The majority of the 3,000 spiders in the United States aren’t dangerous. Even if most spiders did bite, their fangs are too small or weak to puncture human skin. Their bites may leave itchy, red wounds that heal within a week or so.

The spiders that do manage to bite through our skin and insert toxic venom can cause serious health complications.

Read on to learn:

  • what spider bites look like
  • what spider varieties leave certain bites
  • how to treat spider bites

Identifying a spider bite is easier if you saw the spider that bit you, but it’s possible that you won’t notice the wound until hours later.

Look for things like:

  • swelling
  • a red welt
  • skin damage
  • any troubling symptoms that accompany the bite

Other possible symptoms that may accompany a spider bite include:

Spider bites often take longer to heal than other insect bites, and they may affect skin tissues. It’s important to keep the bite clean to reduce the risk ofinfection.

In some cases, you can treat spider bites at home. For nonvenomous spider bites, follow these steps:

  • Apply anice packon and off the bite for 10 minutes at a time.
  • Elevate the area to reduce swelling.
  • Take anantihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), to help with itching.
  • Clean the area with soap and water to prevent infection.
  • Applyantibiotic ointmentto the area if blisters develop.

Seek medical attention if you’re showing symptoms of a spider bite or if the symptoms don’t go away over time.

Always seek medical attention if you suspect you’ve been bitten by one of the following species:

  • brown recluse
  • black widow
  • 流浪汉蜘蛛
  • tarantula
  • 巴西蜘蛛

Learn where these spiders hide and what they look like below.

The brown recluse is about 1 inch long and usually nonaggressive. It typically hides in dark, secluded spaces. It only bites if it’s trapped against your skin. It’s also called the violin spider because of the dark marking on its back.

The brown recluse is usually found in areas such as:

  • Missouri
  • Tennessee
  • Kansas
  • Arkansas
  • Louisiana
  • Oklahoma
  • Eastern Texas

The initialbrown recluse bitemay be painless, but within 8 hours, it’ll begin to itch, hurt, and turn red. A red or purple ring resembling a target or bull’s-eye will develop around the bite.

The bite can blister and grow progressively worse without treatment to the point where it may kill surrounding tissue and cause fever, chills, and headache.

On rare occasions, it can cause:

There’s no antidote for a brown recluse bite, but keeping the area clean can encourage faster healing.

Your doctor will examine the bite and prescribe antibiotics. In extreme cases, such as tissue death, you’ll need surgery and hospitalization .

The black widow spider is shiny and black with a distinct, reddish, hourglass-shaped mark on its belly.

Found mostly in the warm Southern and Western United States, the black widow stays in secluded spaces such as:

  • piles of fallen leaves
  • woodpiles
  • boxes in the attic

Only the female black widow is toxic.Black widow bitescan feel like a small pinprick or nothing at all, but your skin’s reaction will be immediate. You’ll be able to see the two puncture marks on your skin.

Symptoms of a black widow bite include:

  • muscle cramping
  • pain and burning at puncture site
  • headache
  • high blood pressure
  • increased saliva and sweating
  • nausea and vomiting
  • numbness
  • restlessness

Prompt treatment is best, especially in children and older adults. In some cases, a healthcare provider will prescribe antivenom to remove the venom from your body.

Hobo spiders are common in the Pacific Northwest. They sit up high on long legs and run fast. Watch out if you’re cleaning window wells or sweeping out the garage, as they may attack when provoked. Hobo spiders lurk:

  • behind furniture
  • under baseboards
  • in closets

A bite from a hobo spider may be unnoticeable at first, but it’ll cause pain and numbness within 15 minutes.

After 1 hour, the site will start to turn red. In 8 hours, it’ll become hardened and swollen. After 24 to 26 hours, the wound may discharge fluids and eventually turn black.

Other signs and symptoms may include:

  • a red or purple blister at the puncture site
  • visual or aural disruption
  • weakness
  • joint pain
  • headaches
  • nausea
  • sweating

Hobo spider bites are slow to heal. Seek immediate medical treatment if you suspect you’ve been bitten by a hobo spider.

治疗是similar to that of brown recluse spider bites. It may involve:

Treatment works best if administered within 24 hours of the bite.

州西南部沙漠气候由es host tarantulas, but tarantulas may also be found as far east as the Mississippi River. They tend to hide under:

  • logs or stones
  • tree trunks
  • in tunnels or burrows

You can usually identify tarantulas by their appearance. They’re:

  • 3 to 5 inches long
  • have a hairy texture
  • have visible fangs that hang down

Tarantulas aren’t aggressive. The venom from the species found in the United States isn’t considered dangerous. Their bite will feel like a bee sting. The area will become warm and red.

Other potential symptoms include:

Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

The Brazilian wandering spider is native to Central and South America. It moves quickly and aggressively. It can grow up to 5 inches long. It’s considered one of the most venomous spiders in the world.

The bite of a Brazilian wandering spider is extremely painful. It can quickly result in heavy sweating anddrooling. The skin around the bite will usually swell, turn red, and get hot.

In severe cases, the bite can result indead tissueor death.

Seek emergency treatment immediately. Antivenom is available for this spider’s bite.

Common all over the country, wolf spiders measure 3 to 4 inches long and look similar to tarantulas. They like to stalk their prey by hunting on the ground.

You’ll find them:

  • in sand and gravel
  • around the bases of doors and windows
  • in house plants

Look for two large eyes in the middle of their faces, accompanied by six smaller eyes.

A wolf spider’s bite may tear the skin and cause pain, redness, and swelling. You may also experience swollen lymph nodes as a result of the bite.

For some people, healing can take up to 10 days. In rare cases, the bite can lead to tissue damage.

The sand-colored camel spider is found in desert climates and has a powerful pincer on its head.

A camel spider will always seek the coolest place around, which just may be your shadow. A fast runner (up to 10 mph), it may be only 2 to 3 inches long. In some locations, it grows up to 6 to 8 inches in length.

Because of its large jaws, a camel spider can leave a significant wound in human skin. These spiders don’t produce venom, but you may get an infection due to the open wound.

You may also experience swelling around the bite wound and mild to intense bleeding.

One of the most common household spiders, the jumping spider exists throughout the United States. Usually only 1/2 inch long, it has a stout, hairy body.

The most common type is black with white spots on top. It moves erratically and actually jumps as a method of moving between locations. You’re likely to find it outside in gardens and near other vegetation.

The jumping spider’s bite is usually no worse than awasp sting. It can be dangerous if you’re allergic to spider venom. Serious symptoms include:

  • pain
  • itching
  • redness
  • swelling
  • headaches

They’ll attack if threatened, so use gloves when gardening.

Call 911 if you or someone you know is showing signs of full-bodyshockor having trouble breathing. Always seek medical attention if you suspect you’re feeling symptoms from a spider bite or if the symptoms don’t go away over time.

A tetanus booster is recommended if you’re not up to date on this immunization.

For the best outcome, seek treatment for a spider bite within 24 hours of being bitten.