About
500 species of spiders have been found within the state of Wisconsin
according to Cofrin Center for Biodiversity at the University of
Wisconsin. Please scroll down this page to view some of the more
commonly found spiders in eastern Wisconsin, spider bite photos and
First-Aide information.
Jumping Spider
Jumping
spiders move quickly in a jerky, irregular motion and
jump/leap quite
high, when considering their small size. There are about 300
species of jumping spiders found in the United States.
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Daddy-Longleg
Spider (aka: Cellar
Spider, Daddy-long-legs)
Has
eight extremely long, thin legs and a small body. While
sometimes
considered a nuisance, these spiders actually prey
upon brown recluse
spiders,
and in
this sense could be considered
beneficial.
These
spiders are often found in dark and damp places, such as basements and
cellars, and bathrooms.
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House
Spider
[Photo]
House
spiders are more commonly found indoors and their webs
are
often more of a nuisance than the spiders themselves.
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Wolf Spider
There
are over 100 wolf spider species in
the U.S. Very fast moving, these spiders don't hunt with
spider
webs. They stalk their prey like a
wolf! Baby spiders live on the
mother's back a
few weeks until
large enough to hunt on their own. [See below photo]
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Brown
Recluse Spider
Has a
distinctive dark violin-shaped marking
on top
of the front body
section. The neck of the violin points toward the rear.
Infestation levels
in homes
vary greatly, ranging from one, a few, or hundreds.
The bite
of the brown recluse spider is
usually
painless. However, localized burning sensation, then intense pain,
often develops within the first hour and during the next 6-12 hours, a small
pimple or white blister forms. The
surrounding tissue begins to
darken and take a raised appearance.
The
venom of this spider can cause extensive
tissue damage
(necrotic reaction) and over the next 10-14 days, a sunken, open,
ulcerated sore up to several centimeters in diameter. It normally takes
6-8 weeks for a brown recluse spider bite to heal. A large sunken scar
may persist that requires surgery to repair. Not every brown recluse
bite results in ulcer formation. In rare cases systemic complications
such as liver or kidney damage result.
See
your physician or emergency room as soon as you suspect a brown recluse
spider bite. Capture the spider for later
identification
(crush the specimen, if necessary, but do so as gently as possible).
Other:
Cannot bite through clothing because of its small fangs. Most people
are bitten on the hands or feet when handling infested items. [See
below photos]
In
homes, webs
are often produced by harmless cobweb or cellar
spiders.
While sometimes considered a nuisance, these spiders actually prey
upon
brown recluses, and in this sense could be considered
beneficial.
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Sac Spider
Web
“sacs” are tubular in shape, about 1-inch long, typically
positioned between angled surfaces.
The
bite of a common sac spider can be
misdiagnosed
as a brown recluse spider bite. Bite injuries develop in a
similar
manner to that of a brown recluse
spider, but
are much less severe, and can vary with various sac spider
types.
Reactions, such as sharp pain felt upon the initial bite, swelling,
slow healing, and ulcerated sores around the bite site, are similar
enough to be confusing. Most bites will start to improve in a few hours
to 2-3 days.
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Nursery-web
& Fishing Spiders
The largest spiders in the Upper Midwest (1 inch
long body);
typically found near water in the outdoors.
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Northern Widow
Spider
Produce
tangled, crisscross webs; close relative of the Black
Widow spider.
The
bite
of a Northern Widow Spider is immediately
painful.
The most reliable evidence of a bite is two tiny red
puncture
marks,
around which the pain intensifies during the first three hours. The
pain continues for 12-48 hours and then gradually subsides. Venom
contains a neurotoxin that can cause headache, dizziness, shortness of
breath, and often painful abdominal spasms and back pain. Rigidity of
limbs, increased blood pressure, and profuse sweating are other
symptoms. Death seldom occurs in healthy adults though children and
adults in poor health may die within 12-32 hours from asphyxia.
Anyone
suspecting a spider bite should receive medical
attention as soon as possible. A commercial antidote is
available
for black widow spider bites. [See below bite photos]
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Crab Spider
The
first four legs are crab-like, extended out to the side; this spider
can walk backwards, forwards and sideways.
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Tarantula
Spider
Other
Spiders
Garden
Spider
|
Garden
Spider
Egg Sac Close-up
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More
information about these and other Wisconsin spiders can be found here.