Wilderness: Black Widow and Brown Recluse Spider Bites

Black Widow vs. Brown Recluse Slideshow

• Spider Bite Overview
• Spider Bite Symptoms
• Spider Bite Treatment
• When to Seek Medical Care
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Spider Bite Overview

Black widow spiders (Latrodectus mactans) may be black or brown with a leg span of approximately one to two inches. Most can be identified by a red hourglass marking on the abdomen. They are located throughout the United States. Their toxin causes nerve cell dysfunction and muscle cell twitching.

Brown recluse spiders (Loxosceles reclusa) are tan to dark brown with a leg span of approximately 1 inch. Many have a violin-shaped marking on the chest. They are located mainly in the south central United States.

Both species are common in North America and throughout the world. Human contact with these spiders is usually accidental.