Las Cruces is nestled between the Dona Ana and Organ mountains and sits on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert and the banks of the Rio Grande. Residents enjoy hot, hot, hot summers, with temperatures hovering in the 90s, while winter is still balmy, with temperatures in the 50s and 60s. The desert region is known for having hundreds of spider species.
Las Cruces is host to New Mexico State University (NMSU), where they've done a number of studies looking into the spiders of the region. Researcher David Richman in the Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science at NMSU has worked on a number of those studies. Richman says there are at least 400 different spider species in Las Cruces. He adds that there are venomous spiders in the region, such as the Black Widow and the Apache Violin Spider.
Richman says his daughter was bitten by a venomous spider, and the muscle aches and fever lasted several days. According to researchers at NMSU, the venom in the venomous spiders is neurotoxic; it attacks vesicles containing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, affecting neuro-muscular junctions. According to Richman, no one in the U.S. in the past 20 years has died as a result of a spider bite. If you get too close and get bitten, be sure to capture that spider so that a specialist can identify the species and treat you accordingly.
For the spider seekers out there, identifying the little creatures is no easy task. If you are hunting for these sneaky critters, they can be found on the foliage of herbs, shrubs and trees or under the bark of trees and shrubs. They can also be found inside dead trees or under rock overhangs and along the edges of ponds, lakes, creeks and rivers. Researchers at NMSU recommend a few good identification books, such as "Spiders of North America: An Identification Manual" by Darrell Ubick, et al., and "The Spider Genera Gea and Argiope in America" by Herbert W. Levi. Las Cruces has a lot to offer residents and visitors, but for the spider aficionado it is a goldmine.
