≡ Menu

Are All Spiders Venomous?

When traveling in the US be sure to watch out for these spiders.

Black widow spider

When you come across a spider in your house, one of the first things you might wonder is whether or not the spider is venomous. After all, the last thing you want to deal with is a spider that could hurt you or your family. And since you’ve been seeing more spiders in your house lately, you’re really wondering which spiders are venomous and potentially dangerous to your family and whether you should call local pest control companies for help.

When that happens, you really need to know which spiders in your house are venomous and dangerous and which ones aren’t. So let’s take a look into everything you need to know about venomous spiders in your home.

Which Spiders In the U.S. Are Venomous?

When you ask which spiders in the United States are venomous, the answer is not perfectly straightforward. See, most spiders in the United States are venomous. They use their venom as they hunt and kill their prey. Their venom is necessary to their survival, and since they eat a lot of other pests, we can’t be too bothered by that fact.

The good news is that, even though most spiders in the United States are venomous, almost all of them are harmless to humans. Their venom is used specifically for their prey, and humans are not spider prey. So when you come across a spider in your home, most of the time you can rest assured that, even if the spider is venomous, it is not dangerous to you or anyone in your family.

Even if the spiders in your home are not venomous or harmful to you, if you are seeing spiders frequently you should call one of your local pest control companies. When a lot of spiders are in your home, it’s a good sign that there may be other pests taking up residence there as well. Turning to pest control companies is a great way to make sure that your home is not overrun by unwanted insects.

That being said, there are two spiders in the United States that are venomous and dangerous to humans. So, while most of the time your chances are good that the spider in your house is not venomous and dangerous, there is still the possibility that the spider could be dangerous to you. Because of that, it is important to know which spiders are potentially dangerous to you.

Two Spiders to Watch Out For

The two spiders you need to watch out for in your home are the brown recluse spider and the black widow spider. Both of these spiders are venomous and harmful to humans. These spiders are also common throughout the United States, though they may be more commonly seen in warmer climates. It’s important to be able to recognize both of these spiders so you can distinguish them from other spiders that are not dangerous to you and your family, and inform local pest control companies of the problem in your home. Let’s make sure you know how to identify these spiders.

Brown Recluse

The brown recluse spider is a somewhat large, flattish, and (you guessed it) brown spider. There are a lot of brown spiders in the United States, so when you see a brown spider, it might not be a brown recluse. When you’re trying to identify a spider as a brown recluse, look for the thick angular legs, the flat body, and a distinctive violin-shaped marking on the spider’s abdomen. The violin shape on the spider is the clearest sign that it is a brown recluse. This marking is why brown recluse spiders are sometimes called violin spiders.

Brown recluse venom is usually not lethal to humans. However, it can be lethal in young children and even the elderly. Even though brown recluse Venom is not always lethal, it is still quite harmful to humans.

When a brown recluse spider bites you the bite will initially appear to be a small red mark on the skin with bite marks. As the venom takes effect, the bite will begin to worsen. Brown recluse venom causes something called necrosis. Necrosis is a gradual death of cells in a specific area.  As the cells around the bite die, the bite will become more open and painful. It is essential that you seek medical care as quickly as possible after a brown recluse bite so you can minimize the effects of necrosis in the wound.

These are not spiders you want in your home and around your family and pets. You need to make sure that your family is protected from the harm these spiders can cause. Pest control companies are your best source for help when you come across one of these spiders in your home.

Black Widow

Possibly the most infamous venomous spider in the United States is the black widow spider. The black widow is usually a pitch black color with a red or orange hourglass shape on its abdomen. This unique appearance usually makes the black widow easy to distinguish from other spiders. However, some black widow spiders, usually the male black widow spiders, have slightly different coloring. These spiders may be a lighter brown in color with a white or yellow hourglass on the abdomen. Needless to say, if you find a spider in your home with an hourglass-shaped marking on the abdomen, regardless of its coloring, it’s safe to assume that it is a black widow spider.

Black widow venom can be more lethal than brown recluse venom because it attacks the nervous system of the body. It is still more common for children or elderly people to die from a black widow bite than for a healthy adult. But even if you are a healthy adult, it is still important to seek medical attention as quickly as possible after a black widow bite. The sooner you can receive treatment, the fewer symptoms you will have to deal with.

Black widows are not spiders to be taken lightly. If you find a black widow in your home, it’s time to take serious action. Even if no one in your home has been bitten by a black widow, if you see one, it is time to call pest control companies. Reaching out to local pest control companies so they can check your home for any more black widows will ensure that your family is as safe as possible.

Filed under: Travel Guide

About the Author:

has written 1003 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

0 comments… add one

Leave a Comment