SAS Urban Survival Handbook (102 page)

3▶Indian krait
Bungarus caeruleus
Small-headed, with black-and-white or black-and-yellow bands down the body. Found in India and Sri Lanka. Length: 1.3-2.1 m (4-7 ft).
Slow to strike, but its venom is especially powerful.
Bite is almost painless. Symptoms may take several hours to develop, by which time it may be too late.

THE AMERICAS

4▶Rattlesnake
Crotalus/Sisturus
species Chunky body, wide head and a rattle at the end of the tail that is usually, but not always, sounded as a warning. Many kinds, widespread in the US and Mexico. The largest are the various diamondbacks, with distinctive diamond-shaped blotches. Length: 45 cm (18 in) to over 2.1m (7 ft).
Larger species are especially dangerous.

5▶Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
Stout body, coloured buff or orange-brown with rich brown bands and a copper-red head. Found mainly in the eastern US. Fairly timid, it vibrates its tail if angry. Length: 60-90 cm (24-36 in).
Bites are rarely fatal.

6▶Cottonmouth
(Water moccasin)
Agkistrodon piscivorous
Thick brown or brownish-olive body, sometimes blotched, and a yellowish belly, also blotched. The inside of the mouth is white. Aquatic, it is found in or by fresh water in the southern US. Length: 60-130 cm (24-45 in).
Belligerent, do not annoy! Victims have suffered tissue damage and amputations.

7▶Cascabel
(Tropical rattlesnake)
Crotalus durissus
Large with diamond-shaped marks, two dark stripes on the neck and a rattle on the tail. Nocturnal and found in drier areas from eastern South America to Mexico. Length: 1.5-2 m (5- 61/2 ft).
Aggressive. One of the world’s most dangerous!

8▶Common lancehead
Bothrops
species Brownish with paler geometric markings. Length: 1.3-2 m (4-6 1/2 ft). Its many relatives vary from grey to brown or reddish with similar markings. Various species occur in South America north to Mexico. Some are arboreal.
Have caused many deaths. Tend to loop their body before striking.

9▶Coral snake
Slender and strikingly coloured often with bands of black and red separated by bands of yellow or white. Found in forests and grasslands from the southern US into South America. Similar species occur in Southeast Asia. Length: 45-90 cm (18-35 in).
Small-mouthed, somewhat reluctant to bite, but deadly.

SAFETY RULES

ALWAYS walk on clear paths.

ALWAYS look closely before parting bushes or picking fruit—some snakes are arboreal.

DON’T put hands or feet in places you can’t see, use tools or sticks to turn over logs or stones.

BITTEN BY A SNAKE

In the case of snakebite, identify the snake if possible—but don’t risk further injury. If the snake has been killed, take it with you so that antivenin can be accurately matched. Get the victim to hospital immediately but avoid them having to walk or expend energy—which speeds the circulation of the poison. Do not apply a tourniquet.

BITES & STINGS

The amount of venom injected is usually tiny, but it contains concentrated doses of fast-acting poisons, similar to those in snake venoms—nerve poisons, stupefying ingredients, a convulsant, enzymes and sometimes formic acid.

Stings can cause faintness, fever, degrees of paralysis, difficulty in breathing, vomiting and diarrhoea. These symptoms usually pass in 24 hours, but an attack of urticaria may follow after a week. Occasionally, severe allergy can cause death.

1▶ Scorpion
Arachnidae
There are many deadly species of scorpion in tropical and subtropical regions, often living in and around houses. Colouring varies from yellow and yellow-green to brown or black, shading from dark body to lighter legs and tail. Almost all are nocturnal. Cornered or crushed scorpions tend to sting repeatedly with the tail—but of the 1500 plus species, only about 50 are dangerous to man.

The most dangerously venomous species in the US is
Centruroides exilicauda
, which is pale brown with dark stripes and about 8 cm (3 in long). In southern Europe/North Africa the most common dangerous species is
Buthus occitanis.
Usually about 10 cm (4 in) long, it inhabits dry areas. The Brazilian
Tityus serrulatus
and the Trinidadian
Tityus trinitatis
cause numerous deaths each year.

Scorpion venom is neurotoxic—death results from respiratory/cardiac failure. Seldom fatal in adults.

2▶Ant
Formicidae
Found worldwide and closely related to the wasp and bee. In most species the stinger is very small and the venom mild, but the dangerous species possess a combination of potent venom, large stingers and numerous aggressive workers.
The harvester ant
(A)
Pogonomyrmex
is an aggressive species found in the western US and South America. Will attack without provocation, inflicting dozens of painful stings in seconds. Though very painful, the stings have little lasting effect except in cases of allergic reaction.
The giant bulldog ant
(B)
Myrmecia gulosa
of Australia is 2.5 cm (1 in) in length

with large toothed jaws and a stinger. Can leap several inches and will attack in vast numbers with little provocation.

Not all species have stingers. The bloodred
field ant
(C)
Formica sanguinea
, of Europe, North Africa and northern Asia, squirts a formic acid solution and then bites.

3▶Fire ant
Solenopsis saevissima
Introduced into the US from South America, fire ants are now a major pest in southern states. Dark red in colour and about 2.5 cm (1 in) in length, they build nests up to 90 cm (3 ft) high. The stings are very painful and can cause severe allergic reaction.

BEE/WASP
Hymenoptera

Many species are social insects that occur in colonies which can number hundreds of workers. They build nests in the ground, in trees, under the eaves or in the walls of houses.

4▶Honey bee
(Hive bee)
Apis mellifera
A worldwide species, the most highly developed of any commonly-seen social insects.

A honey bee can sting only once and the barbed sting is left in the skin of the victim. The glands at the base of the sting continue to release venom for several minutes, so it should be removed as quickly as possible without pinching the sac. Symptoms: mild pain and swelling.
Severe allergic reactions are rare but may result in rashes, respiratory difficulties or death.

5▶Wasp
Vespula
Common throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Often build nests in or near human habitation. They build footballshaped nests covered with a rough paper made of chewed plant fragments. The chief danger is from swarms, especially when the queen migrates from the old nest to establish a new colony. Painful sting, but usually little effect other than some swelling.

6▶Hornet
Vespa
A large member of the wasp family. It is best to stay away from any hornet seen, as the nests are often hidden in the ground or gaps between buildings and the killing of a single worker could disturb the entire colony. They will chase over some distance, inflicting numerous stings.

SPIDERS
Arachnidae

All spiders possess poison glands at the base of their mouthparts, though few can harm humans. Try to prevent spiders making their home in your house by not letting junk build up in basements, attics, closets, outdoor sheds, and garages.

1▶ Tarantula
Theraphosidae
Despite their menacing appearance, most species are harmless. However they possess special barbed hairs on the abdomen which are released when the tarantula is cornered. These are not venomous but are capable of causing local skin rashes.

2▶Funnel-web
Atrax robustus
These small 5 cm (2 in) long sleek-black Australian spiders are dangerously venomous. Commonly found in the Sydney area, they spin a web with a deep horizontal funnel.
Their fangs can penetrate clothing and the venom injected is powerful enough to kill an adult in 90 minutes.
There is an antivenin.
Seek urgent medical attention.

3▶Black widow
(Hourglass spider)
Latradectus
species Found in North and Central America, and the Caribbean. Most species are 1-2 cm (1/2 - 3/4 in) long with a round abdomen and a red/orange hourglass marking on the abdomen. They build webs in dark secluded places (garages, outbuildings, cellars, attics). Also found in piles of clothing or paper and under lavatory seats.