Bugs and critters (Alamogordo, Alamo, Hope: apartment complex, scorpions, to live)

[Steve-o]

Wow, Im surprised at all the misinformation on this thread!

I can tell you right now that ALL spiders are almost blind, not just black widows. Spiders have setae all over their bodies (vibration sensitive hairs) which tells them what is where, how big it is, etc... Black widows (Latrodectus spp) are rather clumsy off their webs, but are really quick on them. I wouldnt be too worried about them, they spend most their lives on their webs which are easily noticeable because of their erratic and jagged patterning. Females are the only potentially lethal species, males are not lethal.

Scorpions? New Mexico has LOTS of species, mainly of the genus Vaejovis, which is harmless but can deliver painful stings. Healthy adults shouldnt have a problem, but infants and elderly (and those with weakened immune systems) should be taken to the hospital if a sting is suspected. To find them, best hunt at night with a portable blacklight. Use some tweezers and GENTLY lift the scorpion below the stinger (aculeus) on the tail (metasoma) and place them in a glass jar and release them back outside far from the house. Scorpions cant climb glass or smooth services, regardless of what myths you may have heard.

Tarantulas: only species of the genus Aphonopelma live in the state. Although large and menacing, their bites are painful but harmless. Not a single person (documented) has died from a tarantula bite. Theyre actually quite harmless and docile. The ones you see wandering around are males whove reached their penultimate molt and are out in search of a female to mate. Once males reach sexual maturity they only have months left to live, whereas females can live 15-30 years depending. Just leave em alone, theyre just out to score.

Snakes: NM is also home to several Crotalids (Crotalus genus) aka rattlesnakes. The most prevalent are Crotalus atrox, or the "western diamondback rattlesnake". Ill put it plain and simple: LEAVE THEM ALONE. Dont be so quick to kill them, they eat up to 9lbs of disease-spreading rodents a year. Their bites are potentially lethal, but only 1/10th of 1% of snake bite victims die. Ill let you dwell on that for a moment... Theyre very misunderstood creatures, sadly. If you have anymore questions let me know.

Centipedes: not-lethal but pack a healthy punch with their venom delivering forcipules. NM is host to a few Scolopendra species that can get quite large, some up to 6-7". Most reactions to bites are burning pain and localized swelling.


Just to let everyone know, I keep scorpions and tarantulas and giant centipedes and lots of other venomous arachnids. Ive worked with them for years and also research them in the wild. Below are some pics Ive taken of my "pets" and some in the wild (my main hunting grounds are AZ and MO). Please, if you have any questions let me know, I will do my best to answer any and all questions about these wonderful animals.

Scolopendra polymorpha:


Loxoceles reclusa (aka violin spider, fiddler spider: notice the violin-shaped area on the carapace/"head"?):




Aphonopelma hentzi (Missouri specimen) in defensive posture:

Agkistrodon contortrix (not native to NM) aka copperhead:



Giant centipede. This is a Vietnamese species (Scolopendra subspinipes de haani), but centipede anatomy is virtually all the same. See the two thick "legs" below its head? Those are the "fangs" where the venom is injected, theyre called forcipules. Steer clear of that end. ;-)


Latrodectus mactans (southern black widow) from Missouri. The species youll encounter in the west is the Latrodectus hesperus. This is a immature female, they dont fully develop the tell-tale hourglass until they grow older. Juvenile females will retain dorsal coloring on the abdomens until they full mature and become all black:


Aphonopelma hentzi (MO species again) again. The Aphonopelma species in NM will look almost identical. Theyre big babies...


DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!! Im just showing how docile these are. In no way do I condone this, so please DONT DO TIHS AT HOME!!! Tarantulas can and will bite if they feel threatened, but most are gentle as baby birds.

[Steve-o]

This is a Arizona desert hairy scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis) under blacklight. Scorpions flouresce brilliantly under blacklight, making them easy to detect and remove GENTLY. Please dont kill them! Theyre beneficial in controlling the insect population!


Scorpion defensive posture. If theyre in this stance, it means they feel threatened and are ready to deliver a quick sting:


Giant centipede length. Some Scolopendra species in NM are capable of achieving this length!


DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! Im just showing how gentle tarantulas really can be. This one is from Missouri (Aphonopelma hentzi). DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!!!! Just demonstrating how manageable scorpions really are. Theyre NOT out to get you, just remember that. Once agian, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!!!!

[_yb]

Thanks for sharing all that info Steve-o

Out west you hear the best rattlesnake is a dead rattlesnake comment alot.
I really hate that. I give them there space and they leave me alone.

