When a spider bites, it may leave two marks on the skin. Some spider bites can produce severe symptoms, but very few are life threatening, and most spiders cannot bite humans.
In this article, find out how to recognize the symptoms of different spider bites and learn about some spiders that can bite humans.
There are over 3,500 spiders in the United States, but most are not dangerous. Only two species raise significant medical concerns: the widow and the recluse.
Most spiders bite, but their fangs are too small or weak to puncture human skin. Many spiders have weak or prey-specific toxins that are unlikely to affect humans. If they do bite, they may leave itchy, red wounds that heal within a week or so.
However, some spiders can bite through human skin and insert powerful toxins. Bites by these spiders are rarely fatal but can cause health complications, such as tissue death and painful muscle spasms.
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 you may not 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:
- itching or rash
- pain around the area of the bite
- muscle pain or cramping
- a red or purplish blister
- sweating
- difficulty breathing
- headache
- nausea and vomiting
- fever
- chills
- anxiety or restlessness
- rashes
- swollen lymph glands
- high blood pressure
Spider bites can take longer to heal than other insect bites and may affect skin tissues. Keeping the bite clean can reduce the risk of infection.
In some cases, you can treat spider bites at home. For nonvenomous spider bites, follow these steps:
- Apply an ice pack on and off the bite for 10 minutes at a time. Always wrap ice or an ice pack in a cloth.
- Elevate the area to reduce swelling.
- Take an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), to help with itching.
- Clean the area with soap and water to prevent infection.
- Apply antibiotic ointment to 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 one of the following species has bitten you:
- brown recluse
- black widow
- hobo spider
- tarantula
- Brazilian wandering spider
Learn where these spiders hide and what they look like below.
The brown recluse belongs to the Loxosceles or recluse family of spiders. Brown spiders, like the brown recluse, have a body around one-third of an inch long.
Brown recluse spiders are not usually aggressive but will bite if trapped against a person’s skin. They typically hide in dark, secluded spaces. 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 initial brown recluse bite may be painless, but within
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. People who experience tissue death
The black widow spider is of the Latrodectus (widow) family of spiders. It is shiny and black with a distinct, reddish, hourglass-shaped mark on its belly. The body is around half an inch long.
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 bites can 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.
Within
- muscle cramping
- pain and burning at the puncture site
- headache
- high blood pressure
- increased saliva and sweating
- nausea and vomiting
- numbness
- restlessness
Prompt treatment is essential, especially in children and older adults. A doctor may prescribe an antivenom.
Hobo spiders are common in the Pacific Northwest. Their body measures around half to three-quarters of an inch long. They sit up high on long legs and run fast.
Hobo spiders can bite when provoked.
Take care when cleaning:
- behind furniture
- under baseboards
- in closets
You may not notice a bite from a hobo spider 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 a hobo spider has bitten you.
The treatment is similar to that of brown recluse spider bites. It may involve:
- corticosteroids
- antibiotics
- surgery
Treatment works best if administered within 24 hours of the bite.
Tarantulas occur in southwestern states with desert climates and 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 have:
- a body one-and-a-half to two inches long
- a hairy texture
- 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 may be painless or feel like a bee sting. The area will become warm and red.
Other potential symptoms can appear
- rash
- swelling
- itching
- rapid heart rate
- eyelid puffiness
- trouble breathing
- low blood pressure
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. The body of a wandering spider is around one-quarter to one-and-a-quarter 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 and drooling. The skin around the bite will usually swell, turn red, and get hot.
In severe cases, the bite can result in dead tissue or death.
Seek emergency treatment immediately. Antivenom is available for this spider’s bite.
Common all over the country, wolf spiders have a body length of one-quarter to one-and-a-third inches 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.
One of the most common household spiders, the jumping spider exists throughout the United States. Around one-fifth to three-quarters of an 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 a wasp 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.
The sand-colored camel spider lives in desert climates and has a powerful pincer on its head. They occur in central and southern Mexico and the western United States.
A camel spider will always seek the coolest place around, which just may be your shadow. A fast runner (up to 10 mph), some can grow to over
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.
Always seek medical attention if you suspect you or someone else has symptoms of a spider bite.
Call 911 if the person has:
- an allergic reaction, including hives, swelling, and breathing difficulty
- shock or breathing problems, even if these do not appear to be an allergic reaction
- muscle cramps
- fever
- loss of consciousness
- severe or rapidly worsening pain, swelling, or other symptoms
If you see the spider, try to take a photo in case you need to show it to a doctor later for identification.
You may need a tetanus booster if you haven’t had one in the last
For the best outcome, seek treatment for a spider bite within 24 hours of being bitten.
Spiders may be present in the home, in yards, outdoors, and in workplaces.
Here are some tips to reduce the risk of a spider bite:
- known how to identify venomous spiders in your local area
- take care when outdoors hiking or camping or at home working in the yard
- be vigilant when disturbing items or places that have not been disturbed for some time, such as a log pile or an attic
- inspect or shake out any clothing, shoes, boots, and equipment before use, especially if stored in sheds and outhouses
- wear protective clothing, with long sleeves, gloves, and so on, during yard work and on hikes
- keep the yard clear of debris, as far as possible
- ensure you have a tetanus booster every
10 years
How do you know if a spider bit you?
You will not always know if a spider has bitten you, although some bites cause pain, like a sting. You may notice two puncture marks on the skin. In some cases, there will be a reaction either at once or after some hours, but it depends on the type of spider.
A bite from a wolf spider, for example, can tear the skin and cause pain, redness, and swelling. The bite of a jumping spider may cause pain similar to a wasp sting, and people with an allergy can have a reaction.
How do you tell if you were bitten by a venomous spider?
Symptoms vary widely and depend on the type of spider but
- itching, pain, and a rash
- muscle pain or cramps
- sweating, fever, and chills
- breathing problems
- anxiety
- high blood pressure
You may not notice a bite from a brown recluse spider at once, for example, but pain and itching may occur after
How long after a spider bite do symptoms occur?
It will depend on the spider. Some spider bites cause an immediate reaction. Others are painless at the time, while others cause immediate pain and swelling. Symptoms of some venomous spider bites may not appear for
What can be mistaken for a spider bite?
Spider bites often look like other bug bites, but sometimes two puncture marks will be visible. Further reactions can occur, such as swelling, pain, fever, and other symptoms, depending on the spider.
Why is it bad to squeeze a spider bite?
Squeezing a spider bite will not help reduce the risk of symptoms but may spread the venom or any infection further. Instead,
Most types of spiders in the U.S. will not bite a human. Their mouths are too small, and their fangs are not strong enough to pierce the skin. Some do bite, but their toxin is not strong enough to cause a serious reaction in humans.
However, the bite of a few spiders — such as the black widow and the tarantula — can cause serious harm to humans. Anyone with a severe reaction to a spider bite should seek immediate medical help.