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Handbook for Survival in the Rain Forest
Insect bites
Spider bites or stings
As in the case of serpents, spider bites or stings will produce different types of reactions, according to the type of spider that stung or bit you. In general, spider bites or stings are not necessarily mortal, but many will produce intense pain, fever, nauseas, vomiting and general ill-being usually coupled to an acute anxiety attack. Unless the person which ahs suffered the bite or sting has a strong allergic reaction, the symptoms will usually disappear in a period of between 24 to 48 hours, except for the local wound, which extension and duration will depend on the quantity of venom that has been inoculated. (See Drawings 14 a and b)
Loxósceles laeta. House Spider
Drawing 14a
Necrotic lesion produced by the sting of a house spider of the Genus Loxosceles
Drawing 14b
If you should happen to find a spider on your skin never try to kill it by squashing it against your body, but always use a brushing motion, thus avoiding that it inject its venom when crushing it.
Scorpion stings
If you are stung by a scorpion, the sting is very painful due to the effects of the venom that it will inject, which acts on your muscles, especially your smooth and long muscles. It will produce an anxiety attack with excited ness, with contractions and tremors throughout your body, heightening your body secretions, especially through your nose and tear canals.
Vomiting and diarrhoea will follow with the most violent symptoms setting on only about 12 hours from the sting itself. Unless the person stung is allergic to scorpion stings, the effects will disappear within approximately 48 hours. (See Drawing 14 c).
Scorpion
Drawing 14c
Ant bites and stings
In the Rain Forest one of the most common dangers is from ant bites and stings, since they are to be found in all parts of it. Different species exist, some vegetarian, some are carnivorous, some are venomous and others are inoffensive, some have wings and others do not. There are even edible ants to be found.
The most dangerous ones are:
The so called Tangarana. It can be found in certain trees that go by the same name. They are carnivorous and will attack if you lean against the tree. Their bite is very painful.
The so called Pucacuro. It is a very small ant but in contact with your skin it will cause a very painful irritation with a burning sensation. It is dangerous if its venom gets into your eyes, because it may cause blindness. It is found in leaf litter and in the underbrush.
The so called Isula or Bullet Ant. It a huge ant, up to 5 centimetres in length, black in colour and is usually to be found on the lower part of tree trunks and in their hollow trunks. Its bite, which is very painful, will produce swelling and fever, which can last up to 48 hours. (See Drawing 14 d).
Isula
Drawing 14d
Wasp, fly and bee stings.
The stings of these insects can be dangerous if they attack in swarms. If you are attacked by a swarm find the best way to protect yourself, covering yourself with a blanket or covering the exposed parts of your body with mud. You can also run into thick underbrush, agitating the branches in order to make them go away. Another way of protecting yourself is to submerge yourself in water and keeping your head above the water, splash violently water with your hands to keep them from reaching you.
If you have been bitten or stung by these insects, we recommend that you put mud on the bites and also to cover yourself with water for an hour or more. (See Drawing 14 e).
Tick, Black Widow Spider, Solitary Spiders, Tarantula and Scorpion.
Drawing 14e
All you need to know about treating insect bites can be found in our First Aid Hand Book, in the corresponding part.
