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USA Spider Identification Chart
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Apply
online for a FREE Spider Identification Chart with FIRST
AID spider bite procedures - colour A4 size - Ready Reference
Guide to common USA spiders.
Featured are the brown
recluse, black widow, hobo spider, wolf spider, white-tail spider,
black house spider, huntsman and other spiders with notes to
aid in identification.
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HERE for your FREE Spider Identification Chart
to be mailed direct to you, free of charge. |
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Spider Identification - Dangerous
- Venomous?
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| Spider identification of venomous and dangerous spiders most commonly
found in homes, their habitat areas, venom toxicity and spider bite
first aid procedures.
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| Brown
Recluse Spiders...deadly and aggressive |
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Venom toxicity -
the brown recluse venom can cause significant cutaneous injury
with tissue loss and necrosis.
Habitat - brown
recluse is found in the United States from the east to the west
coast, with predominance in the south.
Spider Identification -
an adult spider is 1/4 to 3/4 inch in body - a dark vilin shape
is located on the top of the leg attachment region with the neck
of the violin pointing backward toward the abdomen. Unlike most
spiders that have 8 eyes, the brown recluse has 6 eyes arranged
in pairs - one pair in front and a pair on either side.
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HERE - FIRST AID - Brown Recluse Spider Bite |
| Black
Widow Spiders...highly venomous - can be deadly |
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Venom toxicity -
the Back Widow Spider can inflict a painful bite which can be fatal,
especially to the young and elderly. An effective anti-venom was
developed in 1956.
Only a small amount of venom can cause serious illness, as the poison
attacks the nervous system. Systemic envenomisation usually results
in headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, pyrexia and hypertension.
The pain around the bite area can be excruciating or it may go unnoticed.
First aid and medical attention should be sought as soon as possible,
if bitten. If you have heart condition or other heart problem, you
may need hospitalization.
Spider Identification -
the body of an adult black widow is about 1/2 inch long. The female
black widow is normally shiny black, with a red hourglass marking
on the underside of the abdomen. The marking may range in color from
yellowish orange to red and its shape may range from an hourglass
to a dot.
Habitat - prefers
woodpiles, rubble piles, under stones, in hollow stumps, sheds and
garages. Indoors it can be found in undisturbed, cluttered areas
in basements and crawl spaces.
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HERE - FIRST AID - Black Widow Spider Bite |
| Hobo
Spiders : venomous - dangerous? |
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Venom toxicity -
although the bite of the hobo spider is initially painless, the
bite can be serious. After 24 hours, the bite develops into a blister
and after 24-36 hours, the blister breaks open, leaving an open,
oozing ulceration. Typically when the venom is injected, the victim
will experience an immediate redness, which develops around the
bite. The most common reported symptom is severe headache. Other
symptoms can include nausea, weakness, fatigue, temporary memory
loss and vision impairment. In any case, first aid and medical
attention should be sought, if bitten, as and when any adverse
health effects are observed.
Spider Identification -
they are brown in color and the adults measure roughly 1/3 to 2/3
inch in body length and 2/3 to 2 inches in leg span. Their abdomens
have several chevron shaped markings. Males are distinctively different
from females in that they have two large palpi (mouth parts) that
look like boxing gloves. Females tend to have a larger and rounder
abdomen when compared to males.
Habitat - they
can be found anywhere in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming,
Utah and Colorado. They rarely climb vertical surfaces and are
uncommon above basements or ground level.
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HERE - FIRST AID - Hobo Spider Bite |
| Funnel
Web Grass Spiders: low risk, non-aggressive |
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Venom toxicity -
the bite of these spiders is of low risk to humans.
Spider Identification -
are common outdoors and are occasionally found indoors. They are
generally brownish or grayish with light and dark stripes near
the head. They have long spinnerets and are moderate-sized (3/4
inch long). Grass spiders construct a large sheet web with a funnel
they use as a retreat. These webs are commonly built on the ground,
around steps, window wells, foundations, and low shrubs.
Habitat - These
spiders are often called grass spiders because they construct their
webs in tall grass, heavy ground cover and the branches of thick
shrubs. Rarely will a funnel web spider be seen indoors, except
for an occasional wandering male. They are found mostly in the
Pacific Northwest states.
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HERE - FIRST AID - Funnel Web Grass Spider Bite |
| Mouse Spiders...venomous
- painful bite |
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Venom toxicity -
known to cause severe illness, especially to young children - similar
to Red-Back Spider. Although normally not aggressive, the male
mouse spider will bite if provoked, and should be considered dangerous
to humans. It has large hard fangs which can cause a deep painful
bite. First aid and medical attention (ambulance) should be sought
as soon as possible.
Spider Identification -
a medium to large spider of up to 1 and 1/2 inches in body length.
The male Mouse Spider often has a bright red head and elongated
fangs.
Habitat - Mouse
spiders are ground dwellers with burrows of more than 3 feet deep.
The male often wanders about during the day on open ground, especially
after rain, in search of females.
