Spiders are one of the most important creatures that make up our ecosystem. They are responsible for balancing the population of smaller insects such as cockroaches, mosquitoes, and even mice and rats. Indeed, some spiders can grow big enough to catch and eat a mouse. Some are smaller but are equipped with powerful toxins to kill their prey. Having spiders around can be very beneficial. They act as natural pest repellents and natural pest exterminators.
However, there are others who do not want anything to do with spiders. Because of unfortunate experiences, people develop a kind of phobia to spiders -- a psychological condition known as Arachnophobia. According to psychologists, a phobia is the irrational and extreme fear of a place, a situation, a thing, an insect, or a person. Whenever he is confronted or triggered by his object of fear, he becomes dysfunctional; to the point that his fear impedes his ability to carry out his normal routines. Phobia makes a person do irrational and abnormal things. In rare cases, a phobia can even lead to suicide.
People develop arachnophobia because of threatening and distressing experiences with spiders. It could be from an aggressive attack or an accidental encounter that triggered a phobia. Some people might disagree because they believe that spiders are harmless and docile creatures. However, not all species are the same. Take a look at these top 8 most dangerous spiders in the world:
The Brown Recluse Spider
This species is also known as Fiddle Black because of its violin-shaped mark on its topmost leg with its tip pointing toward the abdomen. Typically, spiders have 8 eyes. But unlike most spiders, the Brown Recluse Spider only has six. This makes it unique from all other species.
The Brown Recluse Spider is one of the most dangerous spiders because its bite can cause necrosis - or the tearing down of skin and tissues. However, not all bites from this spider are lethal to humans. There are cases when a bite from this spider does not show any symptoms at all. Some could lead to mild reactions but it does not mean that all bites escalate to necrosis.
Complications from the Brown Recluse Spider bite include anemia, blood clotting problems, and kidney failure. Most bites from this species are painless and occur on the thigh, upper arm, and chest. If this happens, a person might experience redness, swelling, and a burning sensation around the bite. After 2 to 6 hours, the site could get bigger and become more painful. After 12 to 24 hours without proper treatment, necrosis could occur.
The Black Widow Spider
This is characterized as having a shiny black color with a yellowish or orange hourglass mark under the stomach area. The Black Widow Spider could be found underneath piles of rubble and wood, inside hollow stumps, stones, sheds, garages, crawl spaces, attics, and basements.
In the United States alone, there are two main types of Black Widow Spiders: the southern black willow and the northern black willow. The Southern Black Widow has a shiny, black, and globe-shaped abdomen. The Northern Black Widow has red spots down on the abdominal area.
This spider is known to be one of the most venomous spiders of all time. The toxin they secrete to the bloodstream immediately affects the nervous system. This might cause nausea, abdominal pain, headache, fever, hypertension, and vomiting. When a person is bitten, he or she experiences severe pain, swelling, burning, and redness in the area around the bite. Some report to even having two fang-like marks on their arms and legs when bitten by the Black Widow Spider. Other symptoms of the bite include muscle pains, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, excessive sweating, rashes, itching, swollen eyelids, and tremors.
If you suspect that you or any family member is bitten by a Black Widow Spider, consult your doctor immediately. For first aid, remember to wash the area with soap and water. Apply an ice pack or a cold washcloth on the affected area. If the pain is unbearable, take pain relievers such as Tylenol. If you get bitten on your arm or leg, keep it elevated to prevent swelling.
Red Widow Spider
This spider has a black abdomen with red spots. It is also distinguished because of the yellow line on its borders. Just like the Black Widow Spider, this species does not bite or attack people or animals unless they are provoked or agitated. You can usually find their webs on Rosemary, palmettos, scrub oaks, and other shrubs.
Only the female Red Widow Spider bites. But when they do, they secrete a toxin that causes muscle spasms. This could even affect your nervous system and cause paralysis when left untreated. Did you know that the muscle spasms caused by its bite can become permanent? According to some people, they experience reoccurring muscle spasms several times a year-long after they have been bitten by the Red Widow Spider.
The Wolf Spider
This is characterized to have brown to grayish speckles with an impression of a Union Jack on its stomach area. When these creatures lay eggs, the female spiders carry the sacs around because it is still attached to their spinnerets. Did you know that young Wolf Spiders ride on their mother’s back for days before they can go on their own?
Just like most spiders, they prey on smaller insects. But there are those who can grow bigger; those who target lizards and frogs. According to entomologists, these creatures are highly nocturnal. They are considered one of the human shadows. They hide and sleep during the day, and wake up at night to look for food. These creatures flee when they feel threatened. But when they feel agitated or provoked, they are likely to retaliate.
Although the bite of the Wolf spider is not as lethal as that of the Brown Recluse Spider or the Black Widow Spider, it can still cause severe pain and allergic reactions. Victims claim that the bite from this spider is as painful as getting stung by a bee.
Tarantula
This species can grow up to 7 to 10 cm in length. However, some can exceed up to 30 cm. The smaller tarantulas love to feed on smaller insects such as cockroaches, and grasshoppers. The bigger ones can prey on larger animals such as rodents, frogs, snakes, and bats.
Typically, tarantulas come in black to brown in color. Its body hair makes it unique from the other spiders. One reason why tarantulas are kept as pets in some countries is the beauty of their body hairs which come in different colors and designs. There is a metallic blue to metallic green color. Some tarantulas come in golden and bright red hairs. There are also others that are blessed with multicolored hairs.
These creatures usually thrive in grasslands and desert areas. However, there are instances when they can be found in caves, cliffs, trees, and even crops. In the United States, they are common in California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, and other places.
Did you know that all tarantulas are poisonous? However, there are no recorded deaths because of their bite. It could only cause severe swelling, pain, and redness on the bite area. In some cases, it could cause fever, allergic reactions, and mild muscle spasms in other people. The most dangerous thing that a tarantula can use against a human is its hair. To most of us, we see their body hair as an outfit - something that will make them recognizable and pleasant to the eyes of anyone who sees them. However, these body hairs function as their second line of defense next to their venom.
When a tarantula is agitated or threatened, beware of its tiny body hairs. When I get in contact with human skin, it will be like being pricked by thousands of barbed wires. They use their hairs to fling their attackers to avoid being eaten or harmed by other creatures, including human beings.
A tarantula’s hair is very irritating to the human skin. It could even require immediate medical treatment. There are many different kinds of tarantulas. If you want a pet, it is best to get to know which ones are aggressive or not.
Call For Professional Help
To prevent any unfortunate events with spiders, it is best to call your local pest control service in Denver, NC. What better company to call than Lake Norman Home Services? For over 50 years, this company has proven the quality of its service. With the help of their highly-trained exterminators, you can experience top-quality pest control.
Lake Norman Home Services provides an affordable service plan that covers every part of your home, eliminating all kinds of insects including spiders, cockroaches, mice, and many more. All you need to do is sit back, relax, and wait until their service has been completed. In no time, you will be having the pest-free life you deserve. No more worries about the spiders in your closet. No more fears of going to the bathroom and kitchen because of pests. Finally, you can have the relaxation you deserve in your own home.