Hobbies And Interests
Black Widow
The black widow, or redback spider, is most commonly associated with a deadly bite. It lives in multiple habitats across the globe and is the most well known deadly spider, although also the smallest. Black widow spiders have smooth black legs and a smooth, rounded, black body with a red dot or marking on the back of the body. Only the females bite, although they often avoid humans. Bites can cause severe pain and dizziness, but some people are unaffected and show no symptoms.
Brown Recluse
The brown recluse, or violin spider, is brown or grayish brown and smooth. The legs are long and thick, and the body is oval or violin shaped. They can live in your home, especially in basements or attics. Although not aggressive, they will bite if disturbed. Bites may be painful and festering, accompanied by fever.
Brazilian Wandering Spider
The Brazilian wandering spider, or banana spider, lives in jungle climates in South America, or in homes in that area. Unlike the black widow and the brown recluse, the Brazilian wandering spider is aggressive. The dark brown spider has small hairs on its legs and body and a red mouth. Its venomous bite not only causes pain and weakness, it can also cause priapism, a painful erection that can last hours.
Hobo Spider
The hobo spider is one of the deadliest spiders in the United States and is responsible for most cases of envenomation in humans. It looks a lot like the brown recluse spider, but instead of a smooth body it has tiny hairs. Untreated bites may lead to necrosis (tissue death) which may require amputation.
Goliath Birdeater Tarantula
Native to South America, the Goliath birdeater tarantula is the second largest spider in the world. Goliath birdeaters are golden brown and hairy with large bodies. Their venomous bites may be no more harmful than a bee sting to humans. However, they have been known to kill small birds and mice, and the females often eat the males after mating.