What are The Six Most Dangerous Spiders in the US?
In the spectrum of North American arachnids, a few take the spotlight for their potentially venomous bites. From the well-known black widow spider to the rarely seen brown recluse, spiders have always captured people’s imaginations and struck fear into their hearts. Understanding these eight-legged creatures is paramount to keeping out of their clutches.
There are a lot of myths built up around certain North American spiders, and it’s important to strip away the falsehoods to understand the truth. Then you can appreciate the arachnid for the amazing creature that it is and the particular role it plays in the natural world.
If you’ve seen one too many spiders in and around your property, you need professional help as well as knowledge. If the number of eight-legged cohabitants in your domicile is too many for comfort, contact At Home Pros.
Black Widow Spider
Meet the black widow spider, an arachnid with such distinctive markings that it has become a cultural icon spawning comic book arcs, movies franchises, and more. Identified by its shiny black body and red hourglass marking on the abdomen, the black widow is one of the deadliest pests of North America. Black widow spiders thrive in unlit corners and shadowy spaces and are found across the continent from the southern United States to Canada.
The spiders’ captivating appearance belies their potentially harmful nature. Black widow bites, though rarely fatal, can cause intense discomfort. The venom targets your nervous system, leading to muscle cramps, sweating, and extreme nausea. These spiders favor dim, secluded spots like wood piles, yard clutter, or sheds. If bitten, you should seek immediate medical attention as remedies like antivenom can alleviate symptoms (although the black widow’s bite still will be plenty painful). Prompt response within one day is crucial, as symptoms escalate if left untreated.
One of the best pieces of advice about black widows, or any venomous spider (snakes too!), is never put your extremities anywhere you can’t inspect first. In other words, when moving your firewood, take a peek under your chosen logs before you foist them off the wood pile to avoid painful surprises.
Brown Recluse
Scientifically known as Loxosceles reclusa, the brown recluse is a spider that’s best left well enough alone. Easily recognizable, these spiders have distinctive violin-shaped marks on their abdomens and brown bodies with eight long legs.
Unlike the black widow, brown recluses like to live in warm places. This means that, while you may find black widows outside, brown recluses enjoy the warm confines of your home in cozy spots like your attic or unused closet.
Brown recluses have a penchant for making irregular webs, and their venom contains enzymes that cause tissue damage, from mild skin irritation to severe necrotic wounds. And worse still, if the bites go untreated, the necrotic effects amplify. The best advice about brown recluses is not to disturb them or call in the professionals by contacting At Home Pros.
Hobo Spider
The lesser-known hobo spider, or Eratigena agrestis, has a distinctive brown hue with chevron patterns and is mainly found in the Pacific Northwest, in states like Washington and Oregon. These arachnids exhibit reclusive behavior, often inhabiting corners of homes and constructing funnel-shaped webs. In the event of a bite, symptoms include mild headaches and localized skin irritation. While complications are rare, medical attention is highly recommended, and treatments include antihistamines or pain relievers.
Like with other pests, the method of eradication is simple: reduce clutter and eliminate entry points. These spiders like to be undisturbed out of the elements or by a heat source, but glue traps and chemical treatments can be highly effective. To restate, these spiders’ bites aren’t fatal, but they’re really painful. If you are on the losing end of a surprise attack by the hobo spider, visit a medical professional soon.
Yellow Sac Spider
The yellow sac spider has distinctive pale-yellow to light green coloring, and a round, robust body. These spiders often measure under an inch and create sac-like enclosures for their webs. (You can see where they got their name.)
An adaptable arachnid, the yellow sac spider lives across North America in habitats like grassy fields, gardens, and shrubs. They especially enjoy shelter in folded leaves or under bark during the day and, at night, they are agile hunters, actively searching for prey. Their environmental flexibility enables them to thrive in both rural and urban settings, making encounters with humans all the more likely.
The yellow sac spider is not generally aggressive, but bites can occur if they feel threatened. Effects are typically mild – localized pain, redness, and swelling – but certain people have more intense reactions. Severe effects include necrotic wounds or ulcers. The bite will present like a mosquito bite at first, but over time will swell and become more painful.
You can treat the bite at home, cleaning the affected area, applying ice to reduce swelling, and using over-the-counter pain relievers. However, seeking professional medical advice is highly recommended for any unusual or severe reactions to a yellow sac spider bite.
Funnel Web Spider
Funnel weavers, also known as funnel web spiders, have elongated bodies and distinctive spinnerets. These arachnids create intricate funnel homes, which they use as both a shelter and a hunting ground.
There are many different types of funnel weavers, some are prevalent in grassy fields and gardens, while others may be found in shrubbery or low vegetation. The diversity in their habitat choices lets funnel web spiders thrive in various environments across North America. These spiders especially like places with plenty of insects to prey upon but out-of-the-way locales like sheds, attics, and disused buildings.
In terms of venom toxicity, funnel weavers are pretty harmless to humans. Since the venom of the ground-dwelling spiders target small prey, severe reactions are rare (while bites may cause localized pain, redness, or swelling). Funnel weavers avoid confrontation, but they will defensively attack if threatened. Any individual with allergies or heightened sensitivities should exercise caution and seek medical attention if bitten.
Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders, characterized by the robust, hairy bodies that give them their name, are unique in the arachnid world because of their excellent eyesight. These spiders do not build webs to catch their food but are agile hunters, using their speed and keen vision to stalk and pounce on prey. (For the spiders, this makes them excellent hunters, but for arachnophobes, it makes them the stuff of nightmares.)
With a global range, wolf spiders live in many different places, ranging from grasslands and forests to deserts. Their adaptability allows them to thrive on every single continent (except Antarctica). This same adaptability relates to where they choose to put their dens – leaf litter, burrows, or under rocks – showing that they’re not too picky.
Despite their formidable appearance, wolf spiders don’t pose a huge risk to humans. Their venom is designed to subdue smaller prey rather than harming bigger beings. While bites can cause localized pain, redness, and swelling, severe reactions are uncommon.
In most cases, wolf spider bites are comparable to a bee sting and generally do not need medical attention (ice for the swelling and pain ointment should suffice). Although they look fearsome, wolf spiders help balance the delicate ecosystem in which they live, preying upon many pests.
Spider bites can be painful and scary, but they are rarely fatal. Although some spiders on this list can cause necrotic wounds with their venom, all of these creatures will go out of their way to avoid humans or any other larger creature.
If you have seen too many of these types of dangerous spiders or are concerned about spider infestations, it’s time to bring in the pest control professionals. Contact At Home Pros today to find the best exterminators in your area. Although key to balance in the natural world, spiders should stay out of reach, and At Home Pros can help you find that peace of mind.
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