Medusa spider

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It has been suggested that this article be renamed to Medusa Spider - Discuss

The medusa spider in the hands of Dr. Arzt ("Exposé")

The medusa spider (Latrodectus regina) is a fictional species of spider existent only in the Lost Universe on the Island.

In "Exposé", Dr. Arzt showed Nikki a female medusa spider in a jar, one of more than 20 species of insects and arachnids he had collected since crashing on the Island. He explains to her that the Medusa is very dangerous and that the female's pheromones are so powerful that, if the jar was opened, every male on the island would be drawn to her in seconds. When Nikki learns that Paulo has recovered their stolen diamonds without telling her, she uses the Medusa to attack him. After he's been bitten, she reveals to him that the venom of the Medusa won't kill him but will cause a paralysis for approximately 8 hours, so profound that even a doctor wouldn't be able to hear a heartbeat.

Arzt's information about the pheromones is proven correct when multiple male Medusa spiders appear in the grove following the release of the female Medusa spider from the jar. Nikki is bitten too, and both subsequently die as a result of being buried alive while paralyzed.

A specimen freely traversing on the island ("Exposé")

Trivia

The NYC taxi cab sound effect associated with the Monster can be heard just before Nikki is bitten by the other spiders. In the March 21, 2008 edition of the Official Lost Podcast, Damon says the medusa spiders was a form of the monster.
- However, It is unclear to what degree this is true (One spider? Some spiders? All spiders?).
In "Tropical Depression" Arzt is seen catching spiders, as well.
The Medusa spider is a fictional species.
Arzt refers to his Medusa spider as Latrodectus regina, which would make it a member of the widow spider genus.
"Medusa" in Greek and "Regina" in Latin both translate to "Queen."

"Medusa" could also reference a creature of Greek mythology: a snake-haired gorgon which could turn people to stone upon eye contact.

The spider used in filming is Argiope appensa which is from a different family of spiders than the genus Latrodectus.

The "males" are also females, as the real males are much smaller. Argiope appensa was introduced in Hawaii and is a very common there. It's natural range is in Taiwan and New Guinea.

A featurette about the real world spider handlers used for the filming of Lost is an easter egg in the deleted scenes section of the Lost: The Complete Third Season (DVD).