Are Pholcid Spiders Dangerous?
WouterPholcid spiders are common and plentiful, but are they dangerous? The answer to that question is no. Not only are they not harmful to humans, they are beneficial to mosquitoes, too.
The venom that is produced by the pholcid spiders is less toxic than that of black widow spiders. There is some evidence that a gene known as the neprilysin may play a central functional role in the venoms of these spiders.
The venom of one species of pholcid spider has been tested on human subjects and the results showed no harmful effects. The venom contains over 120 different proteins and peptides.
Some of these proteins are thought to be very interesting. A recent study by researchers from the University of California at Riverside and the Oregon State University, funded by the National Institutes of Health, has shown that the venom of these spiders is very good at stimulating the immune system.
Another researcher, Rick Vetter, has studied the venom of these spiders and found that the venom does not damage human tissue. The fangs of the pholcid spider are very short and cannot penetrate the skin of a human.
However, scientists still do not know how to test whether the venom of these spiders is toxic to humans. They believe that the venom of this spider cannot be injected or tested on humans, but they do think that they might have an antivenom.
A few years ago, MythBusters tackled this legend. Adam Savage subjected himself to a bite from a cellar spider. He reported a mild irritation, which did not last long.
