Hobbies And Interests
Black Widow
There are three different closely related species of black widow, two of which can be found in Tennessee: the northern black widow, Latrodectus variolus, and the southern black widow, Latrodectus mactans. The venom of a black widow is highly toxic to human beings, but fortunately they are not particularly aggressive and are usually easy to recognize. The black body and characteristic red hourglass shape on the abdomen of the females (which are far more dangerous than the smaller, less venomous males) are well known.
Brown Recluse
The brown recluse, Loxosceles reclusa, is the other highly dangerous species of spider found in the US. They live in the south central states, including Tennessee. Brown recluses are yellowish to reddish brown and have a distinctive violin-shaped marking on the thorax, from which an alternate name "fiddleback spider" is derived.
Grass Spider
These harmless spiders are named for their practice of spinning funnel-shaped webs in grass or low-lying foliage. Grass spiders belong to the genus Agelenopsis. They are common throughout Tennessee and much of the United States.
Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders are common throughout Tennessee and most of the United States. While not as venomous as the black widow or brown recluse, bites can cause discomfort and nausea. Wolf spiders do not weave intricate orb-webs, waiting for hapless insects to blunder along, but actively hunt prey on the ground
Black House Spider
As its name implies, these spiders tend to make their homes in our homes. They typically spin webs in the corners of rooms, where they can help keep down the local insect population. They probably won't keep down the human population. Their bites are not deadly. But they may make a human sick.
Golden Silk Spider
Sometimes known as banana spiders, you can find these large yellow arachnids in eastern Tennessee. They spin large golden webs in foliage, just high enough to accidentally collide into on a hike through Tennessee's scenic trails. Fortunately, this is little more than a nuisance. These spiders are non-aggressive and their toxins are relatively mild.