Updated on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, 00:00 IST

Jerusalem, April 17: Israeli researchers say venom from spiders could increase male virility, after discovering that men bitten by the eight-legged crawler experience unusually prolonged erections.

The discovery by researchers at Israel's Rambam Medical Centre has prompted a study to determine whether toxins secreted by spiders can improve male sexual performance, 'Yediot Ahronot' newspaper reported.

"This study is the first of its kind and may help many men," Dr Ilan Gruenwald of the Rambam Neurobiology Unit was quoted as saying.

Three types of spiders from south America and Africa, including the notorious Black Widow, which is known to eat its male partner after mating, will be bred in a special habitat and have their venom milked, he explained.

Men will not have to be bitten in order to enjoy the venom-induced virility, Gruenwald added.

Bureau Report