What do spider bites look like? How can you tell if it’s a spider bite? What happens when a spider bite becomes infected? Get answers to these questions and more in this comprehensive guide.

Identifying Spider Bites: Separating Fact from Fiction

Sometimes, spiders leave behind two distinct puncture holes right next to each other. But unless you actually see the spider do the dirty deed, it’s hard to know if it was caused by an arachnid or some other bug. In fact, the vast majority of “spider bites” are actually bites from other insects like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, a rash from an allergic reaction, or skin abscesses from an infection, says Justin Arnold, DO, MPH, an assistant professor at the University of South Florida and the medical director of the Florida Poison Information Center Tampa.

The Symptoms: Pain, Swelling, Itching, and Redness

The symptoms are often similar too—pain, swelling, itching, and redness—so it’s an easy mistake to make. In fact, even spider experts and medical professionals have a hard time differentiating bug bites from spider bites just from how they look, Dr. Arnold adds. “Many people don’t recall an injury or specific bite and hold a common belief that a spider must have bitten them without them knowing,” he says. “In a majority of the cases that we see, a spider was never seen by patient and is not responsible for their infection.”

Recognizing Bite Patterns in Darker Skin Tones

It’s also important to know what to look for in darker skin tones, says Rajani Katta, MD, a board-certified dermatologist who serves as voluntary clinical faculty of both the Baylor College of Medicine and the McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Houston. “For myself, and my patients with more deeply pigmented skin, the redness from an insect bite can be more subtle,” she explains. “Instead of a bright red color, I’ll often see more of a faint redness, or a reddish-brown color.”

Complications from Spider Bites: Cellulitis, Blisters, and Swelling

While poisonous bites are rare, any bite—spider or otherwise—can turn serious if it becomes infected, says Dr. Arnold. There are three main complications that can arise from bites: cellulitis, blisters, and swelling.

Cellulitis: A Painful Skin Infection

When a spider bite turns into cellulitis—a common (and painful) skin infection—a rash begins to spread around the wound, and the skin becomes painful and hot to the touch.

Blisters: Weeping and Fluid-Filled

Another common reaction to many spider bites is “weeping” blisters at the site (they look puffy and fluid-filled). Small blisters on their own, with no other symptoms, don’t necessarily need special care. But if a blister opens, it becomes at risk for infection, says Dr. Arnold, so don’t try to pop them!

Swelling: When to Seek Medical Attention

Swelling is another very common symptom of insect or spider bites. Even though the swelling can get quite pronounced, it’s not necessarily a problem, as long as it goes down within a few days. But if the swelling doesn’t go down, gets significantly worse, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s time to get medical attention, says Dr. Arnold.

Common Spider Bites: Jumping Spiders and Wolf Spiders

The two most common spider bites are from house spiders, specifically the jumping spider and wolf spider. While it can be scary to be bitten by any spider, these bites normally aren’t any more painful than a bee sting and shouldn’t cause problems beyond some redness, swelling, and itching, Dr. Arnold says. Treat these at home by washing the site with soap and water, using cold compresses, and taking an ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling, he adds.

Black Widow Spider Bites: Extremely Painful, but Treatable

Of all of the spiders, black widows pose the greatest health threat to Americans, according to Rick Vetter, PhD, a spider expert in the department of entomology at the University of California, Riverside. Their bite is extremely painful and, while an antivenin (a.k.a. anti-venom, or an injection given to boost antibodies against a particular poison) exists now, before it was discovered, about five percent of bitten people died.

Think you can ID a black widow bite on sight? Not so fast: The actual bite looks a lot like any other spider bite, with just a pair of small puncture wounds. The telltale sign of a black widow bite is the severe pain that radiates from the bite site, spreading to the chest, back, and abdomen within 30 minutes to an hour. Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, muscle spasms, and difficulty breathing.

Seeking Medical Attention: When It’s Necessary

So, when should you seek medical attention for a spider bite? Dr. Arnold recommends getting checked out if you experience any of the following:

• Severe or worsening pain, swelling, or redness around the bite site
• Signs of infection, such as fever, chills, or pus
• Difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, or muscle spasms (which could indicate a black widow bite)

If you’re unsure, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and get it checked out. A doctor can properly diagnose the bite, rule out any serious complications, and provide appropriate treatment if needed.

