Arthropod venoms have received much attention and have played an important role in folklore and medicine since ancient times. Scorpion envenomation, "tarant­ ism," bee and wasp stings are among those subjects about which most has been speculated and written in the past. In the last 50 years or so, a great number of scientific papers have been devoted to arthropod venoms, but only a few volumes have been designed to collect this rapidly increasing material, and these are not recent. Of late, the chemistry and mode of action of several arthropod venoms have been thoroughly studied, and some of these substances will probably be used as pharmacological tools and also as therapeutic agents. The aim of the present volume is to collect in manual form new information as well as the old notions on arthropod venoms. Even though it was our intention to present a volume on arthropod venoms, and not on venomous arthropods, inevitably we were forced to include information on venom-producing organisms as well. We assumed, in fact, that those scientists for whom the present manual is primarily intended (biochemists, particularly com­ parative biochemists, and pharmacologists) should be familiar with the biologic elements concerning the venom-producing species; which should show them how important it is to operate in close collaboration with biologists specialized in venomous arthropod systematics and biology.

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1 Introduction to Venomous Arthropod Systematics.- A. Introduction.- I. What are Arthropoda?.- II. The Main Divisions of the "Type".- III. The Chelicerata.- 1. Scorpionida.- 2. Uropygi or Thelyphonida.- 3. Pseudoscorpionida.- 4. Opiliones.- 5. Acarina.- 6. Araneae.- IV. The Crustacea.- V. The "Myriapoda".- 1. Chilopoda.- 2. Diplopoda.- VI. The Hexapoda or Insecta.- 1. Blattodea and Dermaptera.- 2. Rhynchota and Anoplura.- 3. Aphaniptera.- 4. Coleoptera.- 5. Hymenoptera.- 6. Diptera.- 7. Lepidoptera.- VII. Some General Advices.- 1. How to Identify an Arthropod.- 2. How to Conserve an Arthropod.- 3. What to Expect from the Bibliography.- References.- 2 Venoms of Crustacea and Merostomata.- A. Introduction.- B. Crustaceans Suspected of Being Poisonous..- C. Toxicity of Crabs.- I. Crabs Containing Saxitoxin.- II. Toxicity of Lophozozymus pictor.- D. Biology of Poisonous Xanthid Crabs.- I. Zosimus aeneus.- 1. Description.- 2. Color in Life.- 3. Habitat and Distribution.- 4. Feeding Habits and Spawning Season.- II. Platypodia granulosa.- 1. Description.- 2. Color in Life.- 3. Habitat and Distribution.- III. Atergatis floridus.- 1. Description.- 2. Color in Life.- 3. Habitat and Distribution.- IV. Lophozozymus pictor.- 1. Description.- 2. Coloration.- 3. Distribution.- E. Chemistry of Toxins in Crabs.- I. Purification of Z. aeneus Toxin.- II. Chemical Properties of Z. aeneus Toxin.- III. Chemical Properties of Toxins from Other Crabs.- F. Pharmacology of Toxins in Crabs.- I. Z. aeneus Toxin.- 1. Poisoning Cases and Symptoms.- 2. Signs in Test Animals.- 3. Effects on Nerve Excitation.- II. The Toxin of L. pictor.- III. Toxin in Other Crabs.- G. Coconut Crab Poisoning.- I. Biology of Coconut Crab.- 1. Description.- 2. Color when Alive, Habitat, and Distribution.- II. Toxicity of the Coconut Crab.- H. Horseshoe-Crab Poisoning.- I. Biology of Horseshoe Crabs.- II. Toxicity of Horseshoe Crabs.- III. Clinical Characteristics.- I. Prevention and Treatment of Crab Poisoning.- References.- 3 Defensive Secretions of Millipeds.- A. Distribution, Structure, and Mode of Operation of the Glands.- B. Chemistry of the Secretions.- C. Biochemistry of the Secretions.- D. Defensive Effectiveness of the Glands.- E. Implications to Humans.- F. Other Defenses of Millipeds.- References.- 4 Secretions of Centipedes.- A. The Centipedes.- B. Glands and Secretions.- I. Defensive and Offensive Weapons of Centipedes.- II. Topography of the Exocrine Glands.- III. Histology of the Glands.- 1. The Forcipular Gland.