How+to+Identify+Dangerous+Insects

(edited by David)
 * DO NOT EDIT!!!*

There are many different animals. However, some animals that look just like others can be very dangerous and poisonous. Identifying dangerous insects and animals can be an important skill for surviving in the wilderness.
 * __Introduction:__**

__**Snakes:**__ Snakes differ very widely. There are many signs that you should look for when identifying dangerous snakes. The most common difference is the eye and pupil shape and size. A nonpoisonous snake is most likely to have a round pupil. While a poisonous snake usually has a vertically elliptical pupil. Poisonous snakes might also have a pit under their eye and a triangular shaped head. __Some famous fatal snakes in the US:__
 * ** Copperhead - a heavy-bodied snake, 24 - 36 inches long, covered in hour-glass crossbands. The crossbands vary in color. **
 * **Cottonmouth - a large heavy-bodied snake, 30 - 48 inches long. Colors range from olive to brown to black. WARNING! Cottonmouths' bite is fatal and they should be left alone.**
 * **Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake - a heavy-bodied snake, which reaches 3 to 7 feet in length. It has brown or black diamonds outlined on the back. The snake makes a loud buzzing sound when it's threatened using a large rattle at the end of its tail.** [[image:Eastren_Diamondback_Rattlesnake.jpg width="486" height="302" caption="Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake"]]

__**Spiders:** Famous fatal spiders:__ > blood pressure, sweating, tremors and increased white blood cell counts.**
 * **Brown Recluse Spider - violin spider, fiddle-shaped pattern on their head, 1/4 - 3/4 inches long. Bite can cause restlessness, fever, nausea, chills, weakness and joint pain. A wound that lasts several months may be developed.**
 * **Black widow spider - female has a large black body, red hour-glass marks on the stomach. Male is smaller and has white markings instead of the red hour-glass. Poison greatly affects the nervous system. Symptoms include nausea, elevated

__**Ticks:**__ Ticks are famous eight-legged parasites that like blood. They are related to spiders, scorpions, and mites. Ticks can feed from 12 up to 24 hours before falling off. Bites can cause skin damage, irritation, inflammation, and abnormal sensitivity. Ticks can carry and transmit disease.