Just came across a report that Brazilian and US scientists are looking into using spider venom as a possible treatment for male impotence.

Seriously.

Their investigation follows reports that men bitten by the Brazilian Wandering Spider (that’s actually his name, not his activity), also affectionatly known as Phoneutria nigriventer, experienced priapism – long and painful erections. A two-year study (big bucks in hard sticks?) has found that the spider’s venom contains a toxin, innovatively known as Tx2-6, that causes the erections.

The bite of the Brazilian Wandering Spider is potent and can be deadly in some cases, but, (you knew there would be one, didn’t you?) researchers found men who claimed their sex lives had improved after a spider attack.

Now my question is, who wants to volunteer for the spider chomping?

Gives a whole new twist to the itsy bitsy spider climbing up the water spout, doesn’t it…