Spider Bite Pictures – What They Look Like, How To Treat Symptoms

1

First, how can you be sure it’s a spider bite?

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Sometimes, spiders leave behind two distinct puncture holes right next to each other. But unless you actually see the spider do the dirty deed, it’s hard to know if it was caused by an arachnid or some other bug.

In fact, the vast majority of “spider bites” are actually bites from other insects like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, a rash from an allergic reaction, or skin abscesses from an infection, says Justin Arnold, DO, MPH, an assistant professor at the University of South Florida and the medical director of the Florida Poison Information Center Tampa.

The symptoms are often similar too—pain, swelling, itching, and redness—so it’s an easy mistake to make. In fact, even spider experts and medical professionals have a hard time differentiating bug bites from spider bites just from how they look, Dr. Arnold adds.

“Many people don’t recall an injury or specific bite and hold a common belief that a spider must have bitten them without them knowing,” he says. “In a majority of the cases that we see, a spider was never seen by patient and is not responsible for their infection.”

It’s also important to know what to look for in darker skin tones, says Rajani Katta, MD, a board-certified dermatologist who serves as voluntary clinical faculty of both the Baylor College of Medicine and the McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Houston.

“For myself, and my patients with more deeply pigmented skin, the redness from an insect bite can be more subtle,” she explains. “Instead of a bright red color, I’ll often see more of a faint redness, or a reddish-brown color.”

If she is worried about a more serious spider bite, Dr. Katta will often mark the boundaries of the rash around the bite, and then check those boundaries on a daily basis.

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2

So, what happens when a spider bite becomes infected?

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While poisonous bites are rare, any bite—spider or otherwise—can turn serious if it becomes infected, says Dr. Arnold. There are three main complications that can arise from bites: cellulitis, blisters, and swelling.

When a spider bite turns into cellulitis—a common (and painful) skin infection—a rash begins to spread around the wound, and the skin becomes painful and hot to the touch.

Another common reaction to many spider bites is “weeping” blisters at the site (they look puffy and fluid-filled). Small blisters on their own, with no other symptoms, don’t necessarily need special care. But if a blister opens, it becomes at risk for infection, says Dr. Arnold, so don’t try to pop them! If you think you may have an infection at the bite site, whether from cellulitis or open blisters, it’s best to have your doctor take a look.

Swelling is another very common symptom of insect or spider bites. Even though the swelling can get quite pronounced, it’s not necessarily a problem, as long as it goes down within a few days. But if the swelling doesn’t go down, gets significantly worse, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s time to get medical attention, says Dr. Arnold.

Actually feeling the skin around the bite becomes more important for BIPOC patients in particular because severe swelling can be a sign of a more worrisome spider bite, says Dr. Katta. Another concerning sign that BIPOC patients should watch out for is necrosis, in which the skin at the site of the bite starts to die off. When this happens, you may see a central ulcer with a black crust.

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What do jumping spider And wolf spider​ bites look like?

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The two most common spider bites are from house spiders, specifically the jumping spider and wolf spider. While it can be scary to be bitten by any spider, these bites normally aren’t any more painful than a bee sting and shouldn’t cause problems beyond some redness, swelling, and itching, Dr. Arnold says.

Treat these at home by washing the site with soap and water, using cold compresses, and taking an ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling, he adds.

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4

What do black widow spider bites look like?

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Of all of the spiders, black widows pose the greatest health threat to Americans, according to Rick Vetter, PhD, a spider expert in the department of entomology at the University of California, Riverside. Their bite is extremely painful and, while an antivenin (a.k.a. anti-venom, or an injection given to boost antibodies against a particular poison) exists now, before it was discovered, about five percent of bitten people died.

Think you can ID a black widow bite on sight? Not so fast: The actual bite looks a lot like any other spider bite. However, they do tend to become more swollen and redder than your general household spider bite, Vetter says.

Black widow spiders are tough to identify as well. Only female black widows have the characteristic red hourglass-shaped markings on their backs. Male and immature black widows have tan and white stripes, according to Vetter.

