The Most Dangerous Spiders Found In Texas

When it comes to spiders in Texas, you better believe we have a lot of different types. From the gentle and not so scary, to the venomous and possibly deadly, Texas has its fair share of spiders.

In fact, Texas is home to over 900 species of arachnids according to Bug Tech. That's a lot and if you hate spiders, you probably don't want to think about all those different type of spiders that we have in the Lone Star State. The good news is that out of 900 or so different species, there are only a few that could cause real harm to humans. So that means most spiders are actually pretty harmless.

The Most Dangerous Spiders in Texas

While there is no official ranking on which spiders are the most dangerous, we will go by what people seem to know about

The first and probably most well known spider is the Brown Recluse spider. It is venomous and can cause severe reactions to whoever is bitten.

These spiders are "golden brown in color and can be identified by the characteristic dark brown to black fiddle-shaped pattern on the head region". The venom from a brown recluse has "necrotizing enzymes" that can cause local or systemic reactions according to Texas DSHS. These spiders can be found in basements and garages, hiding in dark areas, even hiding between clothing and towels in areas that don't get a lot of traffic.

The second dangerous spider in Texas is also very well known. The Black Widow.

When people think black widow, they normally think about the female spider. She's the one that is black in color with a "reddish or yellowish" hourglass on the underside of the abdomen. According to Texas DSHS, the male black widow is generally smaller brown and "non-descript".

Black Widow spiders are non-aggressive but will bite when trapped, disturbed, or feel threatened. They can often be found in areas they are for the most part, left alone such as woodpiles, boxes, meter boxes, underneath eaves are just some places you will find them.

According to Bug Tech, a spider called the Brown Widow entered Texas in the 1990's and is also venomous. According to Bug Tech, the Brown Widow's hourglass shape is lighter in color compared to the Black Widow. The Brown Widow's hourglass can be "yellowish-orange or reddish-orange".

The Tarantula and Jumping Spider are also both venomous, but not as dangerous to humans, though both can cause severe pain according to enviropest.

What Happens If You Get Bitten By a Brown Recluse or Black Widow in Texas?

If bitten, don't panic. Depending on where you were bitten could mean a different reaction. Other factors include the amount of venom injected, the bite victim's age, depth of bite and more. In some cases a bite feels like a pin-prick, in other cases you may not feel it. Below are just some of the symptoms of being bitten according to Texas DSHS.

General Black Widow Spider Envenomization Symptoms

• abdominal cramping
•  abdominal rigidity
• convulsions
• headache
• lesion at site of bite
• nausea
• pain
• profuse sweating
• tremors
• unconsciousness
• vomiting

General Brown Recluse Spider Envenomization Symptoms

• chills
• fever
• nausea
• necrosis at the bite site
• nothing
• red white and blue lesion at the bite site
• restlessness
• weakness

If you do get bitten, try to capture the spider that bite you so that it can be identified. Wash the area of the bite as well and contact the Texas Poison Center (1-800-222-1222) or the family doctor. In severe cases, the victim may have to be hospitalized.

For more information, visit the Texas Health and Human Services website.