Spider Bites – Causes of Spider Bites and Symptoms

Getting bitten by any type of insect is something you shouldn’t take lightly and spiders are no exception. While some species can cause you only mild discomfort, others can be very dangerous. The key to knowing how to handle a spider bite is to hourly inform yourself about the different spiders and the symptoms that follow their attack.

Do spiders bite?

Many insects on this planet bite with the intent to feed, but spiders aren’t one of those. These 8-legged creatures bite only to defend themselves in a threatening situation. For example, a spider may attack you if you unintentionally touched it or corned it. Fortunately, most common UK house spiders have small fangs and weak venom, making it difficult for them to pierce human skin or cause significant bite symptoms.

Which spiders bite in the UK?

There are many spiders species in the UK, but there aren’t many spiders that have the tendency to bite. But those who do are the cellar spider, the false widow spider, and the woodlouse spider. Their bites are famous for not being the most “pleasurable” thing that you can experience and can cause some swelling for a couple of hours.

Now, let’s talk a little bit about the actual venom.

Spider venoms that require medical assistance contain different combinations of necrotic agents, serotonin, and neurotoxins. You will be surprised, but on this whole planet, only two spider bites can actually affect your health – the widow’s and the recluse’s. Still, poisonous doesn’t mean deadly. Venom from a widow spider or recluse almost never has fatal consequences.

That being said, there are dangerous spider types that possess neurotoxin venom, which is proven to be lethal – the funnel-web spider in Australia and the wandering spider in Brazil. Check out other dangerous spider species.

What does a spider bite look like?

A spider bite is no different than a general insect one. Most of the time, you won’t even understand that a spider actually bit you, even with symptoms. The bite mark itself is a bit raised, red, itchy, and can get swollen. This is the basic scenario unless you got attacked by a venous type – physical signs are a whole nother story there.

Spider bite symptoms

Now that we’ve covered the physical characteristics of a spider bite, here are the symptoms to watch out for if you suspect you got munched on by such a creature:

• Skin damage
• Swelling
• A red bump
• Itching
• Muscle pain
• Muscle cramping
• Sweating
• Headache
• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Chills
• Red or purple blisters
• Difficulty breathing
• Lymph glands

How can you tell if a spider bite is poisonous?

It may come as a surprise, but spiders generally don’t bite that much. Like we said earlier, you might get attacked if the creature feels threatened in some way. Non-poisonous spiders can cause slight redness, irritation, paint and some itching with their bite. Also, these types of spider bites don’t require a trip to the ER. That being said, let’s discuss the venomous bites…

How to treat a spider bite?

If you’ve been attacked by a non-venomous spider, you can treat the wound at home, following these steps:

1. Place an ice pack on the mark for about 10 minutes
2. Keep the injured area elevated to reduce the swelling
3. If you experience itching, take an antihistamine pill
4. Cleanse the spot with water and soap
5. Buy an antibiotic cream and apply it to the bite to stop blister development

The same steps apply to bites caused by venomous spiders as well.

What not to do with a spider bite?

If bitten by a spider, avoid actions that can worsen the reaction or delay healing. Do not:

• Scratch or squeeze the bite – This can introduce bacteria, leading to infection.
• Apply heat – Heat can spread venom faster in venomous bites.
• Ignore severe symptoms – Seek medical attention if you experience intense pain, spreading redness, necrosis, or systemic symptoms like the fever and muscle cramps.
• Self-diagnose venomous bites – Some dangerous bites, such as those from brown recluse spiders, may not cause immediate pain but worsen over time. Always monitor for changes.

How long do spider bites take to heal?

The time it takes for a spider bite to heal really depends on the type of spider and how your body reacts to it. Most bites from common house spiders are pretty mild and clear up in a few days to a week, with just a bit of redness, itching, or swelling. But if you’re unlucky enough to get bitten by a venomous spider, it could take weeks or even months to fully heal, especially if the bite causes skin damage or a strong allergic reaction.

Prevention tips

Fully avoiding a spider bite can’t be 100% guaranteed, but you can always try to prevent such scenarios. Here are a few suggestions on how to avoid spider bites:

• Read more about the different dangerous spider types and their way of living.
• If you have to clean or rearrange your shed, garage, basement, attic or basically any place that has the potential to host a spider family, protect yourself by wearing long-sleeved clothes, gloves, boots, and a hat.
• Spray your clothes with spider repellent.
• If you have piles of rocks or wood placed near your house, make sure to remove them or store them far from the property.
• Avoid storing any items under the bed or other furniture.
• Regularly vacuum your property and remove existing spider webs.
• If you have a pet tarantula, always wear gloves and mouth and eye protection when cleaning its terrarium.

In conclusion

So, the surest way you can protect yourself and your family from the spiders’ bites is by not letting them into your house. And the most effective way to keep them out is with the help of a professional spider treatment. We at Fantastic Pest Control offer you a full service including survey, treatment, observation and prevention. The specialists use a powerful insecticide that spiders hate.

Need professional help to deal with a spider infestation?