A cruise-goer's claim of being bitten by a wolf spider, leading to eggs being laid inside his toe, went viral. However, experts question the credibility of the story, stating it doesn't align with known spider behavior.
Man Claims Wolf Spider Laid Eggs in Toe During French Holiday
Colin Blake, who claimed a wolf spider laid eggs in his toe during a holiday in France, received hospital treatment for the bizarre incident. While celebrating his 35th wedding anniversary, Blake's toe turned purple overnight, leading him to consult the ship's doctor during a cruise.
Despite assertions from an arachnologist that wolf spiders can't lay eggs inside humans, Blake reported spider eggs in the pus after medical staff cut open his infected toe.
After being bitten while dining outdoors in Marseille, Blake's infected toe was treated in the UK with a course of antibiotics to reduce swelling, and he is expected to fully recover.
However, experts, including Dr. Sara Goodacre from the University of Nottingham, disputed the possibility of a spider laying eggs in a human foot. Dr. Goodacre highlighted the biology of wolf spiders, stating that their egg sacs take time to spin, and their venom is not necrotizing but designed to paralyze fruit flies. Even the British Arachnological Society considered Blake's assertion to be unlikely.
Can Spiders Lay Eggs Inside Humans?
Arachnophobia, or the fear of spiders, is a common phobia, and a particularly unsettling notion for those with this fear is the idea that spiders might lay eggs in their skin. However, this is just a myth.
Spiders are hunters, not parasites, and they cannot lay eggs inside the human body. Scientists assert that spiders do not consider human bodies suitable for egg-laying, and there is no documented case in the history of medical literature confirming such an occurrence.
The myth may have originated from the life history of Dermatobia species, commonly known as botflies, which do lay their eggs on or under the skin of mammals. The larvae then develop as parasites, causing lesions or swellings. While this happens with botflies, spiders, on the other hand, don't engage in this behavior.
They don't lay eggs in human skin, and it remains a baseless fear. Spiders can, however, be found in homes, making it essential to address concerns about their presence in living spaces.
In summary, the fear of spiders laying eggs in human skin is unfounded, and it's crucial to dispel this myth. While spiders may find their way into homes, they pose no risk of laying eggs in or on the human body. It's advisable to address concerns about spiders in living spaces by maintaining cleanliness and addressing potential entry points, rather than worrying about unlikely scenarios of spiders laying eggs in the skin.
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