Hobbies And Interests
Black Widow Spider
Black widow spiders are possibly the most feared spiders and with good reason. The female black widow, which has a shiny black body with a bright red hourglass shape on its belly, has a poisonous bite that can render humans quite ill for a few days. The male black widow will not bite and does not have venom. Black widows tend to live around dark undisturbed places such as wood piles, under eaves and under unused construction material. If bitten by a female black widow, seek medical attention immediately. Intravenous medicine can be provided to help minimize the effects of the bite.
Jumping Spider
The jumping spider is relatively small, typically less than 15 mm long. They are easily differentiated from other spiders because their eyes are in three rows, and many are brightly colored. Instead of spinning webs to catch their prey, they pounce on their victims. Jumping spiders are often found on and around buildings.
Brown Recluse Spider
Brown recluse spiders are light brown with a dark brown, shiny fiddle-shaped mark on their heads. They live in small, secluded areas such as under bark or stones. They can also be found in attics and crawl spaces. Male, female and young brown recluse spiders are extremely poisonous to humans; if you are bitten by one, seek medical attention immediately. Effects are typically felt six hours after a bite; swelling, blistering and loss of skin around the bitten area will spread rapidly. If possible, kill the spider that bit you and take it to the doctor for positive identification.
Wolf Spiders
Large, hairy wolf spiders can be mistaken for small tarantulas due to their likeness. They mostly live outside but can find their way into homes. Wolf spiders do not build webs to catch their prey. Instead, they chase prey down and pounce on it, hence the name "wolf." Though the bites are not considered poisonous, the spider can produce varying reactions depending on the individual.
Banana Spider
The banana spider, named for its tendency to hide in banana crates, can be found in both North America and South America. While the South American variety is considered the most venomous spider in the world, the symptoms of North American banana spider's bite will be gone within a few days. The banana spider is the second largest in North America, just behind the tarantula. The banana spider's intricate webs stretch across areas such as paths or trails.