Because these types of bites are so serious, if you strongly suspect you were bitten by a black widow spider or you develop muscle cramping, abdominal and chest pain, high blood pressure, a racing heart, and/or vomiting within two hours of a bite, go to the ER immediately, Dr. Arnold says.

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5

What do brown recluse spider bites look like?

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The brown recluse spider (also known as the fiddleback spider or violin spider) is one of the most venomous spiders in America, but they are limited to very specific geographic regions—if you don’t live in one of these places, it’s highly unlikely you need to worry about this type of bite, Vetter says. (Check out this map to see if you’re in the danger zone.)

And despite what you may have heard, even where brown recluses are present, they rarely bite, he adds. To identify a brown recluse, look for six eyes arranged in pairs. (Although getting close enough to see the eye pattern on a spider sounds, frankly, terrifying. )

Brown recluse bites do happen though, and when they do, they are often accompanied by “sharp, burning pain,” Dr. Arnold explains. Within several hours, the bite area becomes discolored and forms an ulcer that can takes several weeks to heal. In addition to the wound, individuals can also develop fevers, muscle aches, and in rare cases, severe anemia as a result of the venom.

Start by treating any bite at home with cold compresses and an antibiotic cream, but if you start to show severe symptoms, including a lot of swelling, increased pain, fever, spreading rash or other sign of infection, seek medical attention immediately. There isn’t an antivenin, but a doctor can treat the symptoms and manage the infection.

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6

What do hobo spider bites look like?

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The hobo spider is actually a pretty common venomous house spider in the U.S., but despite some scary media reports, they’re not aggressive and will only bite if provoked, according to the U. S. Forest Service. In addition, about half of hobo spider bites are “dry,” meaning they contain no venom, the service adds.

If you do receive a venomous bite, within a few hours it will become red and hard, similar to a mosquito bite, and within a day or two you will develop blisters. After the blisters open, a scab typically forms along with a rash that often looks like a target or bull’s eye.

Because these wounds can become necrotic and last for years in some cases, you should see a doctor immediately, Dr. Arnold says. There isn’t an antivenin, but they can treat the symptoms and manage any infection with antibiotics.

Hobo spiders can be hard to identify, according to the Forest Service. They are large and often have chevron-type markings on their backs, but these won’t be visible on darker-skinned adult spiders, which is why it’s important to get any bite checked out if it starts to show signs of infection or you see a target forming on your skin, Dr. Arnold says.

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7

What do tarantula bites look like?

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Tarantulas may look big and scary, but most of the North American varieties are pretty chill. And even while the bite itself can be painful, the venom is fairly benign and likely won’t cause long-term issues, Dr. Arnold says. Like most spider bites, tarantula bites can cause some swelling, itching, and irritation.

However, he adds, tarantulas also have the ability to flick hairs off of their body and into your skin, which can be very irritating and painful. And some people are allergic to tarantula venom, which can make the bite even more inflamed, according to the National Institutes of Medicine.

Most of the time, it’s fine to try treating these at home by washing the site, applying ice, and taking ibuprofen, Dr. Arnold says. But if you find yourself having a more extreme reaction, including symptoms like a rapid heart rate or difficulty breathing, get to the emergency room.

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So, how do you treat a spider bite?

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If you are bitten by a spider, you should immediately wash and clean the skin, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research and an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “You should thoroughly cleanse the skin, but avoid over-scrubbing or using a harsh soap that can disrupt the skin barrier. The Dove beauty bar is my go-to,” he says.

Next, apply a cool compress to the skin for 15 minutes to reduce inflammation and an over-the-counter anti-itch cream to limit irritation. An OTC allergy medicine like Benadryl, Claritin, Allegra, or Zyrtec may also help. “Taking an antihistamine will reduce the allergic reaction from the inside out,” he says.

Oral and topical OTC treatments will usually help cut down on recovery time, minimize any discomfort, and heal the bite within a week, but if you develop a rapidly growing skin rash or have difficulty breathing, you should go to the emergency room ASAP, stresses Dr. Zeichner. These types of bites are rare, but brown recluse, black widow, and hobo spider bites can be deadly, so if you suspect one bit you, seek medical treatment immediately. You may need antibiotics, prescription pain relievers, or antivenin in the case of a black widow.

