A 23-year-old individual succumbs following a venomous bite from a violin spider.
Originally, he believed it was a mosquito bite, but the swelling grew larger and more agonizing: A young man in Italy was bitten by a violin spider and perished a few weeks later.
Once again, within a matter of weeks, someone in Italy succumbed to the venom of a violin spider. As reported by ANSA, a 23-year-old tragically passed away in a hospital in southern Italy due to septic shock and organ failure. He had been bitten on his leg roughly a month prior. In July, a 52-year-old policeman also met his end on Sicily after a bite from the same species of spider.
According to local reports, the 23-year-old was bitten while doing gardening work for a company. Initially, he believed it was a mosquito bite, but soon he was in excruciating pain and soon thereafter developed an abscess on his leg that led to decay of the adjacent tissue. He then sought medical help. Not long after he was transferred to a larger clinic, the young man's life came to an end.
The violin spider (Loxosceles rufescens) is native to the Mediterranean region, Asia, and North America, as per the World Catalogue of Spiders. It presents a uniform yellowish-brown color, with a size between 7.5 to 9 millimeters. The name 'violin spider' comes from a marking on its body which resembles the shape of a violin. A fascinating trait is its possession of six eyes instead of the typical eight. The violin spider is generally considered non-aggressive, but its venom is extremely potent. It prefers dry soil, burrows, and can often be found near houses, particularly in gardens.
In 2015 and 2017, two individuals lost their lives after being bitten by the spider. However, a subsequent investigation indicated that both instances were complicated by pre-existing health concerns.
The 23-year-old's tragic death was caused by a bite from a venomous violin spider. Despite initially believing it was a mosquito bite, the young man's symptoms worsened, leading to his eventual demise in a hospital.
Despite being non-aggressive, the violin spider's venom is extremely potent and has led to fatalities in the past, such as in the cases of the young man and others.
