swelling4 ,illustration3 ,giant desert hairy scorpion in alert position4 ,according to ,kent and ,stahnke#a1 8the victim soon becomes restless4 ,this increases to a degree that1 in cases of small children1 the patient is entirely unable to cooperate with attendants4 ,it turns1 frets1 and does not remain quiet for an instant4 ,the abdominal muscles may become rigid1 and there may be contractions of the arms and legs4 ,drooling of saliva begins1 and the heart rate increases4 ,the temperature may reach #ajc or #ajd degrees4 ,cyanosis 7skin turning blue7 gradually appears1 and respiration becomes increasingly difficult1 causing a reaction not unlike that observed in a severe case of bronchial asthma4 ,involuntary urination and defecation may occur4 ,in fatal cases the above symptoms may become so marked that apparently the child dies from exhaustion4 8,in cases that recover1 the acute symptoms subside in #ab hours or less4 ,in the adult1 symptoms as enumerated may be encountered1 but as a rule they are less severe4 ,numbness is usually experienced at the site of the sting4 ,if one of the appendages is stung1 the member may become temporarily useless4 ,two cases of temporary blindness have been experienced4 ,some patients complain of malaise 7discomfort7 for many days following the sting4 ,one patient developed a tachycardia 7rapid heart7 lasting two weeks40 ,treatment of scorpion stings ,dr4 ,stahnke recommends the following treatment for a person stung by one of the deadly scorpions3 8,first1 apply a tight tourniquet near the point of puncture and between it and the heart4444 ,as soon as possible1 place an ice pack on the site of the sting4 ,have a pack of finely crushed ice wrapped in as thin a cloth as possible4 ,cover and surround the area for about #aj to #ab inches4 ,after the ice pack has been in place for approximately #e minutes1 remove the tourniquet4 8,if a person is stung on the hand1 foot1 or other region that can be submerged completely1 place the portion1 as soon as possible1 in an ice-and-water mixture made of small lumps of ice 7about half the size of ice cubes7 in a proportion of half ice and half water4 ,treatment should not be continued longer than #b hours4 8,,never put salt in the water4 ,after the first #ae minutes1 the hand or foot must be removed for relief for #a minute every #aj minutes in the iced water40 ,dr4 ,stahnke continues3 8,if the patient is less than #c years old1 if the patient has been stung several times1 or if the patient has been stung on the back of the neck1 anywhere along the backbone1 or on an area of deep flesh like the buttock1 thigh1 or trunk of the body1 or especially on the genital organs1 medical assistance should be obtained at once40 ,dr4 ,f4 ,a4 ,shannon advises that no person with disease involving the circulation of the extremities should use iced water4 ,morphine is a necessary tool in controlling pain1 and barbiturates are useful for control of convulsions4 ,several hospitals in southern ,arizona keep a supply of scorpion antivenin and1 in any case1 the patient should be taken to a hospital as quickly as possible4 ,in all cases the first-aid treatment should be applied and maintained until the patient is under the care of a physician4 ,with adults1 in case a physician is not available1 the iced-water treatment usually proves sufficient4 ,generally1 after #b hours of iced-water use1 there is no longer any danger1 but should symptoms reappear1 treatment should be resumed4 ,scorpion antivenin for stings of ,centruroides sculpturatus and ,c4 gertschi is available at the ,poisonous ,animals ,research ,laboratory1 ,arizona ,state ,university1 ,tempe1 ,arizona4 ,the recommended method of treatment is the 8,l-,c0 method4 ,the ,l stands for ligature and ,c for cryotherapy 7tourniquet and ice pack treatment74 ,treatment is as follows3 8,as soon as possible 7after the sting has been received7 inject intramuscularly or subcutaneously1 #e to #aj cc4 of natural serum or #c cc4 of the concentrated4 ,in serious cases1 inject intravenously40 ,no immediate untoward results have been noted1 but some cases of skin irritation develop later4 ,in cases of scorpion poisoning when antivenin is not available1 the following treatment is recommended#ab3 8,use morphine with extreme caution4 ,it has not been found effective in the usual doses4 ,barbiturates are more effective and less dangerous4 ,bromides in large doses are apparently of value4 ,in those cases characterized by severe pulmonary edema 7accumulation of fluid in the lungs7 atropine is indicated along with general supportive measures4 ,compresses1 using a fairly concentrated ammonium hydroxide solution1 have been found helpful if applied within a few moments4 ,if applied for the first time about #aj minutes after the sting1 no apparent benefit is attained40 ,where scorpions live ,scorpions normally remain in hiding during the day1 coming out in search of insects at night4 ,the deadly species are commonly found under bark on old stumps1 in lumber piles1 or in firewood piled in dark corners4 ,it is not unusual to find them in basements or in linen closets4 ,adults may find an unpleasant surprise in a shoe or a piece of clothing taken from a closet or dresser drawer4 ,legs of cribs or children's beds may be placed in cans containing kerosene or in wide-mouthed jars4 ,moral3 ,keep your garage1 basement1 and premises in general1 clean1 tidy1 and free from insects on which scorpions feed4 ,screen children's cribs1 and pull the sheets clear back before putting the youngsters to bed4 ,shake out your shoes before putting them on1 and inspect sheets1 blankets1 or clothing which have been in closets or drawers4 ,black widow spider 7,lactrodectus mactans7 ,although spiders in general produce venom with which to paralyze their prey1 only a very few have fangs of sufficient length or power to penetrate human skin1 or venom of sufficient quantity or potency to affect human health4 ,there are two poisons present in spider venom3 a toxin which cause local symptoms1 and a toxalbumin producing general symptoms4 ,in those spiders whose bites produce systematic disturbances it is believed that the latter poison predominates4 ,where black widows live ,black widows spin their webs in crevices between rocks1 under logs or overhanging banks1 in abandoned rodent holes1 and in rock and wood piles4 ,indoors they are most frequently encountered in dark corners of garages1 basements1 and stables4 ,illustration3 ,underside of black widow spider showing characteristic red 8hourglass0 mark on the abdomen by which this species may be recognized4 ,a favorite and especially dangerous location in which a black widow establishes her home is beneath the seat of a pit toilet4 ,such a location is ideal for the spider because it is dark1 is not usually disturbed1 and insects1 especially flies1 upon which the spiders feed1 are abundant4 ,humans using the toilet1 unaware of the presence of the spider1 arouse her by breaking or agitating her web1 and offer especially tender and susceptible portions of their anatomies for her bite4 ,pit toilets in warm climates should always be built with hinged seats which should be raised and inspected frequently4 ,as a further precaution1 the underside of the seats should be treated with creosote1 an effective repellent4 ,although the majority of people now recognize the black widow1 some do not1 hence they kill all dark-colored spiders on general principles4 ,this is neither necessary nor desirable4 ,the female black widow is a medium-sized1 glossy black1 solitary spider with a globular abdomen spectacularly marked on the underside with a bright red spot roughly the shape of an hourglass4 ,the normal position of the spider is hanging upside down in her web so that the 8hourglass0 is plainly visible if she is below the level of the eye4 ,her overall length is #a to #a inches4 ,the males are much smaller and1 like the immature females1 are grey in color and variously striped and spotted4 ,adult females spin egg cocoons during the warm season2 each cocoon contains approximately #cjj to #ejj eggs which hatch in about #cj days4 ,as many as nine broods per year have been recorded4 ,the young grow fast but do not mature until the following spring or summer4 ,black widow bites ,although black widows ferociously pounce upon insects or other spiders much larger than themselves which become entangled in their webs1 they are by nature retiring and bite humans only when restrained from escape by contact with the body of man4 ,the fangs1 which are about one-fiftieth of an inch in length1 serve to inject from two large glands the venom which is reported to be much more virulent per unit than that of the rattlesnake4 ,there is some pain and swelling at the site of the bite4 ,the pain spreads throughout the body1 centering at the extremities1 which become cramped1 and over the abdomen1 where the muscles become rigid4 ,there is nausea and vomiting1 difficulty in breathing1 dizziness1 ringing in the ears1 and headache4 ,blood pressure is raised1 eye pupils are dilated and the reflexes are overactive4 ,medical records1 according to ,bogen#b1 show that 