- 2. Ventral and Coxal Glands of the Geophilomorphs.- IV. Secretions.- 1. Sticky Secretions.- 2. Luminescent Secretions.- 3. Smelling Secretions.- 4. Venom of the Forcipular Glands.- a) Effects of Bite on Humans.- b) Effects of Bite on Laboratory Animals.- c) Chemistry of the Venom.- References.- 5 Secretions of Opilionids, Whip Scorpions and Pseudoscorpions.- A. Order Opiliones.- B. Order Uropygi.- C. Order Pseudoscorpiones.- References.- 6 Review of the Spider Families, with Notes on the Lesser-Known Poisonous Forms.- A. Orthognatha = Theraphosomorphae = Mygalomorphae.- B. Labidognatha = Araneomorphae.- I. Haplogynae.- II. Entelegynae = Trionychae.- 1. Araneoidea.- a) Araneidae = Argiopidae.- b) Linyphiidae.- c) Theridiidae.- 2. Lycosoidea.- a) Agelenidae.- b) Argyronetidae.- c) Pisauridae.- d) Lycosidae.- e) Oxyopidae.- III. Entelegynae = Dionychae.- 1. Gnaphosidae (= Drassodidae = Drassidae).- 2. Clubionidae.- 3. Ctenidae.- 4. Eusparassidae (= Heteropodidae).- 5. Thomisidae.- 6. Salticidae.- IV. Cribellatae.- References.- 7 Venoms of Dipluridae.- A. Systematics and Distribution.- B. Biology and Venoms.- I. Introduction.- II. Notes on Atrax robustus.- III. Source of Venom for Experimentation.- 1. Maintenance of Spiders in the Laboratory.- 2. Collection of Venom and Venom Yields.- IV. Structure of the Venom Glands in Atrax robustus.- V. Toxicity of Venom in Various Animal Species.- 1. Atrax robustus Venom.- 2. Venom of Other Species of Atrax.- VI. Chemistry of Sydney Funnel-Web Spider (Atrax robustus) Venom.- VII. Pharmacopathologic Studies with Atrax robustus Venom.- 1. Intact Animal Experiments.- 2. Studies Upon Isolated Preparations.- 3. Investigation of Antidotes.- VIII. Immunologic Studies on Atrax Venom.- IX. Human Envenomation by Atrax robustus.- 1. General.- 2. Signs and Symptoms of Envenomation.- 3. Treatment of Victims.- 4. Prognosis.- X. Discussion.- References.- 8 Venoms of Theridiidae, Genus Latrodectus.- A. Systematics, Distribution and Biology of Species; Chemistry, Pharmacology and Mode of Action of Venom.- I. Systematics and Distribution of Species.- II. Biology.- 1. Habitat.- 2. Habits.- 3. Life Cycle.- 4. Biting Act.- III. Venomous Apparatus.- IV. Venom.- 1. Methods for Obtaining the Venom.- 2. Chemistry.- 3. Separation of Venom Components.- V. Toxicity of Venom in Different Animal Species.- 1. Whole Venom.- 2. Venom Components.- VI. Pharmacology and Mode of Action on Different Zoological Groups.- 1. Invertebrates.- a) Crustacea.- b) Insecta.- c) Mollusca.- 2. Vertebrates.- a) Pisces.- b) Amphibia.- c) Aves.- d) Mammalia.- 3. Toxicity in Cells Cultivated in vitro.- 4. Effect of Toxin on Lipid Bilayer Membranes.- 5. Distribution of Venom in Envenomed Animals.- 6. Protective Activity of Venom Against Botulin Toxin.- VII. Toxicity of Eggs and Tissue Extracts.- References.- B. Epidemiology of Envenomation, Symptomatology, Pathology and Treatment.- I. Epidemiology.- 1. Geographical Distribution.- a) Europe.- b) Asia.- c) Africa.- d) America.- e) Australia.- 2. Factors Influencing Number of Spiders and Frequency of Contacts with Man. Epidemics of Latrodectism.- 3. Other Epidemiological Data.- II. Human Symptomatology.- III. Differential Diagnosis.- IV. Clinical Course, Duration of Hospitalization, Convalescence, and Complications.- 1. Course.- 2. Convalescence.- 3. Complications.- V. Prognosis.- VI. Post-Mortem Findings.- VII. Aspecific Therapy.- VIII. Specific Therapy.- 1. Preparation of Sera.- 2. Cross Activity of Sera Obtained with Antigens from Different Species of Spiders.- 3. Time and Dose of Serum Administration.- IX. Prevention of Latrodectism.- References.- 9 Venoms of Theridiidae, Genus Steatoda.- A. Introduction.- B. Venomous Spiders of the Genus Steatoda.- I. Steatoda paykulliana.- 1. Distribution, Biology, Morphology, and Venomous Apparatus..- 2. Effects of the Toxin.- II. Steatoda grossa.- References.- 10 Venoms of Ctenidae.- A. Introduction.- B. Morphology of the Venomous Apparatus.- I. Chelicerae.- 1. Fangs or Claws.- 2. Basal Segment…