#Spider bite skin#

These spiders will bite if they feel trapped, such as when a hand reaches into a box in the attic or a foot slides into a shoe that the spider has made its home. Whereas most spiders have eight eyes, brown recluses have six equal-sized eyes. These spiders are brown in color with a characteristic dark violin-shaped (or fiddle-shaped) marking on its head. Brown recluse spiders typically take up residence in dry, warm and dark environments such as basements, woodpiles and closets. Most encounters with this spider occur from moving boxes or rooting about in closets, attics, garages or under beds where they may have nested. The brown recluse spider, also known as the violin spider, is most commonly found in the south-central, mid-western and southern states of the United States. That said, no one in the United States has died from a black widow spider bite in more than 10 years. Typically, black widow bites are less common, but more severe than brown recluse bites. Other signs and spider bite symptoms include: chills, fever, muscle cramps, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain. Within a few hours, though, intense pain and stiffness begin. Early on there may be slight swelling and faint red marks. While the bite feels like a pinprick and at first may go unnoticed or seem rather minor, the black widow spider's venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake. The more dangerous female is a dark colored spider with a red hourglass shape on the underside of its abdomen. Widows tend to be non-aggressive, but this spider will bite if its web is disturbed or if it feels threatened, especially after laying eggs. Male widows, like most spider species, are much smaller and generally less dangerous than the females. If a spider bite does cause a reaction, these are the most common symptoms:ĭangerous Spider Species Black Widow Spidersīlack widow spiders can be found throughout North America, but are most common in the southern and western areas of the United States.

#Spider bite skin#

In fact, some bites initially attributed to spiders can turn out to be bites from other bugs or insects, as well as even skin infections. Most spider bites are relatively harmless and may not cause any noticeable symptoms. Typically, these are timid, non-aggressive spiders, often found in dry, littered, undisturbed areas such as closets, woodpiles and under sinks.

Both species prefer warm climates and dark, dry places. The two spiders of greatest concern in the United States are the brown recluse and the black widow spiders, most commonly found in southern states. The rate of a bacterial infection due to a spider bite is low (less than one percent). Pain from non-venomous spider bites typically lasts for five to 60 minutes while pain from venomous spider bites frequently lasts for longer than 24 hours. Most spider bites are less painful than a bee sting. Spider bites rarely transmit infectious diseases.

However, far more concerning is the spider's venom, which can include necrotic agents or neurotoxins. Especially with larger spiders, the bite itself may be painful and cause injury. Yet, occasionally, a spider bite will cause real harm. Research has shown that 80 percent of presumed spider bites are actually bites from other insects, or due to skin infections such as MRSA (a resistant staph infection). It is common for any unexplained skin irritation to be called a 'spider bite.' In fact, most skin lesions and bite symptoms that are attributed to spiders are rarely actually due to a spider bite. Still, that is not enough to stop spiders from having a bad reputation. Simply put - most spider bites are accidental, harmless and require no specific treatment. Even then, most spiders are too small and not capable of breaking the skin with their fangs, or their venom too weak to be dangerous to humans. On rare occasions, spiders may have a serious lapse in judgment and bite a human finger (or other body part) mistaking it for a caterpillar or other such prey. Most spider bites occur when humans accidentally trap or brush up against a spider and receive a defensive bite. In truth, spiders are not intentionally harmful to humans.