And yes, it can be very difficult to know, find, and catch the exact spider that bit you, but if you spot the creepy crawler, try to *safely* capture and bring it to a doctor. “A diagnosis of a spider bite is most often based on the history and clinical presentation, but if the spider can be identified, it would allow for a more definitive diagnosis and treatment plan,” says Dr. Chaudhari.

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Emilia Benton

Contributing Writer

Emilia Benton is a Houston-based freelance writer and editor. In addition to Runner’s World, she has contributed health, fitness and wellness content to Women’s Health, SELF, Prevention, Healthline, and the Houston Chronicle, among other publications. She is also an 11-time marathoner, a USATF Level 1-certified running coach, and an avid traveler.

Andi Breitowich

Andi Breitowich is a Chicago-based writer and graduate student at Northwestern Medill. She’s a mass consumer of social media and cares about women’s rights, holistic wellness, and non-stigmatizing reproductive care. As a former collegiate pole vaulter, she has a love for all things fitness and is currently obsessed with Peloton Tread workouts and hot yoga.  

How to Identify and Treat a Brown Recluse Spider Bite

A bite from a brown recluse spider can be mild or severe and may require medical attention. The toxins from this spider’s bite can cause tissue death.

Bites from the brown recluse spider almost never result in death but can cause serious skin damage, nausea, and muscle pain. With proper care, mild bites resolve within days to weeks, while more severe cases can take months to heal.

A bite from the brown recluse spider requires first aid, and if necessary, professional medical attention. Treatment often includes cleaning the affected skin, pain relievers, and icing.

Keep reading to learn the symptoms and stages of a brown recluse spider bite, how to identify the spider, and when to seek help.

What’s in the bite?

Even though this spider’s size maxes out at about a half-inch, its venom is more toxic than that of a rattlesnake. Luckily, the brown recluse is only capable of releasing a little into our system.

Here are two key toxins in the venom:

• Sphingomyelinase D has the potential to destroy skin tissues.
• Hyaluronidase can speed the venom’s penetration into tissue.

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A brown recluse’s venom can destroy blood vessels, tissue, and nerves. As a result, the skin tissue can die, a phenomenon called skin necrosis.

In a 2020 study of 97 patients bitten by the spider, 40 percent experienced hemolysis, the damaging or breaking down of red blood cells.

Prompt treatment can slow these effects and allow your skin to begin healing faster.

Initial bite

Brown recluses have very small fangs, and their bite is usually painless. Unless you saw it happen, at first, you might not even be aware that a spider has bitten you.

You may start to notice a red, tender, and inflamed area about 2 to 8 hours after the spider bit you. Over the course of the next several hours, the irritation may cause a burning sensation.

The bite may appear as two tiny puncture holes. Early on, its center will be a pale color, with an inflamed reddish outer ring. The pain usually reaches its height at about the 24-hour mark after you are bitten.

After 3 to 5 days

In some people, the brown recluse’s venom is localized to only the area where the spider bit you. If the spider injected minimal venom and you’re healthy, the discomfort usually goes away in a few days.

But for others, the venom spreads. This causes the wound to expand, usually over a period of several days to weeks. Some people will develop a blister, and then a “necrotic lesion” due to the spider’s bite. This means the bite causes an ulcer or open sore, and tissue begins to die.

This may look like the following:

• dry, sinking patch of skin
• bluish-appearing patch of skin
• redness around the lesion with a pale center
• central blister

After 1 to 2 weeks

For mild bites, you should be mostly healed by 3 weeks or see a drastic reduction in inflammation.

But if you have a more severe bite, the spider’s toxin will continue to break down the skin, especially if untreated. The site of the wound may start to develop necrotic (dead) tissue called eschar. This looks like a big, black scab covering the wound area.

3 months later

Most brown recluse bites will heal fully, without complications, in 3 months or less.

In very rare cases where a lot of venom was delivered, necrosis in the wound can extend beyond the skin and into the muscles. If tissue death continues to occur or has already affected a large area, you’ll need to be evaluated by a surgeon. Surgery may be required to remove or repair excess dead tissue.

If the wound hasn’t responded to treatment or symptoms don’t align with the typical presentation of a brown recluse bite, it may be time for a differential diagnosis. Your doctor will consider other potential culprits of your symptoms, like another type of insect bite or a separate skin condition.

