© Depositphotos.com / neilld
When most people think about the most venomous spiders in the world, they sometimes forget that these spiders are real creatures that can be encountered every day both outside in the backyard and inside the house. The two most venomous spiders found in North America, the widow spider and the recluse spider, are both abundantly found in the Florida Panhandle.
The brown recluse spider, known as the most venomous spider in North America, is commonly found in the southern United States, from Kansas down to Florida.
The brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa Gertsch & Mulaik, is frequently reported in Florida as a cause of necrotic lesions in humans. For example, in the year 2000 alone, Loft (2001) reported that the Florida Poison Control Network had recorded nearly 300 alleged cases of brown recluse bites in the state; a subset of 95 of these bites was reported in the 21 counties (essentially Central Florida) under the jurisdiction of the regional poison control center in Tampa.
The second-most poisonous spider found in North America is the black widow spider, which is commonly found all over the continent, including the panhandle of Florida.
The Southern black widow spider, Latrodectus mactans (Fabricius), is a venomous spider found throughout the southeastern United States. Widow spiders received their name from the belief that they would kill and consume their mate following copulation. However, the practice was mainly observed in laboratory settings under crowded conditions. It is believed that sexual cannibalism within the widow species in natural settings is more associated with the male’s physical inability to escape rather than the female’s interest in consuming him.
Black Widow Spiders need some kind of a shelter and can often be seen in small crevices or in woodpiles, rubble piles, under stones, in hollow stumps, in sheds and garages. Even sometimes in children’s outdoor toys and play sets. Indoors they are sometimes found in undisturbed, cluttered areas in basements and crawl spaces. They build strong retreats close to the ground but might also spread their webs over plants.
Call Spears Pest Control today to get rid of these dangerous pests and help you know your children are safe today at 850-682-5354 or request a free estimate here.
Leave a Reply