[Sooner-On-The-Move]

So are there, or are there not, Recluses in NM?!

I thought I'd fled them when I left Oklahoma. I have received two bites from them in the past two years, as the apartment where I lived was infested, and they seemed to like living in the couch and biting at night when I fell asleep there. I have a quarter-sized scar on my leg and a smaller scar on my hand from them and saw them constantly when I was there. I've only been in NM since late Autumn, and I'd hate to think that, come summer, I'll have to deal with the bastards again!

[james57]

This message is for coltoncity with respect to dogs and rattlesnakes. I think that I started the original thread about this subject.

Anyway , while I don't live in NM, here is the info I got from the replies to the thread.

Dogs have been bitten by rattlesnakes and survived. However, its not fun. Apparently there is a vaccine you can get from the vet which will minimize the effects of the bite. Not sure about this, since I recall some controversy about getting dogs vaccinated this way.

Best method appears to be to train or get the dog trained for snake avoidance. The vet can refer you on this. The dog needs to learn to run the other way when a rattlesnake is nearby.

Another method is to fence in the dogs area. However, this is not an easy or inexpensive method. You need to actually dig into the ground so the mesh fence will extend low enough. Of course the mesh must be fine enough so the snake can't get thru it. Then it must be high enough also. And you have the problem of a gate to contend with. This method sounded pretty difficult to guarantee to me.

In conclusion , the best method seemed to be the snake avoidance training. As a back up you might go with the vaccine in case the dog does get bitten. And of course if that happens a quick trip to the vet is necessary.

All the above info is second hand since I recall it from reading the responses from others. So nothing is guaranteed, but hopefully this summary will be useful.

Good luck with your pet dog. Hope things work out for you.

Jim

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Sooner-On-The-Move

So are there, or are there not, Recluses in NM?!

I thought I'd fled them when I left Oklahoma. I have received two bites from them in the past two years, as the apartment where I lived was infested, and they seemed to like living in the couch and biting at night when I fell asleep there. I have a quarter-sized scar on my leg and a smaller scar on my hand from them and saw them constantly when I was there. I've only been in NM since late Autumn, and I'd hate to think that, come summer, I'll have to deal with the bastards again!

No, they do not range into NM, but Id rather deal with those than rattlesnakes, just be careful where you step and where you put your hands/feet. Snakes are very cryptic and blend in with their environments perfectly. Many people say "Ive been here 20 years and havent seen a snake yet", but the fact is they havent seen them even though they were probably standing next to several! I was one of those people! I almost stepped on one in my father-in-laws yard in AZ.

[6 Foot 3]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

I can tell you right now that ALL spiders are almost blind, not just black widows.

Well some do see very well i.e. Wolf and Jumping spiders. Usually around april (after winter) here in ABQ i'll see them in the rock beds at the apartment complex where i live and i'll let them jump on my hand and what not as they are cool to play with. When i lived in Jacksonville, Fla Wolf spiders lived on the window seals and i would tease them by barely sticking my finger over the edge and i'd move it and they would run after it (yeah i was young and stupid then). But great info and pictures Steve especially the Scorpion on the hand (classic).

I'm really surprised that when i was in my twenties we used to go to the junk yards (Alamogordo) all the time to get parts for my 72 Chevy Nova and the signs there say ''take parts at your own risk'' for rattlesnake attacks (inside/under vehicles) as they shelter from the hot sun but we never seen or heard one rattling out there. Just lucky i guess !!

[Steve-o]

Harry-o, yes, wolf spiders do have amazing sight, just look at those huge eyes!!!! LOL Neat critters though! I love jumpers, particularly Phiddipus audax, theyre common up here and get large by jumper standards.

As for the junkyard thing, I dont have to worry about that up here. We have 4 species of venomous snakes in IL, but theyre few and far between and mostly range down south except the Eastern Massasauga, which has been seen and documented in the Chicagoland area. Ive been looking high and low for them and still have not found one. Thanks for the comments though!

[6 Foot 3]

steve-o...question about Brown Recluses...i know that they hide or remain out of site from most hence the name ''Recluse'' but researching them i read that alot of people are bit while sleeping in bed. So i'm confused do they hide or do they wander.

We had a tech where i work have a quarter size ulcer on his leg after working underneath a kitchen sink although he never seen or felt its bite but at the hospital they told him it was probably a Recluse that bit him. He missed work for 3 weeks....

[6 Foot 3]

I just realised that he is restricted......