Severe reactions to a brown recluse spider bite

Some people have severe or life threatening reactions to brown recluse bites. These responses to the bite are more likely in those with compromised immune systems, including children and older adults.

Severe reactions to a brown recluse bite can include the following symptoms:

• chills
• dizziness
• fever
• rash
• vomiting

If you or a loved one is experiencing the above symptoms, seek emergency medical assistance. This may be a sign of anaphylactic shock, a life threatening allergic reaction.

The brown recluse spider is usually no larger than a half-inch in length, including its eight thin legs. It’s a plain tan or brown color, with no stripes or patterning. Adults almost always have a dark, “violin-shaped” mark on their heads. For this reason, the brown recluse is sometimes called the “violin spider” or “fiddleback spider.”

Brown recluses have six eyes instead of the usual eight. These eyes are arranged in a horizontal row of 3 pairs on the face.

If you see a brown recluse or signs of them, like when they “shed” their skins, collect evidence (if safe to do so). If you have a picture of the spider, this could help a doctor determine if a brown recluse bit you, and if you need medical treatment.

If bitten, it’s important to:

• avoid touching or scratching the bite
• clean the affected area with soap and water
• apply a fresh, non-stick bandage

Do not attempt to extract the spider’s venom. While first-aid procedures for several types of bites and stings involve trying to extract poison or venom, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises never to do this for a brown recluse bite. Attempting to squeeze or pierce the skin around the bite can spread the toxin and irritate the wound.

Not all bites require medical treatment, and some can be treated at home. Keep close tabs on the bite. If it causes acute burning and pain or is getting worse instead of better after a few days, see a doctor right away.

Doctors will often use the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) to treat a suspected or confirmed brown recluse bite.

In addition to the first aid steps of cleaning and dressing the wound, here are some key steps:

• applying cloth-covered ice packs for 10 minutes at a time to keep the spider’s venom from spreading
• elevating the affected area and refraining from touching it
• taking an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or a stronger prescription
• receiving a tetanus shot if yours isn’t up to date

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, further treatments may be used.

These include:

• antibiotics to treat a confirmed or suspected infection
• special wound dressings or ointments to promote healing and reduce pain
• rarely, skin grafts or wound debridement to repair larger areas of damaged skin

Seeking treatment as soon as possible can help reduce the need for more invasive treatments.

Brown recluse spider bites can be hard to diagnose.

The bite can resemble a lot of other medical conditions, including:

• staph infection
• pressure ulcers
• wounds due to diabetes
• other spider or insect bites
• an allergic skin reaction to something else

Geographical location is an important consideration when considering a potential brown recluse bite. If you don’t live or haven’t traveled to a place where brown recluse spiders live (the south-central United States), then your bite is probably due to something else.

The “NOT RECLUSE” diagnostic criteria

Some doctors may use the mnemonic NOT RECLUSE to determine if the bite could or couldn’t be from a brown recluse. This can help you (and them) remember the criteria for which the spider’s bite is judged.

The bite usually isn’t from a brown recluse if it has the following characteristics:

• Numerous. A brown recluse usually only bites once — not multiple times.
• Occurrence. Brown recluses aren’t aggressive. Unless you’ve been in a place where they tend to hide or live, it’s not likely one bit you.
• Timing. Brown recluses only bite in months when they’re active — usually from April to October.
• Red center. Brown recluse bites usually have a pale center with redness around the bite area.
• Elevated. Brown recluse bites are usually flat — if the area is elevated, it’s not likely a brown recluse bite.
• Chronic. A bite from a brown recluse will usually heal within 3 months.
• Large. A brown recluse bite is rarely larger than about 5 inches across. If the bite is larger, it could be from something else.
• Ulcerates too early. Most brown recluse spider bites won’t ulcerate until 1 to 2 weeks after the bite occurs.
• Swollen. Brown recluse spider bites don’t usually cause significant swelling unless they’re on the face or feet.
• Exudative. Brown recluse bites don’t usually leak or cause exudate (pus). They’re more blistering or scab-like in nature.

“Recluse” is an appropriate term for describing these shy spiders, which avoid light and hide in dark crevices. Brown recluse spiders aren’t aggressive by nature and will only bite if feeling threatened or trapped.