8despite its severe symptoms1 arachnidism 7poisoning by spider1 tick1 or scorpion7 is1 in the majority of cases1 a self-limiting condition1 and generally clears up spontaneously within a few days10 although cases of death resulting from black widow bites are on record#c4 ,treatment of black widow bites ,since the venom of the black widow1 among other properties1 appears to affect the nervous system1 its effect is almost instantaneous1 and most first-aid measures are of little value4 ,stahnke has found that the iced-water treatment 7as described in detail in the scorpion section of this booklet7 is beneficial4 ,the points of puncture should be treated with iodine1 the patient kept as quiet as possible1 and an ice pack applied or the part submerged in iced-water1 and a physician summoned immediately4 ,baerg#d recommends hot baths--as hot as the patient can endure4 ,these should be used only in cases of advanced poisoning1 never immediately after the bite is received4 ,internal use of alcohol is dangerous1 and a person bitten when intoxicated would have much less chance of recovery4 ,professional treatment consists mostly in the use of opiates1 hydrotherapy1 and similar measures to alleviate the acute pain4 ,of more than #ge different remedies used1 three seem to be outstanding as palliatives3 spinal puncture1 intravenous injections of ,epsom salts1 and intramuscular administration of convalescent serum when given within #h hours4 ,dr4 ,charles ,barton1 of ,los ,angeles1 recommends intramuscular or intravenous injection of calcium gluconate1 #aj cc4 in a #aj per cent solution4 ,the patient should be encouraged to drink as much water as he will4 ,he usually leaves the hospital on the fourth day4 ,recent experiments with an injection of neostigmine followed by one of atropine have had encouraging results1 and the use of ,,acth in several cases has had spectacular results1 according to ,readers' ,digest 7,nov4 #aiea1 p4 #de74 ,control of black widows ,because of their wide distribution and secretive habits1 black widows are difficult to control4 ,basements1 outbuildings1 and garages should be cleaned frequently1 and black widow webs and eggs destroyed4 ,if accessible1 the spider may be dislodged from her web with a broom1 and smashed4 ,the use of a blowtorch1 where there is no fire hazard1 is effective for both spiders and egg cocoons4 ,insect sprays1 in general1 are ineffectual4 ,brown recluse spider and its venomous relatives ,until recently the black widow was considered the only spider in the ,united ,states dangerous to man4 ,in #aiee1 physicians in ,missouri and ,arkansas began treating persons suffering from the bite of the brown recluse spider1 whose poison caused serious damage to the skin at the site of the puncture and often produced a severe systemic reaction sometimes fatal to young children4 ,the spider is approximately _/ inch in length1 dark brown to fawn1 with long legs4 ,a violin-shaped spot on the upper side of the cephalothorax 7head portion7 is the only noticeable identification giving rise to another common name--fiddleback spider4 ,it is also known as brown spider1 or brown house spider4 ,little has been published on its life history1 but it has been reported from ,kansas1 ,illinois1 the ,gulf ,coast1 and from ,tennessee to ,oklahoma4 ,it is extending its territory westward and has recently been reported from southeastern ,new ,mexico and southern ,california4 ,people are contributing to the rapid geographical spread of this species by unknowingly carrying it across state lines in their luggage4 ,the brown recluse spider1 according to ,paul ,n4 ,morgan1 research microbiologist at the ,little ,rock1 ,arkansas1 ,veterans ,administration ,hospital1 8constitutes a hazard to the health of man1 perhaps greater than the ,black ,widow40 ,illustration3 ,brown recluse spider 7,photo--,division of ,dermatology ,dept4 of ,medicine ,u4 of ,arkansas ,medical ,center7 ,where found ,it is found in open fields and rocky bluffs but thrives particularly well in outhouses1 garages1 dark closets1 storerooms1 and in piles of sacking or old clothing4 ,its web is large and irregular4 ,the brown recluse bite ,because of the spider's nocturnal and retiring habits few people are bitten1 in spite of a large spider population4 ,according to an article in the ,august1 #aifc ,journal of the ,arkansas ,medical ,society1 8there may be mild transitory stinging at the time of the bite1 but there is little associated early pain4 ,the patient may be completely unaware he has been bitten1 and the spider is seldom seen4 ,only after #b to #h hours does pain1 varying from mild to severe1 begin4 ,after several days an ulcer may form at the site of the bite4 ,the venom appears to contain a spreading factor resulting in a spread of the necrosis or tissue destruction4 ,in some instances1 the ulcer may be so large that skin grafting is required1 but the graft may take poorly or not at all4 8,the bite may also produce serious systemic symptoms including fever1 chills1 weakness1 vomiting1 joint pain1 and a spotty skin eruption1 all occurring within #bd-dh hours after the venom injection40 ,treatment for bite of the brown recluse spider ,physicians at the ,university of ,arkansas ,medical ,center1 ,little ,rock1 prefer the prompt administration of corticosteroids1 stating1 8,large doses given early may completely prevent the gangrenous response as well as the systemic reaction4 ,the dosage schedule which we have found most effective is3 #hj mg4 of methylprednisolone 7,deep-,medrol7 intramuscularly immediately followed by one or two additional doses of same amount at #bd-dh hour intervals4 ,subsequently1 step wise decrease to #dj1 #bj1 #aj mg41 every #bd-dh hours1 depending on the patient's response1 is carried out40 ,dr4 ,herbert ,l ,stahnke1 ,director of the ,arizona ,poisonous ,animals ,research ,laboratory1 reports that an antivenin has been prepared in ,south ,america to control both the local and general symptoms from the bite of a closely related species of ,loxosceles4 ,he states1 8locally there seems to be a favorable response to hydroxyzine1 #ajj mg4 four times a day4 ,i would say that cryotherapy1 as we recommend it1 would prevent all symptoms4 ,i would recommend that the site of the bite be packed in crushed ice for #f to #h hours1 after which the patient should be kept warm to the point of perspiration with the ice pack continuing for a total of #bd hours4 ,in other words1 treated like a pit viper bite1 but over a much shorter period of time40 ,avoid narcotics 7morphine1 demerol1 dilaudid1 codeine1 etc47 since they enhance the systemic effects4 ,although the brown recluse has not yet been reported in ,arizona1 it may be expected at any time1 according to ,dr4 ,mont ,a4 ,cazier1 professor of zoology at ,arizona ,state ,university at ,tempe4 ,in the meantime1 studies are being made of the several close relatives of ,loxosceles reclusa known to be present in the state4 ,among these is ,l4 unicolor1 first collected near ,littlefield and ,virgin ,narrows in #aicb4 ,equally poisonous with reclusa is the similar ,l4 laeta1 also found in ,arizona4 ,other members of the genus1 ,l4 deserta and ,l4 arizonica1 have been known to live in ,arizona and elsewhere in the ,southwest for more than three decades1 but no studies have been made of their venom4 ,dr4 ,willis ,j4 ,gertsch1 world famous authority on spiders1 believes that there may be as many as #bj species of ,loxosceles in the ,southwest4 ,several reports by persons who have been bitten by spiders describe reactions similar to those caused by the bite of the brown recluse4 ,according to ,dr4 ,findley ,e4 ,russell1 toxicology researcher of the ,university of ,southern ,california ,medical ,school1 the 8venom0 injected by the brown spider is not really a toxin but a complete chemical that inhibits the normal action of infection-fighting antibodies in the human anatomy4 ,tarantulas 7,avicularia sp47 ,known to naturalists as bird spiders1 the large hairy members of the genera ,avicularia1 ,dugesiella1 and ,aphonopelma of the arid ,southwest are commonly called tarantulas4 ,illustration3 ,tarantula 7,photo by ,marvin ,h4 ,frost ,sr47 ,this name originated in southern ,italy where1 centuries ago1 according to a story1 in the little town of ,tarantum 7now ,taranto7 there developed an epidemic of 8tarentism0 supposedly resulting from the bite of a large wolf spider 7,lycosa tarantula74 ,victims were affected with melancholy1 stupor1 and an irresistible desire to dance4 ,presumably1 the ,neapolitan folk dance1 ,tarentella1 came about as a result of an effort to develop a cure for tarentism4 ,early day immigrants brought to the western hemisphere both the unreasoning fear of spider bites and the name 8tarantula10 which they applied to the large and fearsome-looking bird spider of the ,southwest4 ,since that time this superstitious fear has become established among the uneducated and uninformed people of the southwestern ,united ,states1 where the bird spiders are numerous4 ,it has been spread and aggravated by prolific writers of western thrillers1 published in the pulp-paper magazines4 ,fantastic