Are there dangerous spiders lurking in Chicago?

If you spot a spider in your house, what are the odds it's venomous?

Photo byPisquels/Public Domain

(CHICAGO) Large spiders like wolf spiders and orb weavers, can be frightening, but most spiders you see in the Chicago area are relatively harmless.

There are two venomous spider species found in Illinois. But it's unlikely you'll encounter either one in Chicago.

Are there venomous spiders in Chicago?

There is one type of poisonous spider living in the Chicago area. The northern black widow spider does live in the region, but according to the Chicago Field Museum, you aren't likely to encounter one.

The only other venomous spider found in Illinois is the brown recluse, which only lives in the southern half of the state.

A brown recluse spiderPhoto byTimothy DykesonUnsplash

How dangerous is a black widow spider?

Black widow spider bites can be dangerous, especially to children and the elderly. The bite is painful and can be felt right away. According to National Geographic, the poison from a black widow spider is 15 times stronger than rattlesnake venom.

After a few hours, the victim may experience severe pain and stomach cramps. Fatal bites are rare, but they do happen. If bitten by a black widow spider, you will need a tetanus shot if you haven't had one in the past five years.

How to spot a black widow spider?

The female black widow spider is shiny black, with a red hourglass pattern on its abdomen. The males are brown or gray and have small red spots on their body. The spiders are about 1.5 inches long.

Photo byVeronica LorineonUnsplash

How to avoid a spider bite

Although it's rare to encounter a black widow around Chicago, it's not unheard of.

Black widow spiders like to hide, and you may not know they are there even if you are close to one.

Be sure to shake out gardening gloves before putting them on. And shake out shoes or boots that you've stored in basements, garages, sheds, or anywhere outside.

What spiders are commonly found in Chicago?

Wolf spiderPhoto byMarino LiniconUnsplash

Wolf spiders are common in Chicago, and they tend to enter homes when the weather begins to cool. They can be alarming to find in your house or apartment, due to their large size. But unlike the black widow, wolf spiders are harmless to people.

Orb weaverPhoto byRyan HydeonUnsplash

Orb weavers are another large spider commonly found in Chicago that you may find spinning webs on patios and porches. They are attracted to light and tend to hang out around porch lights, catching the bugs that swarm there.

Orb weavers are not poisonous, but docile, non-aggressive spiders. If you see one, you may want to leave it alone. An orb weaver can catch a lot of pest-type insects like flies and mosquitoes.

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