We don’t advise poking around for them — it’s best to leave this to a professional.

Ways you can try to avoid brown recluse bites include:

• Reduce clutter in your home wherever possible. This includes no piles of newspapers or old cardboard boxes.
• Keep shoes and clothes off the floor. Shake out your shoes before wearing to ensure spiders aren’t in them.
• Store items in air-tight plastic containers. This stops spiders from getting into them.
• Wear long sleeves and gloves while sorting through old materials. This includes boxes in an attic. Spiders can’t usually bite through clothing, so this can offer some protection.
• Ensure cracks and holes in your home’s foundation and structure are properly sealed. Spiders can enter through these areas.
• Place flat glue traps in areas where spiders may live in your home. Examples include along baseboards where the wall and floor meet, as well as around areas of clutter.

Professional exterminators can also help you get rid of these and other pests that may cause bites and stings.

Want to know more about the brown recluse spider’s distinguishing features? We’ve got you covered.

Regions found	These spiders typically live in the south-central portion of the United States, including Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Georgia. It’s rare but possible that the spider gets accidentally transported outside its region.
When they appear	Brown recluses go into “harborages” for the winter, which is any hidden area the spider can find shelter in. They emerge between April and May, usually going away around October.
Where they live	These spiders look for warm crevices to crawl under, like insulation, cardboard boxes, or between pages of newspapers. Outdoors, they often live under the bark of dead trees or under rocks. They may crawl into shoes or bedding and bite you when they accidentally become wedged against your skin.
What they eat	Brown recluses do spin webs, but they don’t use them to trap their prey. Instead, the web is used as a home or refuge. They eat crawling bugs, like cockroaches, ants, and crickets.
Lifespan	Brown recluses live long lives, sometimes up to 5 to 7 years. They can go for extremely long periods without eating.

Because of their size and brown-ish appearance, the wolf spider is often mistaken for the brown recluse.

But the wolf spider is not venomous to humans. They can still bite, which leaves a small red bump that usually goes away in a few days. You’ll need to clean and treat the bite, so it doesn’t become infected and watch out for signs of an allergic reaction.

Here’s a breakdown of major differences between these two arachnids:

Brown recluse spider bites are often painful and can cause skin tissue to die (skin necrosis). It may take several hours to notice that you’ve been bitten.

Implementing first aid can help reduce symptoms. Clean the skin with soap and water, and use a non-stick bandage. Icing and elevation can help prevent the toxin from spreading. OTC pain medications can help with discomfort.

Avoid itching the bite and do not attempt to extract venom.

With proper care at home, most brown recluse bites will heal on their own over the course of several weeks. If your bite is especially painful or skin inflammation is spreading, see your doctor for evaluation and further treatment.

TOP 10: The most venomous and dangerous spiders in the world

Contents

1. Spider spider
2. Mouse spider
3. Golden (yellow) spider
4. Six-eyed sand spider
5. Brown Widow
6. Australian Widow
7. Brown Recluse
8. Sydney Funnel Spider
9. Karakurt
10. Banana Spider

People far from arachnology are usually not very comfortable to be around representatives of arachnids. And about 5% of the world’s population generally suffer from arachnophobia, that is, they are terribly afraid of spiders. And we can say that their fears are often not unfounded. Indeed, along with spiders that peacefully eat flies and midges on the window, there are species from which it is better to stay away. We present you the TOP 10 most poisonous and dangerous spiders in the world.

See also:

• The largest spiders in the world;
• The scariest, scariest and strangest spiders on the planet;
• The most beautiful and cute spiders in the world;
• The smallest spiders on Earth;
• Why is a spider not an insect?

Cross spider

There are about 600 species of cross-back spiders. They live almost everywhere, preferring places with a humid tropical climate. They can be found in forests, parks, near water bodies, often they settle in abandoned buildings. The size of the spider does not exceed 4 cm, the color varies from yellow-brown to dark gray, depending on the habitat. The crusader feeds on small insects. It does not pose a serious danger to a person, but it can bite through the skin and inject a small amount of poison. People most susceptible to the poison may experience severe headache, weakness, itching at the site of the bite, and other unpleasant symptoms. The pain from the bite itself is tolerable and passes fairly quickly.

