Most people with any sense would take out medical insurance when they travel but how many ensure they're life insurance is up to date and that it covers them for the more unusual events of foreign countries? Of course, you wouldn't assume, or even think about, dying on holiday but in this precarious life all eventualities should be covered.
In many hot countries, a spider bite is enough to kill you and if you are in an area where you know there may be dangerous insects, make sure your life insurance can cope with this before you leave for the airport. Unusual circumstances can often mean a life insurance company will find a way not to pay out and your family do not need this worry on top of everything else.
Of course, deaths from spider bites are relatively rare but they do happen, particularly in the hotter countries around the world.
There are four main groups of spiders with the ability to kill. They are categorised as either neurotoxic where their venom attacks the nervous system or necrotic, where the venom attacks the tissue around the bite and sometimes also attacks the vital organs.
The Brazilian wandering spider is highly toxic and considered one of the most dangerous spiders in the world. That said, an anti-venom does exist so if you were near to medical facilities you could call on your medical insurance which is always the better alternative to needing your life insurance.
You don't necessarily have to be abroad to come into contact with the Brazilian. It's not called wandering for nothing and is in the group of spiders that like to hang out in banana boxes. So, next time you're down at your local supermarket selecting your fruit for the week, you may want to top up your anti-venom stores before you leave.
This spider has a particularly painful bite due to its extra long fangs although it does, very kindly, prefer to give dry bites and save the energy needed to produce venom for when he feels more under threat. If he does introduce venom with the bite you are likely to experience increased levels of nitric oxide. Of course, for those with a sad sex life this could be a good thing as a very small amount causes an hour long erection. The venom is currently being used by scientists to find a new way to treat erectile dysfunction so who says all spiders are useless?
The Australian Funnel Web spider is well known for its toxic abilities. When confronted, it prefers to attack than run and will inject a venom containing robustotoxin. This is an aggressive little beast that chooses to always inject its venom - no dry bites with this little pest! Ok if you're near a hospital to receive the anti-venom but if you're out in the wild, you loved ones may be utilising your life insurance.
Tangle web spiders come in two categories: the widow spiders and the false widow spiders. The males of the species are less dangerous than the female with the widow spider delivering neurotoxic venom and the false black widow delivering a bite that will probably smart in the morning. Anti-venom is available.
Now the six-eyed sand spider is in an entirely different league. Found in deserts this little blighter is well disguised under the sand and if disturbed will run a short distance and hide again. It's not mad keen on biting humans so is unlikely to be a huge threat.
However, if you annoy it enough it will bite, it will deliver venom and there is no antidote. Your blood vessels will soon begin to leak, tissue will be destroyed rapidly after and multiple organ failure will see your family digging out that life insurance claim before you are cold. This spider holds no prisoners and is not called 'Sicarius' or 'murderer' for nothing. |
