5 poisonous spiders in Florida (2023)

Floridahas 18 feet longsnakes, 10 footalligatorsand great white sharks offshore. But don't overlook some of the smallest animals that can be just as dangerous or worse!be crazyare in every county of Florida and some are the most venomous spiders in America. Let's check out the five venomous spiders in Florida.

1) Southern Black Widows

Milkblack widowsare one of the most common poisonous spiders in Florida. They are also the greatest of widows. These spiders have glossy black backs with a red hourglass marking (females are much smaller and brown, like males). They have eight long black legs and are about 1 cm long. They build large webs in which they like to hang around in the corner, waiting for prey. Humans are not prey, but will sometimes be bitten if they accidentally startle one.Southern black widows are very poisonous.They can be found throughout Florida and can be found by people in backyard sheds, garages, woodpiles, under old lawn chairs, and unused equipment like an old grill. When working in an area that has been undisturbed for a while, be careful and look for cobwebs.

2) Northern Black Widows

Northblack widowslook very similar to the southern ones, but the hourglass is more like two triangles and there is also a row of red dots on its back. Most of them can be found in their preferred habitat at the edge of the forest, where they like to build their webs close to the ground. In Florida, they are found west of Tallahassee in the state's Panhandle. They can also be found in residential areas, and the most common way people get bitten by widow spiders is by putting on a piece of clothing that hasn't been used in a while. So if you pull a pair of boots out of the back of your wardrobe, be sure to check before you slide your foot in.

3) The Red Widow

You can easily tell a black widow from a red widow by their body color. Spiders have segmented bodies with two segments (insects have three). You have the belly, called theopisthosomaand the head-thorax combination, called theCephalothorax. If you look at an insect, like an ant, they have three distinct segments, a head, a thorax, and an abdomen. The Red Widow's abdomen looks similar to the Black Widow's, being glossy black with red markings, but the markings are not hourglass shaped. It's more of a series of large red spots bordered by yellow. The red widow's head-thorax is all red, including the long, thin legs. These spiders are found in Central and Southeast Florida.

4) The brown widow

The brown widow also had a distinctive appearance as her abdomen and head-thorax were brown with striped legs. The bands on the legs alternate between dark brown and light brown. It has an hourglass shape on its back, but the hourglass is yellow or gold in color. They are about the size of a black widow, with females being about 1 cm long. In Florida, these are found in well-lit areas of the Southeast.

5) Brown RecluseSpider

Brown recluseSpiders are different than widow spiders. They are one of the most venomous spiders in Florida and can leave a large scar after their bite. Brown recluses are slightly smaller than black widows but share the same body shape with an oval-shaped abdomen and a smaller head-thorax. They are a uniform light brown color with no markings on their backs or with a faint violin-shaped marking. Brown hermits get their namehermitfrom hiding most of the time. They prefer to stay out of sight and will only bite when startled.They are only found in a few counties in Floridaincluding Jefferson, Alachua, Duval, Leon and Bay counties.

What can you do to avoid being bitten by a poisonous spider?

To avoid being bitten by a spider, always use caution when working outside in the garden, moving firewood, or doing yard work. Wearing thick work gloves can help provide a layer of protection. These spiders like to live in warm areas like old clothes, old shoes/boots, or behind boxes. Always be careful when grabbing or getting something that hasn't been used in a while. Check boots or shoes before putting them on.

What should you do if you are bitten by a black widow?

A black widow's bite may only feel like a pinprick until the venom calms it down. You will only have a small bite mark with two tiny holes, but you may experience muscle pain, nausea, fever, and anxiety or agitation. Black widow venom is a neurotoxin. Pain and itching at the bite site will also get worse.The CDC recommendsthat you should, "See a doctor immediately." Most black widow bites are nonfatal. Children, the elderly, and people with medical conditions are at greatest risk for significant reactions. In the United States, there are only 4-8 deaths annually from black widow spider bites.

What should you do if you were bitten by a brown recluse?

If you are bitten by a brown recluse, it will take a long time for the wound to heal. The brown recluse's venom essentially eats away skin tissue. For his booty, like aKricket, the venom breaks down the cricket's soft tissue so the spider can suck up the nutrients for lunch. The venom has a similar effect on human skin, causing a large black blister that is painful and can swell. In severe cases, the bite site can result in a necrotic skin lesion resembling a non-healing wound. It is recommended that you seek immediate medical attention if you think you may have been bitten by a brown recluse.

Do black widows really kill their mate after mating?

Yes, they do. Not every time, but it is common, the female will kill and eat the male black widow after mating. Some believe it is to eliminate another competitor for food, while others believe the male's nutrients provide nutrients for the spider eggs to come. Male black widows are not venomous and do not pose a threat to humans, but as they are often eaten during mating, you are unlikely to encounter one.

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