tales in which the big spiders followed their victims1 sprang upon them from distances of from #f to #aj feet1 and inflicted painful bites resulting in lingering1 agonizing death have had wide circulation and have found a credulous audience4 ,tarantulas are nearsighted1 and their habit of pouncing upon grasshoppers and other large insects on which they prey is probably the basis for exaggerated stories of their jumping abilities4 ,their strong1 sharp fangs can inflict a painful bite1 but they use them only rarely in defense against human molestation4 ,stahnke states that any effects produced appear to be the result of bacterial infection rather than that of poison1 although a mild poison is present4 ,treatment of tarantula bite with iodine or similar antiseptic is recommended4 ,one species of ,avicularia and several of ,aphonopelma range throughout the ,southwest where they are active during spring1 summer1 and autumn months4 ,they live in web-lined holes in the ground1 usually located on south-facing slopes4 ,the males are commonly encountered traveling across country1 and are particularly noticeable as they cross a highway4 ,preying upon insects1 these large and interesting desert dwellers are beneficial rather than harmful to mankind1 and deserve protection4 ,unfortunately1 many become the innocent victims of the wholly unwarranted fear in which they are held because of the fantastic stories regarding their purported poisonous characteristics4 ,conenose bug 7,kissing bug1 ,bellows bug1 ,walpai tiger1 ,cross bug1 others7 7,triatoma sp47 ,although not limited to the deserts of the ,southwest1 conenose bugs1 of which there are several species1 are commonly associated with subtropical climates4 ,certain ,south ,american species of the family ,reduviidae are disease carrying and there is evidence the conenoses in ,san ,diego ,county1 ,california1 are infected with a disease-producing flagellate4 ,lack of large bug populations in close contact with man and ineffective transmission habits protect man in the ,southwest from disease contacts4 ,however1 the site of the bug's bite becomes inflamed1 and swelling may spread over an area up to a foot in diameter4 ,in general appearance1 conenose bugs resemble assassin and squash bugs1 with protruding eyes at the base of a cone-shaped snout and are about the same size4 ,some species are considerably smaller1 while others attain a length of an inch or more4 ,habitat of conenose bugs ,since conenose bugs subsist upon animal blood which they suck from the capillaries by inserting the stylets of the proboscis1 they seek locations where there is a source of blood4 ,these include livestock barns1 poultry houses1 and human habitations4 ,illustration3 ,conenose bugs--,triatoma protracta ,adult male 7rounded abdomen72 ,adult female 7pointed abdomen7 7,photo courtesy of ,dr4 ,sherwin ,f4 ,wood7 ,studies conducted by ,wehrle#e show that conenoses are parasitic on woodrats and breed in the dens of these rodents4 ,they are also found in meadow vole 7mouse7 nests4 ,early in ,may the winged conenose adults begin dispersal flights1 invading human habitations in the vicinity of woodrat dens4 ,although reported as most active in ,may and ,june1 they may be expected throughout the summer until ,october1 and are much more numerous in the country than in cities4 ,during the daytime1 the insects remain hidden under rugs1 between quilts1 or even in bedding or behind drapes4 ,they may be seen during the evening on ceiling beams1 walls1 curtains1 and around windows4 ,they are alert and difficult to catch4 ,conenose bugs do not attack people until the victim is quiet or asleep1 and may take blood without awakening the host4 ,immediately after being bitten1 however1 the victim is awakened by severe itching4 ,the area about the puncture swells and becomes red and feverish4 ,welts at the point of puncture are hard1 and may be #a to #c inches in diameter4 ,about #e of the people repeatedly bitten develop severe allergic reactions with burning pain and itching at the site of the bite1 itching on the palms of the hands1 soles of the feet1 neck1 and groin2 general body swelling1 and a nettle-like rash over the body4 ,some persons feel ill1 with light depression followed by quickening of the pulse4 ,others are faint1 weak1 and nauseated4 ,in very severe allergy these symptoms may lead to anaphylactic shock and unconsciousness4 ,treatment of conenose bites ,although a specific treatment for conenose bites has not been developed1 some physicians use epinephrine4 ,more promising results appear possible with antihistamine preparations 7under doctor's prescription7 such as benadryl and pyribenzamine1 which have been effective by mouth1 and in severe reactions1 by intravenous injections4 ,matheson#f writes3 8,when a blood-sucking insect bites1 it is always possible that the proboscis may be contaminated with pathogenic organisms4 ,if such organisms become localized near the point of puncture or gain access to the blood stream1 results may be serious4 ,it is always wise to use some disinfectant such as alcohol1 tincture of iodine1 etc41 and to press out the blood1 if possible1 from bites made by insects40 ,antibiotics are frequently necessary to control the extremely high percentage of secondary infections4 ,physicians recommend the application of a hot ,epsom salt pack over the point of puncture as soon as possible after the bite has been received4 ,application of antiphlogistine alleviates the severe itching4 ,,acth is recommended by some physicians4 ,hydrocortizone ointments reduce the skin eruptions and local pain4 ,control of conenose bugs ,prevention is more satisfactory than treatment1 and since conenoses live in woodrat dens1 these rodents should be eliminated from the vicinity4 ,weatherstripping around all permanent doors and screen doors1 tight-fitting1 holeless screens in all windows1 and fine screens in fireplace chimneys will help to keep the bugs out of houses4 ,occasionally they may be seen on walls and ceilings in the evening1 and may be killed with a flyswatter4 ,if impossible to keep the insects out of the house1 sleeping persons may be protected by the use of mosquito netting4 ,it is especially important that the beds of babies and young children should be safe-guarded because of the danger from scorpions4 ,illustration3 ,common ant ,bedding should be shaken thoroughly just before children retire1 because both scorpions and conenose bugs have a habit of concealing themselves in bedding during the daytime4 ,ants1 wasps1 hornets1 bees ,stinging insects all belong to the group ,hymenoptera and consist of the families ,apidae 7honeybee1 etc471 ,bombidae 7bumblebee71 ,vespidae 7wasps and hornets71 ,sphecidae 7thread-waisted wasps71 ,mutillidae 7velvet ants71 and ,formicidae 7the ants74 ,illustration3 ,wasp ,in general1 the only treatment recommended for insect stings is to bathe the parts with ordinary liquid household bluing just as soon as possible after the sting has been received1 and apply hot compresses4 ,however1 certain specific treatments are advised1 depending upon the particular species or condition4 ,some persons are extremely susceptible to insect bites and stings1 and preliminary work has been done in trying to immunize those sensitive individuals1 but1 in general1 with very little success4 ,the problem of immunizing or desensitizing persons who are allergic to insect bites and stings is one of considerable importance1 as such unfortunate persons will testify4 ,because of the fact that honeybees are of such great economic importance1 not only as producers of an important food but also as pollenizers of fruit1 vegetable1 seed1 and other crops1 they will be discussed separately from the other stinging insects4 ,everyone is familiar with ants1 wasps1 hornets1 and bumblebees1 and there are very few persons who have not had unpleasant experiences with one or more of these groups of insects4 ,ants and velvet ants ,velvet ants1 which are in reality wingless wasps and not true ants1 are not as well known as the others1 although the little creatures that scurry about like brightly dyed bits of cotton are quite numerous in the desert4 ,the primary purpose of the sting is to paralyze or kill their prey1 although it becomes more important as a weapon of defense with insects which do not prey upon or parasitize other creatures4 ,although the solitary insects use their poison as a means of personal defense if attacked or imposed upon1 the social insects such as ants1 social wasps and hornets1 honeybees1 and others1 rally to the defense of their nests and in mass attacks against an intruder may cause painful and sometimes serious injury4 ,although the small amount of poison introduced beneath the skin by the sting of one of these creatures usually causes only temporary discomfort1 there are sometimes after effects which may be more intense and of longer duration with some persons than with others4 ,in general1 stinging insects may be considered more as a nuisance than a menace1 although a person attacked by a large number1 or subjected to their stings for some length of time1 might receive serious