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HERE - FIRST AID - Mouse Spider Bite |
| Black House
Spiders...venomous - nausea |
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Venom toxicity -
the bite of the Black House Spider is poisonous but not lethal.
Certain people bitten experience severe pain around the bite site,
heavy sweating, muscular pains, vomiting, headaches and giddiness.
First aid and medical attention (ambulance) should be sought as
soon as possible.
Spider Identification -
adults are about 1/2 inch in body length and of a dark brown to
black velvet textured appearance.
Habitat - this
spider spins a lacy, messy web and is prefers dry habitats in secluded
locations. It is commonly found in window framing, under eaves,
gutters, in brickwork, sheds, toilets and among rocks and bark.
Electric lights attract their prey - moths, flies, mosquitoes and
other insects.
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HERE - FIRST AID - Black House Spider Bite |
| Wolf Spiders...venomous
- non-aggressive |
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Venom toxicity -
the bite of the Wolf Spider is poisonous but not lethal. Although
non-aggressive, they bite freely if provoked and should be considered
dangerous to humans. The bite may be very painful. First aid and
medical attention should be sought as soon as possible, particularly
as to children or the elderly.
Spider Identification -
an adult is 1/2 inch to more than 1 inch in body length - mottled
grey to brown in colour, with a distinct Union Jack impression
on it's back. The female carries it's young on it's back.
Habitat - this
spider is a ground dweller, with a burrow retreat. It has a roving
nocturnal lifestyle to hunt their prey and can move very rapidly
when disturbed. Commonly found around the home, in garden areas
with a silk lined burrow, sometimes with a lid or covered by leaf
litter or grass woven with silk as a little fence around the rim
of the burrow.
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HERE - FIRST AID - Wolf Spider Bite |
| Trap-Door
Spiders...low risk - non-aggressive |
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Venom toxicity -
the bite of the Trap-Door Spider is of low risk (non toxic) to
humans. It is a non-aggressive spider - usually timid but may stand
up and present it's fangs if harassed. Rarely bites - but if so
it can be painful.
Spider Identification -
an adult is about 1 and 1/2 inches in body length - brown to dark
brown in colour - heavily covered with fine hairs. The male has
distinct boxing glove-shaped palps, that is, the two "sensory feelers" at
front of it's head.
Habitat - this spider
is a ground dweller, with a burrow retreat lined with silk of up to
10 inches in depth and around 1 inch in width - prefers nesting in
drier exposed locations - often has a wafer-like lid on the burrow
entrance. Trap-Door Spiders are commonly found in the drier open ground
areas around the home.
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HERE - FIRST AID - Trap Door Spider Bite |
| Orb-Weaving
Spiders...low risk - non-aggressive |
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Venom toxicity -
the bite of Orb-Weaving Spiders is of low risk (not toxic) to humans.
They are a non-aggressive group of spiders. Seldom bite. Be careful
not to walk into their webs at night - the fright of this spider
crawling over one's face can be terrifying and may cause a heart
attack, particularly to the susceptible over 40 year olds.
Spider Identification -
an adult is about 2/3 to more than 1 inch in body length - has
a bulbous abdomen - often colorful - dark to light brown pattern.
The common Golden Orb-Weaver Spider has a purplish bulbous abdomen
with fine hairs.
Habitat - often
found in summer in garden areas around the home - they spin a large
circular web of 6 feet or more, often between buildings and shrubs,
to snare flying insects, such as, flies and mosquitoes.
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HERE - FIRST AID - Orb-Weaving Spider Bite |
| St
Andrews Cross Spiders...low risk - non-aggressive |
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Venom toxicity -
the bite of the St Andrews Cross is of low risk (non-toxic) to
humans. They are a non-aggressive group of spiders.
Spider Identification -
adult 1/4 to 1/2 inch in body length - abdomen striped yellow and
brown - as illustrated. The St Andrews Cross Spider usually sits,
upside down, in the middle of it's web forming a cross - as illustrated.
Habitat - this
spider is a web-weaver usually found in summer in garden areas
around the home. It is considered beneficial as it spins a large
web to snare flying insects, such as flies and mosquitoes.
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HERE - FIRST AID - St Andrews Cross Spider Bite |
| Huntsman
Spiders...low risk - non-aggressive |
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Venom toxicity -
the bite of Huntsman Spiders is of low risk (non toxic) to humans.
They are a non-aggressive group of spiders. However, a large individual
can give a painful bite. Beware in summer when the female Huntsman
Spider is guarding her egg sacs or young.
Spider Identification -
an adult varies greatly around 1/2 inch in body length - has long
legs - the diameter of an adult including legs may reach 2 inches
- the first 2 pairs of legs are longer than rear two - it is hairy
- buff to beige brown in colour, with dark patches on the body.
Habitat - a hunter
that prefers to live under the flaking bark of trees, under flat
rocks and under eaves or within roof spaces of buildings. The Huntsman
Spider often wanders into homes and is found perched on a wall.
It is a shy, timid spider that can move sideways at lighting-fast
speed when disturbed.
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HERE - FIRST AID - Huntsman Spider Bite |
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