Mouse spider

This arachnid, growing up to 3 cm, lives in Australia. Males have an unusual appearance: a black, sometimes bluish body, a bright red head and the same chelicerae. Females are usually monochromatic – black. The spider feeds on small insects, luring them into cleverly woven webs. In humans, his bite causes severe pain, the place where he plunged his jaws may swell. But the spider “saves” its poison, so in most cases, nothing threatens people. Lethal outcomes from a meeting with a mouse spider have not been recorded.

Golden (yellow) spider

A small spider, reaching 2.5 cm in length with legs, found in Europe, southern Africa, eastern Asia and the Australian continent. Its body is generally pale yellow with dark brown chelicerae. It prefers to live in bushes and thickets, but can also be found in rocky areas. The golden spider is one of the most biting, while its poison, although it does not lead to death, causes many unpleasant consequences. In particular, after a painful bite, a person develops nausea, the temperature rises, blisters appear on the affected area of ​​​​the body, and then itching.

Six-Eyed Sand Spider

This cunning hunter lives in the deserts and dunes of southern Africa. Its length, taking into account the spread legs, is on average 5 cm. The body color of the spider can be yellow or brown, which helps it to disguise itself while hunting insects. For humans, the toxic bite of a six-eyed spider is extremely dangerous, since there is simply no antidote to it. Some consolation is the fact that the spider itself is in no hurry to bite, preferring to stay away from people. Therefore, only isolated cases of death from its bite are known.

Brown Widow

Mostly lives in the southern regions of the USA, the Middle East, Australia and Cyprus. The size of the spider does not grow more than 3 cm. The color of the body varies from yellowish with brown paws to a more saturated brown, sometimes even gray or black. On the belly there is a bright distinctive sign resembling an hourglass in shape.

Although this spider belongs to the genus of the well-known black widows, it bites much less often than its counterparts. Because of his shyness and non-aggressive nature, he prefers to stay away from people. The venom of the brown widow is toxic, but no deaths have been recorded from its bites.

Australian Widow

This is one of the most dangerous representatives of her kind. A distinctive feature of the Australian killer is a red stripe along the black body. The female does not grow more than 1 cm in length, but this is the case when size does not matter. The venom of the redback spider is so toxic that it can easily deal with even poisonous snakes.

Meeting a person with an Australian widow is a common thing, since she often lives in the city. It poses the greatest threat to children and the elderly. Thanks to the antidote, bitten people can be saved, but they have to endure terrible pain.

Brown Recluse

This seemingly miniature spider terrifies the inhabitants of the southern states of the USA. The length of his body along with his legs is only 2 cm. It has a brown or dark sand color, on the head you can see a mark that looks like a violin.

Violin spider lives where it is dark, dry, warm and quiet. Often chooses places in the urban environment, populating attics and basements. He does not like to be seen, he prefers to lead a nocturnal lifestyle, hunting for insects and small relatives. The venom of a hermit spider in large doses is very toxic, a person may develop abundant tissue necrosis at the site of the bite. The situation is complicated by the fact that often a person does not feel a bite and does not seek medical help on time. Deaths were recorded mainly in people with weak immunity.

Sydney Funnel Spider

This is one of the most aggressive arachnids. Lives on the Australian continent. Prefers to settle in humid forests, on the coast under rocks or close to people – in gardens and parks. The length of the spider usually does not exceed 5 cm. The color is dark brown or black, sometimes with copper stripes on the legs.

Athrax bite is painful, and thanks to powerful chelicerae it is able to bite through the leg even through leather shoes. Not every spider attack ends with the injection of poison, but if he did, then a person may face death.

Karakurt

This spider is another member of the black widow family. The distribution area is very extensive, they can be found on all continents except Antarctica and the Arctic. Although the size of the karakurt is small – only 2-3 cm, it is a mortal danger to humans. But only females are poisonous, and they attack only if they feel a threat to their lives.

Bright red spots on the black body distinguish this spider from its relatives, but with age it can turn completely black. Karakurt settle mainly in dry places: on abandoned arable lands, near ravines. Sometimes they can also visit people, crawling into houses, sheds, garages, and so on.

