There is no mistake that jumping spiders are cute. Just looking at them, makes you want to keep them as pets. But like you, before I think about keeping one, I am wondering if jumping spiders are friendly or harmful to us? Are they poisonous or venomous?
I am not going to lie to you…
Depending on which genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae) you are referring to, they do carry some venom and poison.
But the good news is – They are too little to harm us. Jumping spiders are generally friendly to humans and are not harmful to us at all.
Even though they are carnivorous by nature, these cute little jumpers tend to shy away from humans. So the chances of them biting you are really low. That is unless you handle them too roughly or squeeze them too tightly with your fingers.
With that said, it never hurt to keep yourself protected from jumping spider bites as they can really sting badly. So let us take a look further into when jumping spider bites becomes really dangerous.
The dangers of jumping spiders bites?
Jumping spiders still post some danger to humans. But it is only dangerous to those who have allergies to their venom. Just like anything can be deadly when there is an allergic reaction. Even peanuts!
Allergies can be so serious that the swelling blocks the entire windpipe resulting in choking and death. So it is good to check with your physician on whether you are allergic to spiders before keeping them as pets.
Spider bite symptoms: What does a jumping spider bite look like at first?
You will see redness and sometimes swell too. This should subside in a while as their venom is not strong enough to hurt us. The swelling and redness are usually caused by the initial bite.
Jumping spider bite experience
Jumping spider’s bite can sting a little but the pain should not be anything more than that. The after effects can also vary. It can cause slight swelling or itch for some and redness for most.
This swell or itch should start to subside within a day or 2. Most cases you should recover within the week. If for any reason, other symptoms start developing or wounds deteriorate, visit a physician immediately.
Here is how a serious bite looks like:
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Reasons why jumping spiders bite?
Jumping spiders only bite when their feel threatened or sense danger. Which is why handling them well is critical. Any signs of fear or panic from you can give them a wrong impression. So wearing protective gear is recommended if it is your first time handling a jumping spider.
Here are some other reasons why jumping spiders may bite:
- Female jumping spiders get aggressive when their eggs or nest are being disturbed. They WILL bite if you disturb her eggs
- Sometimes when you are handling them, you may get bitten if you squeeze them too hard triggering their sense of danger
Treatment for jumping spiders bite
- Wash and clean bite wound with soap to prevent infection.
- Ice it to help swelling and reduce redness. Reusable icepack is really useful in this case.
- Keep bite wound elevated if possible to help with swelling too.
- Get over the counter antihistamine to help with itching.
- Use spider bite cream or ointment that are safe for kids to help with pain relief.
- Monitor and watch out for symptoms.
Go to the nearest hospital or call 911 if the following symptoms start developing:
- Breathing difficulties
- Swelling gets worse
- Pains get worse
- Any prolonged symptoms – Note that jumping spider bite will heal in a few days. If it doesn’t it could be something else that bit you.
Spider bites that you really should watch out for
When you are planning to catch some cute jumping spiders in the wild or even at home, don’t be surprised if you come across other really dangerous spiders that tend to live in or appear in similar habitats as jumping spiders.
There are 3 spiders that are really really dangerous. So pay close attention to the next section.
#1 Black widow
One of the top deadliest spiders is the black widow or Latrodectus. They get their name “widow” from their cannibalistic natural to devour their male counterparts when they mate!
Don’t be fooled by their minuscule size. Their venom is highly toxic and it is said to be 15 times more poisonous than the venom from a rattlesnake. One sting from it can hurt like there’s no tomorrow. To children or those who are allergic to their venom, it can also be fatal.
How to identify them?
They are generally black in color with an orange hourglass shape on their body. Their males counterpart, on the other hand, are brown in color and are generally smaller. They do not hold any venom. So they are safer than the females.
Their Habitat: Where are they found?
They can be found in countries like North, South, Western America, Africa, and Australia. They tend to live in cool, dark or usually undisturbed areas of people’s homes. Some of these areas at home can be:
- The attic
- Garages or sheds
- Unused pots
- In unused shoes or blanket
Black widow’s bite
Just like any spider, black widows’ bite can be identified by 2 fang marks that they leave behind on your skin. The only difference is the sharp pain that comes along with it. Some say it is equivalent to the pain of a bee sting. The fang marks will start turning red, forming a nodule. Swelling should follow.
During this period, you may also experience the following symptoms. But do not panic –
- A bite wound pain that comes along with redness, burning sensation, and swelling
- Abdominal pain (pain can be similar to appendicitis)
- Muscle cramps – at/around the wound, or even in other areas like stomach, shoulders, and back
Sweating or having chills - Headache
- Rash and itching
- Weakness in the legs, tremors or paralysis
- Swelling in the eyelid area
- Salivation, tearing of the eyes
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Dizziness and/or fainting
- Chest pain (similar to a heart attack) or respiratory difficulties
- High blood pressure
Example of black widow’s bite
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Treatment for black widow’s bite
Not everyone experiences the same from a black widow’s bite. Some can be milder some can be more serious. But regardless, it is best to seek treatment early. Go to your nearest medical physician or hospital to make sure you get checked out. Very rarely any anti-venom is required unless the reaction to the venom gets worse. If the cramps or have difficulty moving, make sure to call 911 immediately for assistance This is especially so for kids or elderly.