and perhaps fatal injuries4 ,known deaths have been caused by the sting of imported fire ants in southeastern ,states4 ,the species is believed to be spreading4 ,treatment by a physician may include the use of ,,acth and calmitol4 ,although ants and velvet ants are commonly considered as wingless1 they are1 actually1 winged4 ,male velvet ants have wings whereas the females are normally without wings4 ,the females have a very effective sting1 and if picked up or pinched they make every effort to use it1 at the same time emitting a peculiar faint squeaking sound4 ,true ants1 of which there are hundreds of species1 are social insects living in colonies containing the mother1 or queen1 which becomes wingless after fertilization2 numerous workers1 or non-fertile females2 and young winged males and females4 ,illustration3 ,velvet ant ,control of ants ,ants of various species are numerous on the desert1 some of them becoming serious household pests1 difficult to control4 ,there are effective ant poisons on the market1 but the surest method of control is to find the nest and destroy it4 ,ants that are household pests usually are either grease eaters or sweet eaters1 and the proper poison for the specific type should be obtained in attempting to rid the house of these insects4 ,wasps1 hornets1 yellowjackets1 bees ,wasps1 hornets1 yellowjackets1 and bees of many species are common in the desert1 some species being solitary in habit while others live in colonies or nests which they defend with great pugnacity4 ,illustration3 ,bumblebee ,although humans have little to fear from these insects if they leave them strictly alone1 some species select nest sites beneath overhanging eaves or in attics or lofts1 thus becoming persistent pests4 ,they are usually tolerated until one or more members of the family are stung4 ,other species are attracted to human habitations by the presence of sweets or other edibles1 and make persistent nuisances of themselves4 ,they are capable of inflicting painful injuries1 and are greatly feared by many persons4 ,not usually serious1 these injuries do not respond to any treatment that has yet been developed4 ,immediate application of strong ammonium hydroxide 7household ammonia7 is a home treatment which has been found helpful for ant stings1 and1 in most cases1 for the stings of other insects4 ,a piece of ice held at the point of puncture will relieve the pain and burning sensation in the majority of cases of insect sting4 ,in serious cases1 of course1 the services of a physician should be obtained immediately4 ,honeybee 7,apis mellifera7 ,at first thought it may seem unjustified to include the common honeybee in a discussion of poisonous creatures of the desert4 ,although the honeybee is not a desert native1 having been imported from ,europe1 it has established itself in the wild state throughout the ,southwest in locations providing adequate moisture and sufficient nectar-producing flowers4 ,illustration3 ,honeybees on the honeycomb ,throughout much of the ,united ,states honeybees are encountered in numbers only in apiaries operated by beekeepers1 or in bee trees where the insects have established themselves4 ,in the desert climatic conditions are ideal for honeybees1 and they have become widespread and well established4 ,they obtain water at springs1 seeps1 waterholes1 cattle tanks1 dripping faucets1 and leaking water containers1 often congregating in such numbers around sources of water that they become a distinct nuisance to men and to animals4 ,individual honeybees are frequently found in flowers1 or may fly in through an open automobile window1 and sting one of the car's occupants4 ,small children sometimes receive stings while playing on white clover lawns or going barefoot4 ,farm boys may be severely stung as a result of molesting beehives or throwing stones at bees' nests in trees or caves4 ,normally1 poison introduced by the sting of a honeybee is local in effect and little more than a painful inconvenience to the person stung4 ,there are many cases on record1 however1 of persons and domestic animals receiving stings from so many of the enraged insects that serious and even fatal results have followed4 ,during the past half century1 medical records show a number of deaths each resulting from a single sting4 ,jones#g made an intensive study of this problem and was able to show conclusively that occasional individuals become supersensitive to honeybee venom4 ,if persons in such condition receive even the small amount of poison injected by a single sting1 the resulting excessive susceptibility may be fatal unless proper treatment is administered immediately4 ,to such persons the honeybee is definitely a poisonous and dangerous creature4 ,illustration3 ,poison mechanism of worker bee1 greatly enlarged4 #a4 ,poison sack or reservoir4 #b4 ,muscles which force sting into flesh and pump poison from sack4 ,these muscles continue operating for as long as #bj minutes after the sting has been torn from the bee's body4 #c4 ,sheath within which shafts of sting slide4 #d4 ,barbed tip of sting4 ,these barbs hold the sting in the flesh of the victim so securely as to tear the sting from the body of the bee4 ,how a bee stings ,the poison-injecting mechanism of the worker bee is located within the extremity of the abdomen and consists of a barbed sting at the base of which is attached a sack1 or reservoir1 containing the poison4 ,male bees 7drones7 have no sting1 and the queen reserves hers for possible use in battle with a rival queen4 ,in the act of stinging1 the bee forces the tip of the sting through the skin of the victim1 where it becomes imbedded1 being held by the barbs4 ,in escaping the bee tears away1 leaving the sting1 poison sack1 and attached muscles and viscera4 ,incidentally1 this rupture results in the death of the bee4 ,capillarity and the spasmodic movement of the attached muscles force the poison from the sack through the hollow shaft of the sting into the wound4 ,treatment of bee sting ,to counteract this1 the first thing that anyone should do when stung by a honeybee is to ,,scrape out the sting4 ,this may be done with a knife blade or even with the fingernail1 although the latter is far from sanitary4 ,,never ,,pull ,,out ,,the ,,sting1 because in grasping the protruding poison sack between the thumb and forefinger1 the sack is certain to be pinched and the poison squeezed into the wound4 ,since1 under normal conditions1 it takes several seconds for the contents of the sack to work into the puncture1 prompt removal of the sting with the attached sack prevents much of the poison from being injected4 ,application of strong household ammonia just as soon as the sting is scraped out is helpful in allaying the pain4 ,if a person receives a great number of stings1 a physician should be summoned at once4 ,the victim should be undressed1 put in bed1 and all of the sting scraped out4 ,all parts of the body that have received stings should be covered with cloths soaked in hot water and wrung out4 ,these applications should be as hot as the victim can endure4 ,persons who are supersensitive to bee-sting venom show the following symptoms when stung3 the skin over the entire body breaks out in lumpy welts1 palms of the hands and soles of the feet itch4 ,this is followed by headache1 nausea1 and vomiting4 ,breathing becomes labored and heart action is rapid and weak4 ,as soon as such symptoms are noted1 a physician should be summoned or the victim taken to a hospital4 ,treatment consists of frequent1 small1 hypodermic injections of epinephrine in the ratio of one part of epinephrine to #a1jjj parts of water4 ,dr4 ,w4 ,ray ,jones#g1 who developed and perfected this treatment1 reports that it is immediately effective and recommends that all commercial beekeepers provide themselves with hypodermic kits and a small supply of epinephrine4 ,even persons who are apparently immune to bee-sting venom through having received bee stings during the course of many years of work in the apiary1 may suddenly develop supersensitivity4 ,the treatment is relatively simple1 may be self-administered1 and has already proved effective in treating serious cases of excessive susceptibility resulting from supersensitive persons receiving bee stings4 ,experimental use of calcium lactate to counteract 8sting shock0 indicates a high degree of success4 ,physicians should investigate 8,death by ,sting ,shock10 p #bcd1 ,science ,news ,letter1 ,april #i1 #aiee4 ,use of antihistamines or a hormone of the cortizone family has had some success4 ,puss ,caterpillar 7,megalopyge opercularis7 ,superficially resembling a tiny1 light1 golden-yellow kitten1 the puss caterpillar is a short1 bushy larva of a small gray-brown moth with whitish underwings4 ,when disturbed1 the caterpillar rears back on its hind legs and 8makes a face40 ,the species has long been widespread throughout the southern states feeding on the foliage of oak1 elm1 plum1 and sycamore trees4 ,they have been found also in truck gardens and orchards4 ,recently they have invaded the desert mountains of the ,southwest1 having been reported by ,stahnke as especially numerous