Venomous Spiders in Ohio

Recluse Spiders

• Recluse or brown spiders are characterized by a pale or reddish brown color, which becomes darker on the front part of the body; they have a pattern resembling a violin on the cephalothorax. Their legs are quite long, and the spider can run quickly, sideways as well as forward and backward. As the name suggests, the recluse spider prefers secluded places in which to build its web. In Ohio they can be found near or inside buildings, since they risk their lives when going outside during winter. If disturbed, the spider may rush out and bite.

Widow Spiders

• Two kinds of widow spiders coexist in Ohio: the black and the northern. These are characterized by different features and habitats. The black widow is more often found in abandoned buildings and wooden outhouses, while the northern widow can chose to live under rocks and in cavities. For both species the female is much bigger and more dangerous than the male; the bite is in fact a female act. While the female is black with a red hour-glass on its abdomen, the male tends to have lighter colors with orange or red marks on the abdomen.

The Bite

• Both brown recluse spiders and black widows bite humans in self defence, instinctively. The brown spider's bite may become painful several hours after it occurs and may produce a slow-healing sore that can restrict circulation, which may require surgery. The bite is not generally life-threatening except in very young or very old victims.

  Death or serious complications following a black widow bite are quite rare. As the actual bite feels like a needle prick, the most common symptoms are cramps and rigidity. The effect starts with two red spots where the spider bit and develops into back and abdomenal cramps. However, a healthy adult will recover in a few days.

Avoid Spiders

• The best way to keep brown recluse spiders at a distnce is to avoid leaving your clothes on the ground; always store them in a plastic bag. If you wear hampered clothes, shake them out before wearing them. Also shake out your shoes and check them before putting them on.

  If you see a black widow web, which lacks the usual spider web pattern and usually contains a thickened retreat area, be cautious and do not touch it, since a female black widow may perceive this as a threat and bite you. Black widows often hide in storage areas, so inspect anything that has been stored for a long time before using it.