Arachnids have the ability to poison other animals with mercury and release the toxic substance into the environment. This conclusion was reached by scientists from the US Geological Survey’s State Water Research Center. Report published In the scientific journal of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Experts say most of the mercury enters waterways due to industrial pollution and other human activities. Microbes in the water convert the metal into methylmercury, which is even more toxic. This poison is then found in the bodies of birds, bats and amphibians that feed on insects.
Experts found that the nexus in the spread of mercury from inland water bodies is tetragnathid spiders, which eat mainly large aquatic insects.
The team also collected and analyzed tissue from aquatic fishing and webbing spiders. Less mercury was found in the bodies of these arthropods because fishing spiders, contrary to their name, hunt terrestrial prey, and the diet of weaver spiders includes both aquatic and terrestrial insects.
The results of the study helped identify spider species that could be used to monitor contamination of the environment with mercury and other toxins.
Russian scientists before there is Painkiller made from spider venom.