in the ,globe-,miami area of ,arizona1 feeding on the foliage of oaks4 ,illustration3 ,puss caterpillar 7,courtesy ,dr4 ,herbert ,l4 ,stahnke7 ,because of their long1 silky hairs1 children are tempted to touch them4 ,under the hairs are small protrusions1 each bearing a circlet of very small spines resembling tiny porcupine quills4 ,the venom is injected when these spines pierce the child's skin and the tips break off1 producing a burning1 itching1 irritated1 inflamed area4 ,the welts1 ranging in size from a dime to a dollar1 are sometimes followed by severe muscle cramps and headache4 ,not lethal1 the toxin may cause enough sleeplessness in a child to reduce his resistance to other infections4 ,treatment suggested by ,dr4 ,bernard ,j4 ,collopy1 ,assistant ,medical ,director of the ,miami-,inspiration ,hospital of ,miami1 ,arizona1 consists of immersing the inflamed area in iced water for thirty minutes4 ,remove for one minute at ten minute intervals for relief from the cold4 ,the skin may blister and peel at the site much as in the case of a first degree burn1 but should heal completely in ten days4 ,some physicians suggest an opiate for relief of pain in severe cases4 ,cooling lotions may be applied to relieve the itching4 ,arizona coral snake 7,micruroides euryxanthus7 ,the coral snake1 of which there are two species in the ,united ,states1 belongs to the ,elapine group1 which is represented in the ,old ,world by the cobras and other poisonous snakes4 ,these two species1 the coral snake of the ,gulf ,states1 and the smaller ,arizona coral snake whose range extends into the desert lands of southern ,new ,mexico and ,arizona1 are the only representatives of the ,elapine group found in this country4 ,illustration3 ,arizona coral snake 7,photo by ,marvin ,h4 ,frost1 ,sr47 ,the ,arizona coral is shy and secretive in its habits1 timid rather than pugnacious1 and it is so rarely seen that little is known of its habits4 ,the poison mechanism of the coral snake is somewhat different from that of the pit viper group1 to which the copperheads1 cottonmouths1 and rattlesnakes belong4 ,the teeth of the coral are short1 and to be effective the coral snake must chew rather than strike its victim4 ,the ,arizona coral snake is so small--rarely reaching #b feet in length--and its mouth is so tiny1 that it would be very difficult for it to bite an adult human4 ,it is conceivable that a small child playing with one might be bitten4 ,because of its close resemblance to several ringed or banded snakes of the desert and also to the ,arizona mountain kingsnake1 or 8coral0 kingsnake1 of the ponderosa pine highlands of the ,southwest1 a brief description of the ,arizona coral snake is indicated4 ,one of the beautifully spectacular snakes of the desert1 it is marked by bands of dark red1 cream1 and black1 which encircle the body4 ,superficially the markings of the ,arizona mountain kingsnake and other tricolored ringed snakes appear similar4 ,however1 the red of the kingsnake and of others is usually brighter1 and the black bands narrower than those of the coral4 ,definite identification is provided by the relationship of the colors to each other1 the arrangement on the ,arizona coral snake being red1 cream1 black1 cream1 red1 cream1 black1 cream4 ,the bands of the ,arizona coral snake entirely circle the body and its snout is black4 ,rattlesnakes 7,genus ,crotalus1 spp47 ,thirty species and subspecies of rattlesnakes occur in the ,united ,states1 more than half of this number being found in the ,southwest4 ,because they have been killed on sight for years1 their numbers have been considerably reduced in densely populated areas4 ,for this reason1 together with emphasis placed upon their poisonous characteristics by some writers of western thriller fiction1 rattlesnakes are considered by many people to be a serious menace in the thinly populated portions of the arid ,west#h4 ,illustration3 ,western diamondback rattlesnake 7,crotalus atrox47 7,photo by ,earl ,jackson7 ,where rattlesnakes are found ,in the hot desert regions of the ,southwest rattlesnakes are usually abroad at night during the summer months1 as they have no controlling system for body temperature and cannot endure the heat at ground surface during the hours of sunlight4 ,in spring and autumn they may be encountered in the daytime but during ,december1 ,january1 and ,february they are in hibernation and are rarely or never seen4 ,their food consists principally of lizards and small rodents such as ground squirrels1 rats1 mice1 pocket gophers and young rabbits4 ,they are sometimes found along irrigation canal banks where they go for water1 and because they find rodents congregating there for the same reason4 ,unless surprised1 cornered1 teased1 handled1 or injured1 a rattlesnake usually will try to remain hidden or will endeavor to crawl away rather than strike4 ,because they are attracted to places where small rodents abound1 they are sometimes encountered around barns and outbuildings4 ,they occasionally enter abandoned structures in search of food or to escape from the heat of the sun4 ,protective clothing ,because a rattlesnake may be met at almost any time1 except during the winter months1 by a person who lives1 works1 or visits in the desert1 he should be ever alert4 ,if hiking or climbing through country where rattlesnakes are known to be abundant1 he should wear clothing that will protect him from a possible bite4 ,pope#i states that records kept during #aibh and #aibi show that #ih per cent of snake bites occurred below the knee or on the hand or forearm4 ,when in snake country1 the hiker should wear knee-high boots or leggings1 and should never place his hand on a rock or ledge above the level of his eyes4 ,in other words1 watch your step1 and look before you reach6 ,apparently rattlesnakes may strike at a quick movement and are very sensitive to the body warmth of a nearby warm-blooded creature4 ,rattlesnake relatives ,rattlesnakes belong to the group known as the pit vipers1 which includes the cottonmouths and the copperheads4 ,the latter do not occur in the desert1 so they do not come within the province of this publication4 ,snakes of the pit viper group are characterized by a noticeable depression1 or pit1 found almost halfway between the eye and the nostril1 but slightly lower1 on each side of the head4 ,of the several species found in the desert1 some1 such as the western diamondback rattlesnake have a wide range1 while others are restricted to limited areas4 ,some species attain large size1 while others are quite small2 some are inclined to be pugnacious1 while others are more or less docile4 ,all are dangerous6 ,it is not within the scope of this publication to enter into a discussion of the many species1 so the reader who wishes to pursue that subject further is referred to ,klauber's publication on the rattlesnakes#aj4 ,the ,sidewinder ,there is one rattlesnake of the desert that should be especially mentioned3 the sidewinder1 or the little horned rattlesnake4 ,it is called sidewinder because of the peculiar method of locomotion that enables it to progress in the sandy habitat which it frequents4 ,unable to get sufficient traction in loose sand by moving as other snakes do1 it throws a portion of its body ahead as a loop1 thus serving to anchor or pull the rest of the body ahead4 ,thus it progresses sideways in a looping1 or winding1 motion most interesting to observe4 ,illustration3 ,sidewinder or 8horned0 rattlesnake ,although the term sidewinder is often used loosely in referring to other species of rattlesnakes1 it actually applies only to this particular species--,crotalus cerastes4 ,helpful precautions ,in snake country1 it is important to take a flashlight along whenever there is occasion to go outside at night in summer to be sure that there are no rattlesnakes lying across your path4 ,if you sleep out of doors4 keep your bed off the ground if possible4 ,the widely believed statement that1 8a rattlesnake will not crawl across a hair rope0 is not true1 although such a statement will often precipitate an argument4 ,persons much in the field should provide themselves with a suction-type snakebite kit1 and should know how to use it4 ,although you stand #bjj chances of being killed by an automobile to one of dying from snakebite1 the price of a suction-type kit is cheap insurance against that possibility4 ,first aid for rattlesnake bite ,if1 in spite of all precautions1 you or some companion should be bitten by a rattlesnake1 first-aid should be rendered at once4 ,this is not difficult if you have a snakebite kit1 and it is possible even if you do not4 ,the following steps are quite universally accepted3 #a4 ,apply a tourniquet a short distance above the bite 7that is between it and the heart7 but do not make it too tight4 ,this prevents the blood and lymph carrying the poison from being spread rapidly through the body4 ,the tourniquet should be loosened for a few seconds every #bj minutes4 #b4 ,make a short cut about one-fourth inch deep and one-fourth inch long near each fang puncture with a sharp1 sterile instrument4 ,a knife or razor blade