Spiders are amazing creatures, they have 8 legs and more than 45,000 different species. Although all the spiders have venom, only some spiders have venom that is strong enough to kill humans. In this article we’ll discuss if a white spider can kill you, so stay tuned and keep reading.
There are many white spiders out there and all of them are venomous, but most of them do not have enough venom to kill a human. On the other hand, a white widow spider can easily kill you.
Now that we’ve given you a short answer, let’s get on with the article. Firstly, let’s see if spiders are even insects.
Why Spiders Aren’t Insects?
Spiders belong to a group of animals called “arachnids”. Scorpions, mites, and ticks also belong to the same family. Arachnids are creatures with two body segments, eight legs, no wings or antennae, and are not able to chew. Many people think that spiders are insects but they are mistaken since insects have six legs and three main body parts. Most insects have wings. So, spiders are not insects they are Arachnids.
Spiders Which Can Kill Humans
Spiders don’t like to bite humans, most of the time they just run away or sometimes play dead. Most spiders only bite when they are protecting their eggs, and although some spiders are venomous enough to kill humans, most spider bites, if treated in time, are not fatal.
Black Widow
Black widow spiders are probably the most famous on this list. They are highly venomous, and they are named ‘Black Widow’ because after mating they kill the male spiders. They are 1 inch long and their male counterparts, which are seldom seen are about 0.25 inches long. They can also be uniquely identified as they have an hourglass shape on their abdomen which is red.
They are widespread in North America and they have enough venom to kill humans, but very rarely do humans die from their bite if treated well. Mostly infants and elders are at risk of death. Their bite feels like a pinprick on the skin and can cause muscle cramps and nausea.
Brown Widow
Brown Widow spiders are also widespread around the world and can be seen making their homes in buildings and under automobiles. This spider has a brownish appearance and markings which can differ from dark-brown, black, yellow, white, or orange. They also have an hourglass design on their underside but unlike the black widow spiders, it’s orange in color.
Brown Widow spider’s venom is much stronger than that of Black Widow spider, almost two times. However, the species is not aggressive and it injects only a small amount of venom. Their bites can kill humans if the bite is not treated properly and in time.
Red Widow
Another one from the widow family, this spider is differentiated from other widow spiders because it has red legs and cephalothorax. They are 1.5 to 2 inches long and they also have a red hourglass marking on the underside of their abdomen.
Redback Spider
The redback spider is another one from the family of black widow spiders, but they are not as widely spread as the black widow. It is native to Australia but now has spread to other countries like New Zealand. It is widespread in Australia and found in almost all areas. It is named because it has an hourglass shape on its black back.
These spiders are not aggressive and they like to play dead when disturbed, but a female spider who is defending its eggs may bite. Bites also occur when these spiders are stuck in shoes and clothes. They are highly venomous and their bites cause pain, sweating, raised heartbeat, and swollen lymph nodes. They rarely cause death, but it mostly depends on how much venom is delivered to the body.
Funnel-Web Spiders
These spiders are named because they make funnel-shaped webs, they are spread in North America, South America, and Australia. These are large bulky spiders which are heavily feared because they are highly venomous. Several human deaths have been recorded since the 1920s, and although an antidote has been developed. It has to be supplied soon after the bite or the bite may cause death.
White Widow Spiders
White widow spiders are highly venomous and are mostly found in Russia, Kazakhstan, and some other Asian countries. Unlike most widow species that are black, this spider is of a lighter color although the shape of the spider looks similar to other widow spiders.
White widow spiders also kill their male counterparts after mating, and they are capable of killing infants but it is very unlikely for them to be able to kill adult humans.
Conclusion
All white spiders are not capable of killing humans but white widow spiders can kill humans. Most venomous spiders can kill humans, but it is very unlikely for a human to die because most spiders aren’t aggressive towards humans, and even if they do bite, the bites can be treated with antidote and you will be just fine.