By itself, the bite of this species of black widow is not painful. But after a short time, when the poison begins to act, a person experiences severe poisoning. The bite site, and then the whole body, pierces a sharp pain, panic appears, it becomes difficult to breathe, and so on. Instant death does not threaten a person, but you should not hesitate to provide assistance.

Banana spider

It is also called the Brazilian wandering spider, runner, soldier spider. This dangerous killer giant lives in the forests of Central and South America. Its growth in length with straightened paws can reach up to 17 cm. In appearance, it is not very remarkable, apart from its large size. The most common individuals are dark brown.

Wanderers hunt at night, their prey is insects and smaller relatives, less often frogs, rodents and chicks. These spiders do not attack people for no reason, but they can bite in self-defense. When meeting with him, you should not try to scare him, because he is not from the timid, and he himself will begin to attack the alleged enemy. The poison of a banana spider acts rapidly, can lead to the rapid death of a child or a sick person if they are not given an antidote in time. The poison of this particular species of arachnid is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as one of the most dangerous on the planet.

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What to do if bitten by a poisonous brown recluse

Brown recluses are known for their poisonous bites, which can cause necrotic skin lesions and lead to the development of extremely dangerous reactions, as well as death. We tell you how to recognize this dangerous type of spiders by their appearance, and what to do if you are still bitten.

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Nature

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Spiders

Wikipedia

The brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa) is the most common type of brown spider and, fortunately, is not found everywhere. Experts note that these arthropods live mainly in the United States: in particular, in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama and in parts of Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska .

Appearance: how to identify the brown recluse

The brown recluse is a member of the spider genus Loxosceles. According to Oklahoma State University (USA), members of this group can be identified by specific patterns on the upper part of the cephalothorax (the area between the head and chest, where the legs are attached to the body) – this place is striped in spiders, a bit like a violin body. By the way, that is why brown hermits are also called violin spiders. However, such a pattern may differ depending on the age of the individual, so sometimes you can make a mistake and mistake another arthropod for a hermit.

Because of this, the best way to identify a brown recluse is through its eyes—unlike many others, these spiders have six eyes, not eight.

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Another distinguishing feature of the brown recluse is its evenly colored abdomen, covered with fine hairs, giving the arthropod a velvety appearance. Their long, slender legs are also covered in fine hairs, rather than the spines of some recluse spiders.

Behavior and reproduction of brown recluses

Brown recluses are nocturnal. Like other species, they weave webs that serve as shelters for them, and also function as a warning system when prey is nearby. According to Oklahoma State University (USA), they feed on insects, in particular, crickets and common silverfish.

Toward morning, when it begins to get light, recluse spiders find dark sheltered shelters – for example, in cracks and crevices of rocks. But if there is a human dwelling nearby, then spiders can climb into shoes or garbage cans, as well as rubber tires or tarps.

In addition, recluse spiders can “travel” from house to house, climbing, for example, into furniture boxes. Therefore, when moving, you can accidentally bring these “parasites” into a new house. At the same time, such long-lived spiders that live an average of 2 to 4 years in the wild and up to 7 years in laboratories have remarkable survival skills and can go without food from six to 12 months.

The laying season is from April to July, but a female brown hermit only needs to mate once to produce 150 or more spiderlings a year. In total, females can lay eggs up to five times in their lifetime. Therefore, if a pregnant female accidentally gets into your things, then your new home is probably doomed in advance.

Brown recluse bite: symptoms and treatment

Like most spiders, the brown recluse usually bites only when disturbed. Although in some situations it can bite “just in case”, for example, if the spider is in bedding or clothes.

Most often, people do not feel when they are bitten by recluse spiders, but after a few hours, the bite site begins to ache. At the same time, two different people may react differently to spider venom – in about 10% of cases, brown recluse bites cause moderate or severe tissue damage and scarring. But the vast majority of bites become inflamed, and then heal without medical intervention and leave no scars.

In people with hypersensitivity, the bite of a brown recluse spider can cause a necrotic lesion. In this case, a large blister forms on the skin, and over the next days or weeks, the poison begins to destroy the tissues around the wound. After healing, a visible scar may remain.

In addition, brown recluse bite symptoms may include itching, chills, fever, nausea, sweating, and a general feeling of discomfort or illness.