sterilized in the flame of a match will do4 #c4 ,apply suction to the cuts4 ,if no suction cup is available1 the mouth will do if it contains no open sores4 #d4 ,if antivenin is available1 administer it according to instructions1 but1 if possible1 this should be left to a physician4 7,recent experiments with antivenin indicate that1 in some cases1 its reaction may be harmful and that it should be administered only under the care of a physician47 #e4 ,get the patient to medical help as soon as possible1 continuing the first-aid treatment enroute4 ,keep the patient quiet and do not let him get frightened or excited4 ,rather than require the patient to walk or otherwise exercise1 medical aid should be brought to him4 #f4 ,if medical help is not available1 and if ,epsom salts can be obtained1 apply cloths soaked in a strong1 hot solution of ,epsom salts over the cuts4 ,the sucking1 however1 should be continued for at least half an hour1 preferably for an hour or more4 ,never give alcoholic stimulants or use permanganate of potash4 ,snakebite kits give complete instructions2 follow them carefully4 ,illustration3 ,poison mechanism of the rattlesnake ,redrawn from ,dr4 ,fox #a4 ,poison gland4 #b4 ,hollow fang4 #c4 ,poison duct4 #d4 ,constrictor muscle4 #e4 ,eye4 #f4 ,nasal opening4 #g4 ,pouch enclosing fangs 7not shown in drawing74 #h4 ,tongue4 ,rattlesnake venom contains digestive enzymes which attack and destroy tissue1 and because of this and the possibility of bacterial infection introduced by cutting the skin1 another method of treatment--cryotherapy 7treatment with cold7--advocated by ,dr4 ,herbert ,l4 ,stahnke1 ,poisonous ,animals ,laboratory1 ,arizona ,state ,university1 seems to be gaining more and more support4 ,this technique is designed to prevent and control the chemical action of the venom and of bacteria1 as well as minimizing stress4 ,this latter action is extremely important1 since recent research work has indicated that the physiological products produced by the body under stress may more than double the toxic effects of the venom4 ,cut-and-suction1 or any similar treatment1 tends to greatly increase stress4 ,the following description of treatment is excerpted from 8,american ,journal of ,tropical ,medicine and ,hygiene10 ,volume #f1 ,number #b1 ,march1 #aieg1 ,the ,treatment of ,snake ,bite1 by ,herbert ,l4 ,stahnke1 ,fredrick ,m4 ,allen1 ,robert ,v4 ,horan1 and ,john ,h4 ,tenery3 #a4 ,place a ligature 7tight tourniquet7 at once between the site of the bite and the body1 but as near the point of entrance of the venom as possible4 #b4 ,place a piece of ice on the site while preparing a suitable vessel of crushed ice and water4 #c4 ,place the bitten hand or other member in the iced water well above the point of ligation4 #d4 ,after the envenomed member has been in the iced water for not less than #e minutes 7,n4,b4 research has shown that the danger generally attributed to a ligature is not present when the member is refrigerated71 remove the ligature1 but keep the member in the iced water for at least #b hours4 #e4 ,pack the envenomed member in finely crushed ice4 ,this hypothermia must continue for approximately #bd hours1 and the patient must not be permitted to chill1 since this increases body stress4 #f4 ,change from hypothermia to cryotherapy4 ,this is accomplished as follows3 after the first #bd hours following the bite1 the patient should be kept somewhat uncomfortably warm--that is1 to the point of perspiration--and encouraged to drink much water4 ,this step is exceedingly important4 ,unless the patient is kept uncomfortably warm the proteolytic portion of the venom will not leave the site of the bite4 ,consequently1 when hypothermia is stopped1 the concentration of this part of the venom is greater and the tissue destruction will be proportionately increased4 ,hypothermia should be avoided entirely if this step is not meticulously observed4 ,illustration3 ,western black-headed snake 7,tantilla eiseni74 7,courtesy ,san ,diego ,natural ,history ,museum7 ,illustration3 ,sonora lyre snake 7,trimorphodon lambda74 7,photo by ,marvin ,h4 ,frost1 ,sr47 #g4 ,the warm-up period after ,cryotherapy is important4 ,this must be done gradually4 ,remove the member from the crushed ice and place it in ice water 7without ice74 ,allow the water to warm to room temperature4 ,dr4 ,walter ,c4 ,alvarez in the ,santa ,fe ,new ,mexican1 #h-ah-eg3 8,recently1 ,dr4 ,wm4 ,deichmann1 ,john ,e4 ,dees1 ,m4 ,l4 ,keplinger1 ,john ,j4 ,farrell1 and ,w4 ,e4 ,mac,donald ,jr4 reported that hydrocortizone is a life-saving drug when given to animals that have suffered poisoning from rattlesnake venom4 ,instead of only the #ag of the untreated animals that survived1 #ge of treated animals were saved40 ,back-fanged snakes ,the southwestern desert regions are credited with harboring several genera of snakes whose grooved back teeth indicate that they may have poisonous properties4 ,of these1 the ,sonora lyre snake#aa 7,trimorphodon lambda7 and the ,mexican vine snake 7,oxybelis aeneus auratus7 are the only species of sufficient size to be considered as even remotely dangerous to mankind4 ,species of the genera ,tantilla 7black-headed snake71 ,hypsiglena1 and ,sonora are too small and too difficult for the amateur to identify to be considered in this publication4 ,gila monster 7,heloderma suspectum7 ,more conflicting statements are made about the ,gila 7,,hee-lah7 monster than about any other desert reptile4 ,some persons insist that it is not poisonous1 others are sure that even its breath is poisonous3 that it spits or blows its poison3 that the animal has no anal opening1 hence undigested fecal matter remains in the body1 decays1 and is the basis of its poison2 and so on4 ,illustration3 ,gila monster 7,heloderma suspectum74 ,here are the facts4 ,the lizard is poisonous and its bite may be serious1 possibly fatal#ac4 ,its breath is not poisonous1 and although the animal seems to have a chronic case of halitosis1 this has nothing to do with its dangerous properties4 ,it does not spit poison1 but when angered it frequently hisses1 the outcoming blast of air sometimes carrying droplets of saliva4 ,it has a normal anal opening and voids fecal matter in a perfectly normal manner4 ,it is not a walking septic tank as many persons believe4 ,largest of the lizards native to the ,united ,states1 and the only species found in this country which is poisonous1 the ,gila monster rarely attains a length of #b feet4 ,average specimens are smaller4 ,its beady skin1 heavy body1 short legs1 and waddling gait set it apart from all other lizards except its close relative1 the also poisonous ,heloderma horridum of ,mexico4 ,the ,gila ,monster is a spectacular black and corral color1 while the other is black and yellow4 ,gila monsters are found in southern ,arizona1 their range extending northwestward into the southern tip of ,nevada and southwestern ,utah4 ,illustration3 ,underside of ,gila monster showing anal opening4 ,this photograph is advanced as proof that the ,gila monster is a perfectly normal creature in this respect4 7,photo courtesy of ,poisonous ,animals ,research ,laboratory1 ,tempe1 ,arizona7 ,food and habits ,food consists chiefly of bird and reptile eggs1 young rodents1 and such small or juvenile creatures as it is able to capture4 ,it is especially fond of hen eggs and may be kept in captivity for a long time without other food4 ,it is also fond of clear water1 which seems strange because of the scarcity of this liquid in the natural habitat of the lizard4 ,if provided with a basin of water it may lie partly submerged for hours4 ,occasionally encountered ambling across stretches of open desert1 especially in the spring1 the ,gila monster is normally docile and bends every effort toward escape among the stiff stems of some bush or beneath the protecting spine-clad stems of a cactus plant4 ,sometimes an individual with a 8chip on its shoulder0 may be met1 or one in a normal state of mind may be teased or prodded into anger1 when it advances with open mouth1 sputtering and hissing4 ,when aroused1 the ,gila monster is remarkably agile1 making quick turns of its head to snap at nearby objects4 ,if it secures a grip1 it hangs on with bulldog-like tenacity1 grinding the object between its teeth4 ,gila monsters reproduce by means of eggs which are about #b inches long with a tough1 parchment-like skin4 ,from #e to #ac eggs are deposited by the female in a hole which she scoops in moist sand in a sunny location4 ,after laying the eggs1 she covers them with sand1 and leaves them for the heat of the sun to hatch4 ,illustration3 ,poison mechanism of the ,gila monster ,redrawn from ,dr4 ,fox #a4 ,poison gland4 #b4 ,grooved tooth4 #c4 ,poison duct4 #d4 ,opening1 poison duct4 #e4 ,eye4 #f4 ,dissected lower jaw4 ,the ,gila monster's tail serves as a storehouse of nourishment1 being thick and heavy in times of plenty1 and thin and rope-like in the early spring when the reptile first appears after months of hibernation1 during which time it has lived on the reservoir of fat stored in its tail4 ,poison of the ,gila monster ,the poison of the ,gila monster is