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Nature & Environment

Spider bites less common than thought

By T.K. Randall
July 10, 2013 · Comment icon 22 comments

Image Credit: sxc.hu
Far from being the stuff of nightmares, spiders are actually more afraid of you than you are of them.
Recent studies have revealed that a lot of reports of spider bites have turned out to be something else such as a skin reaction to chemicals or the bite or sting of a different arthropod. Spiders in general tend to avoid people and have no desire to attack or bite anyone, most cases of spider bites occur when the spider is surprised - such as when someone puts on a glove or shoe in which the creature is hiding.

Even in the event that a spider does try to bite, often it is either unable to do so or the venom is not toxic to humans. Out of approximately 40,000 species of spider only 12 pose any real risk. In North America these include the black widow and brown recluse, but thanks to modern anti-venom treatments even a bite from one of these is rarely fatal.[!gad]Recent studies have revealed that a lot of reports of spider bites have turned out to be something else such as a skin reaction to chemicals or the bite or sting of a different arthropod. Spiders in general tend to avoid people and have no desire to attack or bite anyone, most cases of spider bites occur when the spider is surprised - such as when someone puts on a glove or shoe in which the creature is hiding.

Even in the event that a spider does try to bite, often it is either unable to do so or the venom is not toxic to humans. Out of approximately 40,000 species of spider only 12 pose any real risk. In North America these include the black widow and brown recluse, but thanks to modern anti-venom treatments even a bite from one of these is rarely fatal.
Most so-called "spider bites" are not actually spider bites, according to researchers and several recent studies. Instead, "spider bites" are more likely to be bites or stings from other arthropods such as fleas, skin reactions to chemicals or infections, said Chris Buddle, an arachnologist at McGill University in Montreal.


Source: Live Science | Comments (22)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #13 Posted by JMPD1 11 years ago
Who was it that said: " We have nothing to fear, but fear itself....... and spiders. "
Comment icon #14 Posted by willowdreams 11 years ago
almost 12 yrs ago I got this kitten, barely 2 1/2 weeks old, I had to feed him by bottle, use warm cloth on bottom so he could go.. course I had no idea he was a he, his face looked girly to me, so I named him sophia.. learned later when he developed balls that he was a she, anyways.. as he grew, when he was roundabout 6 wks old, if it moved, he chased it. If it crawled, he chased it then tortured it and ate it. I let him be, it is the way of a cat, right? Besides we had two dogs too, a rotty-husky mix and a lab husky mix, they actually would go running outside and catch things and bring em ho... [More]
Comment icon #15 Posted by Xanthurion2 11 years ago
Good to know. I can't believe only 12 species are actually dangerous.
Comment icon #16 Posted by Timmeh 11 years ago
Funnily enough I have thought about moving to Australia, and that's the one thing stopping me. I'm that sad haha. soon enough that wont be an issue all of our spiders seem to be migrating to other countries I believe I read somewhere of red backs finding their way to the UK.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2060988/Australia-redback-spiders-Britain-Creepy-crawlies-invading-homes-abroad.html
Comment icon #17 Posted by msmike1 11 years ago
Spiders are about the only animal on earth that I just really don't like. I love snakes, and most all reptiles. I love things most people freak out over. Spiders, well, I understand their place in the environment, I know they play a vital role in insect control, therefore if they pose no immediate threat to me I leave them alone. I also have educated myself over the years as to which ones are dangerous and which aren't. The majority aren't. Now the article is a little misleading. Yes, it is true that in North America only a few species pose an immediate danger to humans. Although humans is a b... [More]
Comment icon #18 Posted by QuiteContrary 11 years ago
"Buddle said he has observed spiders "moving their fangs back and forth against his skin," Oooh, yeah. That's the job I want...
Comment icon #19 Posted by Sundew 11 years ago
Although only a handful of spiders have enough venom toxicity to harm a human, that is not the only problem with a spider bite (Peter Parker not withstanding). Spider bites frequently come with some nasty bacteria attached and these can cause serious infections. Some bites can slowly eat away the flesh from the bite area and the entire area must be removed surgically to stop the process.
Comment icon #20 Posted by MissJuju 11 years ago
Good to know. I can't believe only 12 species are actually dangerous. To me they're all dangerous.. since they wreak havoc with my blood pressure.
Comment icon #21 Posted by The New Richard Nixon 11 years ago
I've only been bitten twice. Once by a red back, which only made me sick for a day, and another which i don't know what it was. That one sucked, my hand was so swollen i had to cut a ring off. Parasite?
Comment icon #22 Posted by Odds 11 years ago
Nah i actually visually saw them on the site of the bite. The one where i had to cut the ring off came out from under a poster next to my light switch as i tried to turn the light on, some black type, not sure the species, and the red back was when i was in bed.


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