|  | Bites Stings | Spider Bites

Deadly Spiders That Live in Arizona

Arizona has two species of deadly spiders. The black widow and the Arizona brown spider have enough venom that a single bite can prove fatal to humans who don't get proper treatment. Arizona is also home to the tarantula, which, despite being the largest of these three spiders, is not a real threat.

  1. Black Widow

    • Black widows are well known for their shiny black bodies with red or yellow hourglass marking. The female spiders, which are 12 to 19 mm long, are the dangerous ones. Symptoms of a female black widow bite include pain at the area along with cramping and respiratory distress. Male black widows are less than half of the size of the female widows, so their mouths are too small to release a dangerous amount of venom into the human flesh. Black widows spin webs under trees, rocks or inside garages. Their webs are distinguished by a very messy weaving technique.

    Arizona Brown Spider

    • About five species of brown spiders exist in Arizona. Most of the brown spiders have a tan to brown color and long, thin legs. Its venom can be fatal if it is left untreated. Symptoms of an Arizona brown spider bite include discoloration at the infected area -- similar to a bruising -- along with local pain and swelling. An ulcer may also start to form on the skin where the bite was, and some victims need reconstructive surgery because of tissue damage caused by the bite.

    Misconceptions

    • Tarantulas are giant, hairy spiders native to Arizona. Tarantulas have such scary looks that they are considered dangerous (especially by Hollywood filmmakers). In truth, the bite of a tarantula is only mildly toxic. Its venom is not strong enough to kill a human being. In fact, tarantulas are not known to bite humans at all unless they're provoked.

    Poison Control

    • Bite victims must contact a county poison control center immediately and describe the spider. Urgent care medical attention is necessary for a doctor to assess the damage that the bite left on your body, and to flush out the venom. Anti-venom treatments are available for spider bites, but they are most effective when the victim receives the treatment promptly after being bitten.

Spider Bites - Related Articles