Poisonous Spiders

Most spider bites cause only minor irritation and swelling. But two are potentially dangerous:

Widow spiders
Four species of widow spiders occur in Florida: southern black, northern black, red and brown.

Southern and northern black widows have a smooth, shiny black body with red hourglass on the underbelly.

The red widow has a reddish orange head-thorax and legs with a black abdomen. It does not sport a complete hourglass under the abdomen but may have one or two red spots.

The brown widow varies in color from gray to light brown or black with an orange or yellowish-red hourglass marking on the underbelly.

• Size: slightly larger than a quarter.
• Bite: may or may not be initially painful; emits neurological or brain poisons.
• Pain begins one to three hours after bite.
• Symptoms: abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, sweating, cramps, weakness, difficulty breathing.

Brown recluse

Yellow-orange to brown in color, this spider is recognizable by a subtle, dark brown violin-shaped marking on the head and back.

• Size: large as a quarter.
• Bite: stinging, followed by intense pain, emits blood toxins.
• Wound looks like a blister; may appear like a bull's-eye; eventually becomes ulcerated.
• Venom causes necrosis--destruction of skin and muscle.
• Victims can develop internal bleeding and kidney failure.

If your animal is bitten*

• Cleanse the bite area, then call your Veterinarian immediately.
• Remove collar if near the bite site in case swelling occurs.