Spider season in Texas: Which ones are dangerous?
(NEXSTAR) — As the onset of summer nears, so too do warmer temperatures and mating season for many of the nearly 900 spider species in Texas. Even though you’re unlikely to cross paths with many of these Lone Star crawlers, there are at least two you need to be aware of.
Here’s a look at some of the spiders you might see in brush, in gardens, in trees and even in your home, this summer in Texas.
Tarantula
Did you know? Tarantula mating season in Texas begins in May and continues into August. These big fuzzy guys are pretty common across the state and are more likely to be seen as they come out of their burrows looking for mates.
There are 15 species of tarantulas in Texas, as explained by Texas A&M University’s AgriLife. While not dangerous to humans, the large (typically) black and/or brown creatures can bite if threatened. Texas A&M says tarantulas give out warnings by “rearing up on their hind legs to look bigger or by showing their fangs before they bite.”
“They can be scary when judged by their size and looks,” said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomology specialist Wizzie Brown. “They’re large, but they’re no danger to us. They can be grumpy when handled roughly, but if they bite, it’s typically from being provoked. So, look at them and appreciate them because they are beneficial. But people shouldn’t handle tarantulas in the wild.”
Black widow
While black widow spiders aren’t unique to Texas, they are one of the spider species in Texas that are venomous. You’ll be able to spot females of this species by the signature red-yellow hourglass shape on their undersides, which offers an unsubtle warning against the creature’s jet black body.
A black widow’s venom is a neurotoxin that’s reported to be 15 times more toxic than that of a prairie rattlesnake, Texas Department of Health and Human Services explains. Symptoms of black widow spider bites include muscle cramps or spasms, nausea/vomiting, seizures, swelling and numbness. Pregnant women bitten by black widows may even experience contractions, inducing labor.
If bitten by a black widow, you should seek medical attention immediately. While fatalities are rare (and older people and small children are most at risk), it’s best to have a doctor look at the bite site. If you must wait for medical attention, Mount Sinai recommends keeping the affected area still (to prevent the venom from spreading), in addition to cleaning it with soap and water and placing a cold compress on the bite.
Where do black widows hide? Texas DSHS says they’re often found in “woodpiles, boxes, outdoor toilets, meter boxes, under eaves and other undisturbed areas.”
Wolf spider
Wolf spiders are commonly found in backyards and other types of grassy areas. And while their hairy bodies covered in various markings — not to mention their four little eyes and four bigger eyes — can be intimidating, they are generally not dangerous to humans.
As explained by TAMU, wolf spiders are most active during the nighttime hours and can frequently be spotted by light reflecting off of their larger eyes. Although some wolf spiders can become aggressive if handled improperly or provoked, Texas A&M says they usually can be gently moved (either with hands or by sliding them onto a piece of paper) from unwanted places without hurting either spider or human.
Like most spiders, wolf spiders help control other pests, especially those found in yards and gardens, like cockroaches, crickets, flies and other spiders.
Orb weaver
These common spiders are named for what they do: Creating what most of us think of when we think of “spider webs.” That is, orb weaver spiders weave intricate webs of concentric rings, making a silky and tough net for catching prey.
But orb weaver webs are more than just traps for prey — they also help the spiders, who don’t see as well as other species, gather information about the environment.
The black and yellow garden spider (seen below) is the most common type, though some others called “spinybacked orb weavers” have a flat spiny back, making them appear almost crab-like. These are found in wooded areas, according to TAMU.
Orb weavers are harmless to humans, despite how much cleanup their web-making may require.
Brown recluse
Finally, we come to the second venomous spider in Texas.
Brown recluse spiders can be identified by their golden-brown coloring, in addition to a dark brown or blackish violin-shaped marking near their heads, explains Texas DSHS. Unlike many other spiders, recluse spiders have only six eyes, arranged in three pairs.
These spiders are most active at night and can typically be found in basements and home garages. Inside the home, Texas DSHS says recluse spiders can often be found “between boards, boxes and old towels,” and any “dark, undisturbed areas.”
Brown recluse bites may be painless initially before becoming mildly or severely painful over the following 2-8 hours, according to TAMU. The bite may itch, swell and form into a tender blister. Symptoms of brown recluse bites include nausea, fever, necrosis at the bite site, and the appearance of a red, white and blue lesion at the bite site, per Texas DSHS.
While there is no anti-venom treatment for brown recluse bites, a bite can be manageable for most people without medical intervention, depending on your symptoms. Cleveland Clinic recommends keeping bite areas clean (with soap and water), applying cold compresses to the area and keeping bite areas elevated. The clinic says you should seek medical attention immediately if you experience chills, dizziness, nausea, or if your bite looks infected.
Should you kill spiders in your home?
Most likely you shouldn’t.
As explained by North Carolina State University entomologist Matt Bertone for The Conversation, spiders generally want to be away from people — if you let them. Spiders in your home may have become accidentally trapped out in the open, or else, are just passing through.
Bertone writes that on-the-whole, spider bites are relatively uncommon, considering how present spiders are all around us. He adds that when you kill a spider, you eliminate a beneficial predator in the ecosystem of your home.
Overall, you should try to catch a spider and release it outside if you must remove it from your home.
