How can you tell if a spider is poisonous?

Spiders aren't like Snakes|snakes, where there are identifiable features worldwide, with only one or two exceptions. Yes, in the United States|U.S., we only have the brown recluses--very pale grey to brown, almost transparent-looking in the legs--that like to hide in dark places indoors, in many of the lower 48. They can get pretty big in warmer climates.

The big danger from them is actually the staph infection they carry, which, combined with their venom, is flesh-eating and can kill. Then there are the black widows, which are pretty darned hard to ID from above, since the bright-red hourglass is on their undersides. They're glossy black and hairless, though, so very few other common spiders have that look, even without the mark.

There are also Hobo Spiders in the U.S., whose bites can get infected and make you very sick. The photo below is a male hobo spider. Those "fangs" are actually its, uh, genitalia, so females won't have them.

They are European imports who first entered the country in Seattle and have been spreading east and south since the 30's. There are also "yellow sac" spiders that also can cause "necrotic anachridism" (infected spider bites that invite the flesh-eating bacteria). Strangely enough, the common Daddy Longlegs spiders are also very poisonous--but with their tiny little mouths, they can't bite humans!

In Australia, you have to worry about Funnel Spiders, which are very different than the ones called by that name in the U.S. They're aggressive and will go out of their way to try to bite you, even chasing after you a short way, instead of hiding like most spiders will. I have gone from being afraid of spiders to being fascinated with them, the more I know about them. I particularly like the Orb Weavers.

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In the United States, there are only two spiders that have a bite poisonous to cause medical concern: the black widow and the brown recluse. Both of these spiders are small (about 1/2 inch long). Black widows have a red or orange hourglass shape on their abdomen (which is not always a perfect hourglass).

Brown recluse usually, but not always, have a shape on their back that looks like a violin. If you go to How to Treat a Spider Bite here on Mahalo you can find pictures and video of both of these spiders.

Only 2 spiders in the United States|US are venomous; the black widow and the brown recluse. The black widow is 8 to 10 millimeters long with a red hour-glass on her abdomen. A brown recluse has a leg span of approx 1 inch with a violin-shaped marking the back.

Outside of the US, the Sydney funnel spider and the Brazilian wandering spider are highly venomous. The Sydney funnel spider is black to brown with a dark plum abdomen and smooth and glossy in appearance. The Brazilian water spider has a leg span of approx.

4-5 inches with a light brown to yellow body and red chelicerae (mouth parts).

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