produced by glands in the lower jaw4 ,to be most effective1 the poison must be ground into the wound through action of the grooved teeth1 the process taking a little time4 ,bitten persons who immediately have broken away sometimes show no effects of the venom1 therein lying the basis for the widespread statement that ,gila monsters are not poisonous4 ,bitten persons who have been unable to release themselves show symptoms of poisoning similar to persons suffering from rattlesnake bite1 although the poison is more neurotoxic in action4 ,breathing and heart action are speeded up1 followed by a gradual paralysis of the heart and breathing muscles4 ,treatment is essentially the same as that for rattlesnake bite1 which is described earlier in this booklet4 ,a physician should be summoned at once4 ,stimulants are dangerous1 and no one should be permitted to give the patient any alcohol whatever4 ,prevention is much simpler than cure1 so ,gila monsters should be allowed to mind their own affairs unmolested4 ,normally they are not pugnacious1 and it would be very difficult for one to bite a human unless it were being teased or handled or were stepped upon by a bare-footed child4 ,please do not kill or capture ,gila monsters4 ,these interesting lizards are a unique feature of native desert wildlife threatened with extinction4 ,please leave them for other people to see and enjoy4 ,furthermore1 the ,gila monster is protected by ,state law4 ,harmless ,creatures ,mistakenly ,believed ,poisonous ,practically everyone is aware of the widespread fear of snakes exhibited by people of all races and in all walks of life4 ,this fear although largely emotional1 is rationalized by many persons with the statement 8,well1 it ,,might be poisonous40 ,other persons believe that there is some rule of thumb1 such as a flat or triangular-shaped head1 by which all poisonous snakes may be recognized4 ,a great many persons kill all snakes1 just on general principles4 ,thus the innocent suffer with the guilty1 the harmless with the dangerous4 ,as scientists explore deeper and deeper into the intricacies of animal behavior and obtain more and more knowledge of the ecological relationships among animals and between animals and plants1 it becomes increasingly clear that these relationships present a delicate balance or adjustment of nature4 ,epidemic diseases1 disasters such as fires and floods1 and radical climatic changes may upset or alter these relationships1 sometimes with far-reaching effects4 ,but the greatest and most persistent disturber of the biological peace is ,,man4 ,almost every time man reduces or destroys one phase of nature1 he releases1 in so doing1 previously unrecognized forces which turn on him in a manner that he least expects4 ,snakes1 in general1 live on small rodents1 thereby helping to maintain a balance whereby rodents are unable to increase to such a point that they get out of nature's control4 ,kill all of the snakes in a given area1 and some of the control on rodent population is removed with a resulting increase in the destruction of vegetation and consequent damage to farmers' crops4 ,so if you must kill snakes1 by all means limit your activities to those which are known definitely to be poisonous4 ,one of the purposes of this booklet is to familiarize the desert dweller or visitor with the snakes that ,,are poisonous4 ,all the rest are harmless1 in fact they are generally beneficial to mankind1 even though their heads may be triangular in shape4 ,a given territory is capable of supporting a rather definite number of snakes4 ,kill the harmless ones and those that come in to take their place may be poisonous species4 ,in all parts of the country certain creatures1 particularly reptiles1 are credited with supernatural powers for causing injury or aid to human beings4 ,among aboriginal peoples1 these superstitions are a part of their religion and have a powerful effect upon their thinking4 ,for example1 among the ,hopi ,indians of northern ,arizona1 snakes may be messengers who1 if properly indoctrinated1 will convey to the rain gods expressions of the people's need for moisture in order that their crops may mature4 ,even among a people who for years have had the benefit of scientific knowledge1 superstitions persist4 ,the hoopsnake and the milksnake offer cases in point1 and there will be readers of this booklet who will toss it aside in anger because it states that both of these myths are without substantiation in fact4 ,illustration3 ,two adult banded gecko lizards ,these imaginary tales are passed from generation to generation and are the strongest in regions where the percentage of uneducated people is high4 ,this situation exists in the ,south and ,southwest4 ,many persons who have been denied educational opportunities are extremely credulous and have a long list of creatures to each of which they credit injurious or helpful powers4 ,a majority of these creatures are perfectly harmless1 but they are too numerous to be given space in this publication4 ,however1 it seems only fair to mention a few of the commonest of these persecuted species in the hope that they may be recognized as not only harmless1 but in many cases actually beneficial to man4 ,thus may their unwarranted persecution be somewhat reduced4 ,banded gecko 7,coleonyx variegatus7 ,quite small1 with velvety skin and delicate markings making it appear fragile and semitransparent1 this lizard has little to inspire fear4 ,hiding away during daylight hours in dark and preferably moist retreats1 it comes forth at night in search of insects for food4 ,it is rarely seen unless disturbed in its hiding place1 which may be in the corner of a closet or cupboard beneath the sink4 ,if captured1 it struggles to escape1 emitting a faint1 high-pitched squeak4 ,although the banded gecko is sometimes mistaken for the young of a ,gila monster1 in general the desert people accuse it of no definite crime1 stating merely 8we have heard that it is very poisonous10 and in consequence1 kill it whenever they find it4 ,solpugid 7,eremobates sp47 ,probably because of its large and prominent jaws1 the solpugid1 ,eremobates sp41 which is closely related to the spiders1 is greatly feared4 ,illustration3 ,solpugid or sun ,spider 8,anything so ugly ,,must be poisonous10 seems to be the principal basis for its unhappy reputation4 ,it is often found inside buildings where it has gone in search of insect prey1 and ,mexican families living in adobe houses with dirt floors are reported to be terrorized by it4 ,in ,mexico and in many parts of the ,southwest it is known as nia de la tierra or child-of-the-earth4 ,the range of the solpugid or sun spider is by no means limited to the desert1 but its reputation as a poisonous creature seems to be much worse in the ,southwest than elsewhere4 ,the solpugid not only is perfectly harmless to man but does not rely on poison in capturing its prey1 as it has no venom glands whatever4 ,jerusalem cricket 7,stenopelmatus sp47 ,whereas the solpugid is called child-of-the-earth in the southern portions of the ,southwest1 in the northern part of this territory another creature1 the ,jerusalem cricket1 sand cricket1 or chacho is reported as imbued with the same dangerous qualities evidently credited to any creature to which this name has been applied4 ,illustration3 ,jerusalem cricket1 sand cricket1 or chacho 7,photo by ,marvin ,h4 ,frost1 ,sr47 ,although quite common1 the ,jerusalem cricket1 ,stenopelmatus sp41 is shy and nocturnal in its habits4 ,its striking appearance is due to its head which is round1 bald1 and with markings on top that form1 with the use of a little imagination1 a simple1 smiling face4 ,it is this that suggests to the ,spanish-speaking people of the ,southwest1 who occasionally dig it from its burrow1 the name 8nia de la tierra40 ,the ,navajo ,indians call it woh-seh-tsinni1 meaning ,old ,man ,bald-head4 ,by the superstitious natives1 this creature is believed to be highly venomous and frequently the death of a horse or cow is blamed by the owner on a 8chacho0 that has crawled into the hay4 ,actually1 the ,jerusalem cricket is harmless and may be handled with perfect impunity by anyone1 although it may inflict a painful nip4 ,vinegaroon 7,trithyreus sp47 ,since people coming from ,arkansas1 ,oklahoma1 and ,texas bring the majority of tales regarding the deadly characteristics of the little vinegaroon or whip-tail scorpion1 fear of it is apparently more widespread over the cotton belt as a whole than within the desert regions of the ,southwest4 ,illustration3 ,vinegaroon 7,photo by ,marvin ,h4 ,frost1 ,sr47 ,the name vinegaroon stems from the fact that when the little creature is injured or smashed it gives off the odor of an acetate similar to that of acetic acid1 the principal ingredient of vinegar4 ,equipped with a massive pair of pincers1 the vinegaroon1 like the solpugid1 gives an impression of fierceness which is probably the basis for much of its reputation as a dangerous criminal4 ,however1 the pincers are used in catching and holding prey and have no poison mechanism in connection4 ,the hairlike posterior appendage1 or tail1 