Which spiders in the U.S. are venomous? — Gabriela’s Student Essay
Which Spiders in The U.S Are Venomous?
There are three popular and known poisonous spiders in the United States – the black widow, the hobo, and the brown recluse. Although there are certain spider species in the states that have a toxic painful bite, they are not considered as dangerous as the spiders mentioned above.
The spider is known for its dark black color and the infamous red “spot” is the black widow spider whose venom is extremely dangerous to both humans and animals.
Since the mid 1900’s, hundreds of people have died as a result of a black widow bite – this spider is without a doubt a bit more aggressive than your typical spider. The female black widow, as stated by Live Science, “…have quickly evolved super concentrated venom that can kill a person.
Each year, about 2,200 people report being bitten by a black widow, but most recover within 24 hours with medical treatment…”
Along with this infamous deadly spider comes along the “hobo” spider which is mostly found in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and is sometimes dangerously confused with the common house spider. You may wonder, why is it called the “hobo” spider?
Well, this spider essentially got its name due to the fact that it is often found living in train tracks and other ground-related areas such as cracks, construction supplies, etc. Although this spider avoids humans, an accidental interaction with this spider can lead to some serious consequences.
It is advised to always check your shoes before putting them on if you live in an area with these spiders; getting bitten by one of these hobo spiders can result in tissue death. This spider likes to hide in dark sheltered places and is typically outdoors so if you are an outdoor worker, make sure to check your work boots for one of these venomous spiders.
Lastly comes in the brown recluse spider; this spider is often referred to as the “violin” spider due to the shape marked on its body. Although getting bit by one of these spiders is rare, getting bit by one at first may seem nearly painless, but the consequences begin to prevail within 3 to 8 hours as a bite from this venomous spider can ultimately destroy human/animal tissue.
Now is the question of, well what can one do to stay safe from these venomous creatures? Some tips include getting rid of “junk” and by junk I mean any cardboard boxes one may have piled around the house or just overall clutter. Another tip includes simply washing your clothes and/or curtains; considering curtains are against windows (windows are a way for the venomous spiders to sneak in) washing your curtains is a great way to maintain spider safety.
Lastly, one minor strategy you can take to avoid these venomous spiders is simply to have the knowledge of what these spiders look like, a simple google description search when you encounter a spider can truly save your life.
Author: Gabriela Cedillo
University of Houston
If you think you have any venomous or dangerous spiders in or around your home, please reach out to a professional pest control service.