Do you often see spiders crawling around your yard? Or do you see them hanging on your drapes inside your house? As spiders are quite common even in urbanized areas, the stigma that they can poison you with a single bite remains.
However, the number of venomous spiders that can put a human’s life in peril is pretty insignificant.
Interestingly, there are only less than 30 out of the 43,000 different species of spiders that have venoms capable of killing humans. However, venomous spiders can leave bites that cause a myriad of harmful effects on the body.
Thus, you still shouldn’t take your chances.
But the question now is can you tell if the spider you are looking at is the venomous type? If not, then we invite you to check our comprehensive guide to North America’s most venomous spiders below.
The Black Widow
As deadly as its namesake in the Marvel superheroes comic book lore, the famous black widow spider is also one of the deadliest in North America. It is responsible for over 2,500 trips to poison control centers annually.
Black widow spiders love staying in plants, woodpiles, and burrows. As for its physical characteristics, the female one comes with a shiny black body with a yellowish to reddish hourglass design on its underside abdomen.
It usually measures about an inch long. As for the male black widow, it measures about a quarter of the female’s size. It also comes with white and red stripes on the sides.
If a black widow spider bites you, you will initially feel a pinprick of pain. But what follows are more serious symptoms. You will feel cramping and muscle pain in the bite area.
You will also feel nauseated. Furthermore, your diaphragm will go through a mild paralysis, making it difficult for you to breathe.
Of course, this isn’t the only spider with recognizable markings. There are also spiders like the yellow-sac spider, which you can read more bout here.
The Hobo Spider
If you live in areas like Oregon, Montana, Utah, and Colorado, you may encounter the hobo spider. When you look at its abdomen, you will see multiple chevron-shaped markings.
They also sport a brownish color and measure about half an inch.
As for its bite, it will form a blister 24 hours after. After a day or two, the blister will open up and evolve into an ulcer. Thereafter, you will notice some liquid oozing out of the bite.
And like the venom of the black widow, the hobo spider’s sting also causes neurological side-effects. You will begin to experience headaches, nausea, and impaired eyesight.
Moreover, you may experience extreme fatigue and short-term memory loss.
The Funnel-Web Grass Spider
As its name implies, this spider loves to stay within the lush grass and low-lying shrubs in your backyard. It also loves spinning webs near your home’s foundations, steps, and window wells.
Moreover, this spider spins funnel-shaped webs, earning its interesting name. Not all funnel-web grass spiders are poisonous. However, the venomous ones are the large Atrax robustus and A. formidabilis species.
Their venom bears the name “antraxotoxin” which directly attacks the nervous system. Hence, you need to receive an antidote as soon as possible.
The Wolf Spider
Another venomous spider to watch out for is the wolf spider. This spider made its name for its wolf-like ability to chase and pounce on its victim.
It sports a body that is at least an inch long with brown to grayish speckles. Some observers even say its upper stomach resembles the Union Jack.
Its venom can kill smaller prey like insects, as well as frogs. But for humans, they are unlikely to be fatal. However, the bite can be painful.
Moreover, it leaves an unsettling sight. Some even experience a severe allergic reaction.
The Brown Widow
If you think it is only the black spider that becomes a widow, then it’s time to say hello to the brown widow. Like its black counterpart, the brown widow features an hourglass-shaped abdomen.
But the main difference is in the color. The brown widow’s abdomen sports an orange shade while the black widow comes in red.
As for the rest of its body, it is either brown or tan. It also features a black accent marking.
But when it comes to the venom, the brown widow is twice as venomous than the black widow. Thankfully, this spider does not have an aggressive nature.
And when it bites, it only releases a small amount of venom.
The Red Widow
Completing the list of venomous widow spiders is the red widow. Like the black widow and the brown widow, the red widow’s bite can cause nausea, cramping, and pain.
Fortunately, they release a small amount of venom. This means they’re unlikely to kill an adult human. However, children and the elderly need to be extra careful.
When it comes to its physical features, it comes with reddish legs and a brown to black abdomen. You will also see a red mark on the underside of its abdomen.
The Brown Recluse Spider
Last but not least in our list of venomous spiders is the brown recluse spider. It is one of the most poisonous spiders in the country. It can destroy walls of blood vessels surrounding the bite area.
It is the venom’s protein that attacks the phospholipid molecules of the cells. Moreover, the bite wound can take months before it can heal.
And if you fail to treat the wound accordingly, it can develop into an infection that may lead to death.
As for its physical features, the front half of the body comes in a dark violin shape. You will find this spider inside caves and rodent burrows. However, they can also make homes out of storage areas, ceiling voids, and empty spaces.
Learn More About Non-Venomous and Venomous Spiders
Knowing how different types of venomous spiders look and behave will give you an upper hand in protecting your family from their dangerous bites. But there is more to learn about spiders and their tens of thousands of species crawling out there.
We invite you to increase your knowledge about common venomous spiders and non-venomous ones. Check out our other articles on these arachnids and other creepy crawlers.