Once you get bitten make sure you go through the following steps:
- Wash the wound with soap
- Apply wet cloth or ice pack on bite area every 10 to 15 minutes interval
- Keep bitten arm or leg elevated while waiting for 911 help
#2 Brown recluse spider
The brown recluse spider or the Loxosceles Reclusa is the next deadliest spider that can leave behind a nasty wound. They produce this necrotic hemotoxic venom that actually destroys cells. So bites from the brown recluse can potentially harm and prematurely destroy your cells.
How to identify them?
Brown recluse spider is generally dark brown, tan or black greyish in color. They are about 6 millimeters and can grow up to 20 millimeters or more. That is approximately 0.24 to 0.79 inches. Their unique markings that look like a violin shape on their cephalothorax. This is also the reason some people call them violin spider.
The unique violin markings can sometimes be an unreliable trait to distinguish their kind. A better way is to look at their eyes. They have 6 eyes in pairs, not 8 eyes. One pair in the front and the other 2 pairs on the left and right side respectively. Note that each pair of eyes are so close together that it looks like 1 eye. They also do not have spines on their legs but only hair.
Their Habitat: Where are they found?
They are more commonly seen in the southeastern parts of US. And are also seen in Asian countries like Thailand too.
Similar to the black widow they can appear within the house. Very often, they build webs in garages and sheds, basements or cellars as well. Generally, in cool, dark and undisturbed places. They love cardboards so make sure to not leave cardboards lying around in your house or they become a potential breeding ground for them. So they pretty much can appear anywhere that is often untouched in your house. Even in cupboards!
Brown recluse bite
You might not feel much when they bite. Some do not even feel any pain in the beginning. This is because of their tiny fangs that don’t cause a strong sting but leaves behind a venom that will do the damage. Some people do experience mild burning pain but it varies from different individuals.
After several minutes after the initial bite, you might notice a “bullseye” or red ring wound mark of inflamed swelling. This mark in the center will then turn into a blister which can be painful to touch.
And within the next 12 to 48 hours, the blister will turn blue then black as the tissues on the skin die. You may experience an open hole in your skin like an ulcer. It is pretty unsightly but wounds from recluse spider tend to heal fully without leaving any scars.
During this period of the bite, you may encounter some of the following symptoms:
- Pain and some itchiness may increase in the first eight hours of getting bitten. A burning sensation may follow.
- A bullseye’s red ring marking will form followed by a central blister which falls off turning into an ulcer
- Fever
- Feeling cold or having chills
- Body aches
- Some bites can heal on their own within one week.
- Some will form ulcers that get bigger. Such cases may take months to fully recover
- An ulcer can cause scarring too but the chances are pretty low
Example of a brown recluse spider bite
Treatment for the brown recluse spider bite
Children may be at risk for an allergic reaction to the venom. So for kids, see your doctor immediately if you suspect them being bitten by the brown recluse spider.
For adults, home remedies are available. Only about 10% of brown recluse bites turn into ulcers.
Once you get bitten make sure you go through the following steps:
- Wash and clean the wound with soap
- Apply antibiotic cream
- Ice pack on wound area every 10 to 15 minutes interval
- Keep bitten arm or leg elevated
- Get over the counter medication for pain
- Rest and monitor for more severe symptoms
Seek medical professional right away or call 911
- If more symptoms such as blister or ulcer start to form
- If the pain becomes unbearable
- If you can’t breathe
Spider bite preventions
Spiders will generally shy away from humans, our flesh is just not part of their habitat. They will only bite when they sense danger or are being threatened. So to avoid getting bitten by any spiders, you will need to be aware of your surroundings.
Here are some ways to prevent getting bitten:
- Check your cupboards and shoe racks especially those that are untouched for a long time. Most people tend to get bitten when wearing shoes or clothes they didn’t touch for a long time.
- Vacuum corners of your home often getting rid of any spider webs. If you have an attic, you definitely have to clean there too.
- Spray peppermint oil around the house. – Spiders do not like the smell.
- Don’t leave cupboards lying around the house. They attract spiders and cockroaches too.
Now that you have seen the types of spiders that are deadly and those that are friendly, are you still worried about spiders?
In fact, there really isn’t much to worry about because cases of death from spider bites are really little to none. Bite from recluse and black widow happens all the time but most of the time their venom is not enough to kill adults. Only children and elderly are at slightly higher risk. So don’t go looking for one!
Jumping spiders, on the other hand, are totally not harmful, unlike the black widow or brown recluse. Even if they bite, it’s just a small wound that will heal within days.
Overall, in my opinion, jumping spiders are the most friendly arachnid that you will come across. But what do you think? Are they friendly or harmful in your opinion? Let us know in the comments below.
