A supermarket in Austria had to evacuate its customers because of the presence of a poisonous spider, called Phoneutria nigriventer. It hides in banana bunches and its bite could lead to a painful and very long erection.
This summer, a supermarket located in Austria had to close its doors urgently and evacuate all its customers after a spider venomous – baptized Phoneutria nigriventer and nicknamed “banana spider” – has been sighted in banana stallsreported an article by the American media TMZ on August 10, 2023. No customers were bitten. In the event of a bite, its venom would contain a neurotoxic substance which would be able to cause pain and an increase in blood pressure, but also a strange symptom such asa painful erection that can last for several hoursshowed the results of a study presented at a meeting of theAmerican Physiological Society. In the absence of emergency treatment (an anti-venom exists)these symptoms can be deadly. To highlight and understand this strange symptom, researchers analyzed the different components of the spider’s venom and measured, in rats, erection enhancer level. Following their analysis published in the National Library of Medicinethe researchers showed that the component responsible for the increase in penile pressure was the Tx2-6, a short chain of amino acids called peptides. Scientists have also found an increase in nitric oxide in the two main cylindrical cavities which run the full length of the penis and which are called cavernous body. “Erection is a side effect that a person bitten by this spider might experience, in addition to pain and discomfort“, confirmed Romulo Leite, one of the researchers taking part in the study, who thus speaks of a “natural viagra”. According to him, this discovery could contribute to the development of drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Where does the banana spider live?
This species of spider of Brazilian origin would be among the most dangerous spiders in the world. It is mainly present in the United States, Mexico and South America (Brazil, Guyana, French Guyana, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina) but to reach Europe, this wandering arachnid would hide in banana bunches shipped to stores hence his nickname “spider-banana”. In France, several supermarkets have already reported the presence of banana spiders on their shelves, such as in Sillery in Marne in April 2023 or earlier, in Passy in Haute-Savoie in January 2015.
photo of the banana spider
How big is a banana spider?
The banana spider measures on average 10 cm (some can reach 18 cm) and has an hourglass-shaped red spot on his abdomen.
What are the dangers of a banana spider?
The banana spider contains a highly toxic venom that can cause death in 2 to 3% of cases (in the absence of treatment). A bite can lead to generalized pain, swelling of the bitten area, high blood pressure and priapism (prolonged erection). But although painful, the bite is rarely fatal for the man. Brazil is the country with the most bites per year, which mainly take place between March and April, the spiders’ breeding season. Of the 422 envenomations reported between 1984 and 1996, only 2 people died, and the other victims had only mild symptoms or no reaction (Review of the Institute of Tropical Medicine of São Paulo, flight. 42. ).