is without any protective or offensive mechanism whatever1 so that the creature is perfectly harmless insofar as human beings are concerned4 ,in fact1 like the solpugid and the banded gecko1 its food habits cause it to rid the world of a great many insects during the course of its life and many of its victims are certain to be noxious to the interests of mankind4 ,all of these creatures1 then1 are not only harmless1 but are actually beneficial to man1 and they deserve to be freed from the persecution resulting from ignorance and superstition1 and to be permitted to live in their normal relationship with other creatures4 ,,references ,,cited #a,kent1 ,melvin1 and ,stahnke1 ,h4 ,l41 8,effect and ,treatment of ,arizona ,scorpion ,stings10 ,southwestern ,medicine1 ,april1 #aici1 pp4 #ab-aba1 #abd4 #b;,bogen1 ,emil1 8,poisonous ,spider ,bites10 ,journal of the ,american ,medical ,association1 ,vol4 #ii1 ,no4 #bd1 ,december #aj1 #aicb4 #c,thorp1 ,raymond ,w41 and ,woodson1 ,weldon ,d41 ,black ,widow1 ,america's ,most ,poisonous ,spider1 ,university of ,north ,carolina ,press1 #aide4 #d;,baerg1 ,w4 ,j41 8,the ,effects of the ,bite of ,latrodectus mactans10 ,journal of ,parasitology1 ,vol4 ,,ix1 ,no4 #c1 ,march1 #aicc1 pp4 #afa-afi4 #e,wehrle1 ,l4 ,p41 8,observations on ,three ,species of ,triatoma10 ,bulletin of the ,brooklyn ,entomological ,society1 ,vol4 ,,xxiv1 ,no4 #c1 ,june1 #aici1 pp4 #ade-aed4 #f,matheson1 ,robert1 ,medical ,entomology1 ,charles ,c4 ,thomas1 ,baltimore1 ,md41 #aicb4 #g;,jones1 ,w4 ,ray1 ,king ,county ,medical ,association1 ,seattle1 ,washington4 #h;,githens1 ,t4 ,h41 8,snake ,bite in the ,united ,states10 ,scientific ,monthly1 ,august1 #aice1 pp4 #afc-afg4 #i,pope1 ,clifford ,h41 ,snakes ,alive and ,how ,they ,live1 ,viking ,press1 ,new ,york1 #aidb4 #aj,klauber1 ,l4 ,m41 ,rattlesnakes1 ,their ,habits1 ,life ,histories1 and ,influence on ,mankind1 #b vol41 ,university of ,california ,press1 ,berkeley1 #aief4 #aa;,cowles1 ,r4 ,b41 and ,bogert1 ,c4 ,m41 8,observation on the ,california ,lyre ,snake1 ,trimorphoden vandenburghi1 ,klauber4 ,with notes on the ,effectiveness of ,its ,venom10 ,copeia1 ,july #af1 #aice4 #ab,stahnke1 ,herbert ,l41 ,scorpions1 ,arizona ,state ,university ,bookstore1 ,tempe1 ,arizona1 #aidi4 #ac,loeb1 ,leo1 and collaborators1 ,the ,venom of ,heloderma1 ,carnegie ,institution of ,washington1 #aiac4 ,,publications ,,you ,,may ,,wish ,,to ,,read ,comstock1 ,john ,henry3 8,the ,spider ,book10 ,comstock ,publishing ,co4 ,inc41 ,ithaca1 ,n4 ,y41 #aidh4 ,klauber ,laurence ,m43 8,rattlesnakes1 ,their ,habits1 ,life ,histories1 and ,influence on ,mankind10 #b volumes1 ,university of ,california ,press1 ,berkeley1 #aief4 ,minton1 ,sherman ,a4 ,jr43 8,snakebite10 ,scientific ,american1 p4 #aad1 ,january1 #aieg4 ,shannon1 ,federick ,a43 8,comments on the ,treatment of ,reptile ,poisoning in the ,southwest10 reprinted from ,southwestern ,medicine1 ,volume ,,xxxiv1 ,no4 #aj1 ,october1 #aiec4 ,stahnke1 ,herbert ,l43 8,scorpions10 ,poisonous ,animals ,research ,laboratory1 ,tempe1 ,arizona1 #aief4 ,stahnke1 ,herbert ,l43 8,the ,treatment of ,venomous ,bites and ,stings10 ,poisonous ,animals ,research ,laboratory1 ,tempe1 ,arizona1 #aieh4 ,,index ,a ,about deserts and poisons #a ,acknowledgements vii ,ants #ag-ai ,aphonopelma #ac ,apis mellifera #bj ,arizona coral snake #bd-be ,arizona mountain kingsnake #bd-be ,assassin bug #ad ,avicularia #ac-ad ,b ,back-fanged snakes #cj ,banded gecko #ce ,bees #ag1 #ai1 #ba-bb ,bellows bug #ad ,black-headed snake #cj ,black widow spider #g-aj ,bombidae #af ,brown house spider #aj ,brown recluse spider #aj-ab ,brown spider #aj ,bumblebee #ag1 #ai ,c ,centipede #b-c ,centruroides #d-g ,chacho #cf-cg ,child-of-the-,earth #cf-cg ,coleonyx variegatus #ce ,conenose bug #ad-ag ,coral king snake #bd-be ,coral snake #bd-be ,crotalus #be ,d ,desert1 a definition #a ,desert hairy scorpion #e ,desert scientists vii ,deserts of the ,united ,states 7map7 viii ,dugesiella #ac ,e ,eremobates #cf ,f ,fiddleback spider #aj ,formicidae #ag ,g ,gecko #ce ,giant desert centipede #b-c ,gila monster #ca-cc ,h ,hadrurus hirsutus #d ,harmless creatures #cd ,heloderma #ca ,honeybee #ag1 #bj-bb ,hornet #ag1 #ai ,horned rattlesnake #bf-bg ,hymenoptera #ag ,hypsiglena #cj ,i ,insecticides vii ,j ,jerusalem cricket #cf-cg ,k ,kissing bug #ad ,l ,latrodectus mactans #g ,lizard #ca-cb1 #ce ,lycosa #ac ,lyre snake #cj ,m ,mexican vine snake #cj ,mountain kingsnake #bd-be ,micruroides euryxanthus #bd ,mutillidae #ag ,n ,nia de la tierra #cf-cg ,o ,oxybelis #cj ,p ,pesticides vii ,poison 7definition7 #a ,poisonous animals 7definition7 #a ,poison lizard #ca-cc ,publications you may wish to read #ci ,r ,rattlesnakes #be-cj ,reduviidae #ad ,references cited #ci ,s ,sand cricket #cf-cg ,scolopendra heros #c ,scorpions #d-g ,sidewinder #bf-bg ,solpugid #cf ,sonora #cj ,sonoran ,desert ,frontispiece ,sphecidae #ag ,spiders #g-ad ,stenopelmatus #cf-cg ,striped-tail scorpion #d ,slender-tail scorpion #d ,squash bug #ad ,t ,tantilla #cj ,tarantula #ac-ad ,triatoma #ad ,trimorphodon #cj ,trithyreus #cg ,v ,vejovis spinigeris #d ,velvet ant #ag-ah ,vespidae #ag ,vinegaroon #cg-ch ,w ,walpai tiger #ad ,wasps #ag1 #ai ,western diamondback rattlesnake #be ,whip-tail scorpion #cg ,y ,yellowjackets #ai ,this booklet is published in cooperation with the ,national ,park ,service by the ,,southwest ,,parks ,,and ,,monuments ,,association a non-profit distributing organization pledged to aid in preservation and interpretation of ,southwestern features of outstanding national interest4 ,the ,association lists for sale many excellent publications for adults and children and hundreds of color slides on ,southwestern subjects4 ,we recommend the following items for additional information on the ,southwest and the ,national ,park ,system3 ,,your ,,national ,,park ,,system ,,in ,,the ,,southwest4 ,,in ,,words ,,and ,,color4 ,jackson4 #ejj word articles on each ,national ,park ,service area in the huge ,southwest ,region1 with full-color photograph for #ed of the #ef areas listed4 ,most authoritative treatment possible1 by #cb-year former career ,n4,p4,s4 employee1 with every text checked for accuracy by ,regional ,office and each area's superintendent4 ,also contains 8,how to ,get ,there0 appendix4 #fd pages1 #ef full-color illustrations1 color cover1 paper4 #a4ie #ajj ,,desert ,,wildflowers ,,in ,,natural ,,color4 ,dodge4 ,descriptions and full-color portraits of #ajj of the most interesting desert wildflowers4 ,photographic hints4 #fd pp41 full-color cover1 paper4 #a4ej #ajj ,,roadside ,,wildflowers ,,of ,,southwest ,,uplands ,,in ,,natural ,,color4 ,dodge4 ,companion book to author's #ajj ,desert ,wildflowers in ,natural ,color1 but for higher elevation flowers4 #fd pages and full-color cover1 paper4 #a4ej ,,flowers ,,of ,,the ,,southwest ,,deserts4 ,dodge and ,janish4 ,more than #adj of the most interesting and common desert plants beautifully drawn in #ajj plates1 with descriptive text4 #aab pp41 color cover1 paper4 #a4jj ,,flowers ,,of ,,the ,,southwest ,,mesas4 ,patraw and ,janish4 ,companion volume to the ,desert flowers booklet1 but covering the plants of the plateau country of the ,southwest4 #aab pp41 color cover1 paper4 #a4jj ,,flowers ,,of ,,the ,,southwest ,,mountains4 ,arnberger and ,janish4 ,descriptions and illustrations of plants and trees of the southern ,rocky ,mountains and other ,southwestern ranges above #g1jjj feet elevation4 #aab pp41 color cover1 paper4 #a4jj ,,mammals ,,of ,,the ,,southwest ,,deserts 7formerly ,animals of the ,southwest ,deserts74 ,olin and ,cannon4 ,handsome illustrations1 full descriptions1 and life habits of the #db most interesting and common mammals of the lower desert country of the ,southwest below the #d1ejj-;foot elevation4 #aab pp41 #fj illustrations1 color cover1 paper4 #a4jj ,,mammals ,,of ,,southwest ,,mountains ,,and ,,mesas4 ,olin and ,bierly4 ,companion volume to ,mammals of ,southwest ,deserts4 ,fully illustrated in exquisitely done fine and scratchboard drawings1 and written in ,olin's masterfully lucid style4 ,gives description1 ranges1 and life habits of the better known ,southwestern mammals of the uplands4 ,color cover1 paper #b4jj ,cloth #c4be ,illustration3 ,,spma and ,,nps logos ,write ,for ,catalog ,,southwest ,,parks ,,and ,,monuments ,,association ,box #aefb--;,globe1 ,arizona #heeja #abth ,edition 7,revised7 #h-gj--bj,m ,,erratum ,on page #bi1 we regretfully acknowledge a typographical error4 ,step #c of the cryotherapy treatment should read3 #c4 ,place the bitten hand or other member in the iced water well above the point of ligation4 ,transcriber's ,notes --,retained publication information from the printed edition3 this e,book is public-domain in the country of publication4 --,in the text versions only1 text in italics is delimited by underscores4 --,silently corrected a few typos4 --,tweaked the order of the ,table of ,contents to match the text4 --,incorporated the 8erratum0 7from an inserted slip7 into the text4 ,the erroneous ,step #c replicated ,step #b4 --,inserted references to unreferenced endnotes at apparently-appropriate places4