ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the pain scale, anaphylaxis, organ failure and other effects of arthropod venoms and toxins. Venomous, and sometimes poisonous, insects represent serious health threats to humans. A number of insects and other arthropods produce venoms, primarily peptides, including phospholipases, histamines, proteases and esterases, but also formic and acetic acid. Melittin is found only in honey bee venom, and is responsible for both the pain of the sting and destruction of red blood cells. It also enhances the effect of the second component, phosphospholipase A2, a toxin that directly attacks heart muscle. Spiders, scorpions and centipedes are important predators that feed on insects, mites or other arthropods. The Australian funnel-web spiders are considered to be the most dangerous spiders in the world. The brown recluse spider is typically light brown, although color can vary, with a darker violin-shaped marking on the cephalothorax, with the neck pointed toward the abdomen.
