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8 of the Most Dangerous Spiders in the World

Charleston pest control

There’s a reason arachnophobia is so common: when it comes to pests, spiders are arguably the creepiest and to make things worse, there are some species around the world that are actually dangerous to humans. In most cases, a venomous spider bite that is treated is rarely fatal, but some bites can mean trouble for children, elderly, or sickly individuals.

Here, our Columbia, Florence, and Charleston pest control company shares some of the most dangerous spiders in the world:

Charleston pest controlThe Brazilian Wandering Spider

Also referred to as “banana spiders” (because they’re often found on banana leaves), these spiders are mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions. They’re considered poisonous to human; their venom attacks the nervous system and can cause symptoms like salivation, an irregular heartbeat, and prolonged, painful erections in men.

The Wolf SpiderCharleston pest control

Wolf spiders can be found all over the world (there are about 125 species in North America and 50 in Europe) and are named for the wolf-like way they chase and target their prey. This spider’s bite isn’t considered dangerous, however, it can be painful. Once they penetrate the skin and inject their venom, the area may become itchy and feel similar to a bee sting.

Charleston pest controlThe Brown Recluse Spider

Also called the “fiddleback” spider because of the dark violin-shaped marking on its back, the brown recluse is considered one of the most dangerous spiders in the U.S. and can be found in southern and central-southern states. Its venom is necrotic and destroys the walls of blood vessels near the site of the bite. This means a bite can result in a blister or lesion as well as mild to intense pain and/or itching.

The Yellow Sac SpiderCharleston pest control

These spiders belong to a family of spiders that range in length from 3mm-15mm. They can be found throughout the U.S., Mexico, and South America and often take shelter indoors. When a yellow sac spider bites, it produces a cytotoxin that destroys or impairs the function of a cell. This bite can cause redness and swelling and in more severe cases, necrotizing lesions.

Widow Spiders

Charleston pest controlThe Black Widow

Among the most famous of the widows, the black widow spider can be found throughout the U.S., parts of Canada, and Latin America. It sports a reddish or orange hourglass shape on the underside of its abdomen and its venom is considered extremely dangerous. However, because it only injects a small amount into humans, a bite is rarely fatal. Symptoms that may occur include severe muscle pain, nausea, difficulty breathing, chills, sweating, and/or fever.

The Brown WidowCharleston pest control

Native to South America, the brown widow spider is considered an invasive species in other parts of the world, but has been found in the Caribbean, southern California, Japan, South Africa, and Australia. Brown widows sport the same hourglass marking in orange and its venom is considered to be twice as powerful as a black widow’s, however, it also only injects a small amount into humans. Bite symptoms are similar to those from a black widow.

Charleston pest controlThe Red Widow

Perhaps the least known of the widow spiders is the red widow, which also carries the hourglass marking on the underside of its abdomen, but also has reddish legs and red or orange spots outlined in white on the top of its abdomen. These spiders can be found mainly in Florida and produce the same symptoms as a black widow when they bite a human.

The Funnel-web SpiderCharleston pest control

Also called the Sydney funnel-web spider, these spiders are named for their funnel-shaped webs and are found in and around the Sydney area of Australia. They sport large brown bodies and their venom is a neurotoxin that is considered potentially deadly. A funnel-web spider bite can cause nausea, salivation, difficulty breathing, blurred vision, muscle spasms, sweating, and more. Though several deaths have been recorded, a funnel-web spider bite can be easily treated if attended to quickly.

*Photos courtesy of wikipedia.org

 

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