Did you know? There are over 35,000 species of spiders.

Explore Spiders

Black Widow SpidersBrown Recluse Spiders

The largest spider in the world is a species of tarantula found in South America where one specimen had a leg span of over 11 inches.

Spiders don’t get caught in their own webs because they have self-oiling legs.

Many people associate spiders with webs, but the truth is not all spiders spin these silk structures, which are used to catch their prey. In fact, several species of spiders use different strategies for obtaining food.

There are about 3,000 species of spiders roaming around North America, but only two in the southern and western United States can cause serious harm when accidentally disturbed — the black widow and brown recluse.

Black Widow Spiders

Female black widow spiders have a red hourglass shape on their backs. Males have white spots on their sides. Males only live about a year, but the female can live up to 3 years. Hungry female black widow spiders have been known to kill the male spider after mating, but that isn’t always the case. Geographically, black widow spiders can be found in the Eastern, Central and Western United States.

Size: 3/4″ to 3/8″

Shape: Round

Color: Black with characteristic red “hourglass” on back

Legs: 8

Wings: No

Antenna: No

Common Name: Black widow spider

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

Order: Araneae

Family: Theridiidae

Species: Lactrodectrus mactans

Diet:Black widow spiders eat other pests. Sometimes they even eat other spiders!

Habitat:Black widow spiders tend to live in cellars and in piles of wood or trash.

Impact:The bite of a female black widow spider can be poisonous but not deadly to humans. The male black widow spider does not bite. A black widow spider bite is pale in the middle with a red ring around it and is followed by severe cramping, weakness, sweating, headache, anxiety, itching, nausea, vomiting, difficult breathing and increased blood pressure.

Prevention:

Wear heavy gloves when moving things that have been stored for a long time.

Shake out your shoes before putting them on.

Just to be safe, stay away from spider webs.

Brown Recluse Spiders

Brown recluse spiders get their name because of their tendency to hide in corners. They are identified by the dark brown violin shaped markings on their back. Native to Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi, they are nocturnal pests.

Size: 5/8″

Shape: Round

Color: Light to dark brown, with a dark brown violin shaped marking on their back.

Legs: 8

Wings: No

Antenna: No

Common Name: Brown recluse spider

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

Order: Araneae

Family: Sicariidae

Species: Loxosceles reclusa

Diet:Brown recluse spiders eat other bugs like cockroaches and crickets.

Habitat:Brown recluse spiders live in cellars and in piles of wood or trash.

Impact:The brown recluse spider only bites to protect itself. Its bite is painful and can produce an open, ulcerating sore. The center of their bite becomes a blister surrounded by an angry-looking red ring, which is then surrounded by a white ring. A red, itchy rash usually appears in the first 24-48 hours of being bitten. Other symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches.

Prevention:

Don’t leave clothing on the floor.

Store clothes and shoes inside plastic containers and shake them out before wearing them.