There’s nothing worse than finding a spider hanging from your ceiling! Spiders are always unwelcome guests, and we know these creepy arachnids can leave you feeling spooked.

In the United States, there are only two dangerous spider species, and both reside in Texas. 

To protect yourself against venomous spiders in Texas, take a look at these identification tips to understand what venomous spiders are a threat to Texas residents. 

Venomous vs. Poisonous 

When an animal, insect, or arachnid is venomous, they have a dangerous bite or sting. These creatures will inject a toxin that can make you sick. Almost all spiders are venomous, but only a handful can cause harmful symptoms. 

Poisonous creatures are harmful when ingested. For example, touching certain frogs won’t make you sick, but you could fall ill if you try to eat one.

Flowers and other plants can be poisonous if accidentally ingested. Hemlock and nightshade can cause extreme symptoms or lead to death when eaten, so stay away from these plants!

Venomous animals and insects are often mischaracterized as poisonous, but you won’t typically take a bite out of a live spider or snake. 

What are the Venomous Spiders in Texas? 

Across the United States, there are over 3,000 species of spiders, and most are venomous. There are countless venomous spiders in Texas, but these are the most common types you can see in your home!

Wolf Spiders

Known as one of the largest spiders in the United States, these creepy crawlers can give you quite a fright! While wolf spiders are one of the venomous spiders found in Texas, their bites won’t leave you with serious side effects unless you are allergic to their venom. Despite their size, wolf spiders are relatively harmless, and they won’t bite you unless you threaten them.

You aren’t likely to find a wolf spider lounging on a nest. These arachnids prefer to get down and dirty to find their next meal. Instead of creating intricate traps to ensnare their prey, wolf spiders will go out on the prowl for their dinner.

Wolf spiders head out alone during the nighttime to hunt for insects like crickets, ants, or grasshoppers. These fearsome-looking spiders will even attack their own kind or hunt larger insects. 

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, wolf spiders are primarily solitary and won’t stick together in large groups. However, if you have a large insect population inside your home, many wolf spiders could head indoors for a quick bite. 

Common House Spiders

As their name suggests, these spiders are typical house guests on your property. While these are some of the venomous spiders in Texas, they aren’t dangerous. Their venom can knock out small insects but cannot cause harm to humans. Common house spiders can cull your indoor insect populations, but no one wants a creepy crawler as their pest control technician!

Because these spiders commonly populate Texas homes, it’s easy for an infestation to go unnoticed. If you spot house spiders indoors, contact us! At NTX Best Pest, our spider control service can knock out stubborn infestations and remove these eight-legged nuisances from your home.

Jumping Spiders

There’s nothing worse than a spider. Expect maybe one that can catch some air! 

Jumping spiders are characterized by their quick movements and two prominent eyes resting on the front of their heads. They aren’t an aggressive species, and their bite shouldn’t cause significant symptoms unless you are allergic to spider venom. 

Many jumping spiders forgo web-building to hunt for their prey. According to the University of Texas at Austin, they will directly jump onto insects to inject them with their venom. In Texas, Phidippus arizonensis are some of the most common jumping spiders you’ll see out in the wild. 

While these arachnids are common venomous spiders in Texas, it’s unlikely you’ll have an infestation in your home. Jumping spiders prefer to stick to outdoor areas, so don’t worry about finding one of these jumping pests inside. 

If jumping spiders make their way indoors, you can easily dispose of these tiny arachnids or call a reputable pest control company like NTX Best Pest to get rid of them quickly. 

 

Black Widow Spiders

Unlike the other species, black widow spiders are one of the most dangerous venomous spiders in Texas. These pests don’t purposefully dwell together, but many homeowners can find copious numbers of arachnids creeping throughout their homes.

Beside their bright red hourglass, you can spot a black widow infestation by their messy and uncoordinated webs. Spider webs are intricate works of art, but a black widow web resembles a tangled mess!

If you locate a black widow nest, avoid getting too close. Black widows bite humans when they feel threatened and could attack if you unknowingly stray too close.

Black widows have potent venom and a painful bite. While the average person won’t suffer from long-lasting side effects, young children and the elderly can become severely sick following a black widow spider bite. 

Here are some symptoms to watch out for:

• Nausea
• Muscle and joint pain
• High blood pressure
• Weakness
• Breathing difficulties

Always visit an urgent care facility or emergency room if bitten by a black widow spider. These bites are fatal to young children or elderly individuals, and you could experience prolonged symptoms without the aid of an antivenom. 

Brown Recluse Spiders

Brown recluse spiders are another one of the most venomous spiders in Texas. Like black widows, these pests have potent venom that can leave you with some significant side effects.

As temperatures cool down in the winter, spiders may pop up in your home. Brown recluse spiders prefer to reside in closed-off and inactive areas like the corners of closets, attics, and basements. 

A brown recluse won’t attack you unless provoked, but having an infestation may increase the chances of an unpleasant bite. Their bite isn’t likely to be fatal, even in younger children. However, it could leave you with a painful skin reaction. 

Brown recluse spider bites can cause skin damage because of their necrotizing venom. While this doesn’t occur in every case, you could experience tissue damage causing a blister and a deep ulcer to develop on your skin. 

However, with proper medical attention, even severe cases are easily treated within a few weeks to a month. Most never progress further than the initial discomfort of the spider bite. 

If you are bitten by a spider and have concerning symptoms, visit a medical professional, especially if you have black widow and brown recluse spiders in your home. 

When in doubt, check out this video dissecting the differences between a black widow and brown recluse spider bite, so you can be prepared if bitten! 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/cfh7XOc_hgc

Have Spiders in your Home? Call NTX Best Pest!

If you suddenly notice spiders indoors, you don’t have to suffer in silence! Here at NTX Best Pest, we know how to handle tough pests like spiders and can remove them from your home without any fuss. 

We provide free consultations for our spider control services and are happy to evaluate your home to find the root of your spider infestation. To get rid of any venomous spiders in your Texas home, give us a call!