Black Widow Spiders Are Even Creepier Under a Microscope (25 pics)

Posted in ANIMALS       7 Feb 2014       19499       3 GALLERY VIEW

These images of black widow spiders under a microscope will freak you out forever!

 

This pair of Latrodectus hesperus spiders, male and female, "volunteered" to be a part of this study. The name comes from Greek, and means "the bearer of night, who bites in secret."

The male of the species is small and brown, and the common thinking is that their fangs can't penetrate the skin, so they aren't dangerous to humans.

This was taken well before the internationally accepted banana-scale standard was implemented.

Before doing any cool stuff, I had to get the excess moisture and gases out of the spiders. This is a desiccator, which is under a vacuum. I learned the hard way to release the vacuum slowly, as explosive decompression caused the male spider to blow around the chamber and lose all 8 legs. RIP ODB. After this, I hunted down another male.

Before viewing under the SEM, the bugs had to be gold coated, to allow for proper electron travel. Or in layman's terms: SCIENCE SCIENCE SCIENCE, SCIENCE.
That blue glow is the actual process of gold ions being shot at the stage to coat the spider.
Certified Gold Arachnid.
Welcome to the Machine. I had to rotate and change angles for many of the shots you'll see. It's a pain. You're welcome.

This is the male spider.

The male's chelicerae and fangs. Remember that rumor about how they were supposed to be short? They're just as long as a female's fangs. This little guy is just as deadly, but he doesn't have enough death to inject into your unsuspecting finger.
PUT ON YOUR 3D GLASSES NOW. The foot has 3 claws. The red-highlighted ones are for walking and climbing on surfaces. The smooth blue is for clinging to strands of web.
Dorsal view of the male.
The pedipalps on a spider are similar to feelers or antennae. Or in the case of the male, the reproductive organ. Google "spider mating" if you enjoy being disgusted.
Ventral view. His pedipalps shouldn't look like crunched popcorn. They imploded during the desiccation process.
Spigots on one of his spinnerets, this is where the silk comes out.
Spinnerets, each covered in spigots.
The coolest shot I have of this spider. The money shot. After capture, he was placed in a jar filled with alcohol, to get him good and drunk and dead. At some point, he began trying to spin an escape route, which was preserved beautifully and visible under the SEM.
These baby blues belong to the female.
Ready for your close-up?
The female died in a difficult position to get any good views on her fangs, but here they are in all their sharp and murderous glory.
This is how pedipalps SHOULD look. At least on a female.
Looking at a Black Widow, you would assume they're smooth, shiny, and sleek. Instead, the harsh reality is that they are just as hairy and grotesque as a tarantula.
Someone needs a waxing.
Book lungs. I'll leave you with this fun fact: Spiders don't breathe like we do. Haemolymph (spider blood) sits in the spaces inside these structures, and oxygen is exchanged through diffusion. This is an adaptation in a species designed for extended pursuit. Spiders do not tire. You do. They will chase you endlessly, into your dreams, and turn them into nightmares.


Advertisement


Credits:  www.reddit.com


3   Comments ?
-1
1.
jan_kowalski 10 year s ago
#25 yea, thanks for the info
       
0
2.
gigantes 10 year s ago
nice work, young researcher bro!
       
0
3.
Three 4 year s ago
Kill yourself, you arachnophobe piece of sh#t.
       
27353641acute
belayclappingdance3dashdirol
drinksfoolgirl_craygirl_devilgirl_witch
goodgreenheartJC-LOLJC_doubledown
JC_OMG_signkisslaughingman_in_lmocking
mr47_04musicokroflsarcastic
sm_80tonguevishenka_33vomitwassat
yahooshoot
How to Build a Crypto Portfolio That Dominates the Upcoming 2024/25 Bull Run


Advertisement






Advertisement
Advertisement

Archives

2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
0000
Advertisement

How to comment

•    Don't insult other visitors. Offensive comments will be deleted without warning.

•    Comments are accepted in English only.

•    No swearing words in comments, otherwise such comments will be censored.

•    Your nickname and avatar are randomly selected. If you don't post comments for 7 days, they both are reset.

•    To choose another avatar, click the ‘Random avatar’ link.

random_banner_1