While it is true that
most spider species are utterly harmless to humans, there are those certain few that will definitely catch our concern and prudence, even fear and therefore, we can't help but take them into consideration as well despite the former fact of
spiders being generally harmless. There may be only a few species of spiders in the world that can facilitate fatality to human beings. However there are certain report accounts that these types of spider could still find their way in to human dwellings or anywhere where it is susceptible for human contact. This would make them as dangerous as they should be, despite their negligible population in this world.
A wise thing for humans to do when it comes to
encountering spiders in their
dwellings or anywhere is to be wary of their presence. You may not recognize at first, but the spider you are already looking into right now may be one of the most venomous ones. In order to avoid ignorance that could lead to incidental mortality, information dissemination is important. This is to aware people of the possible dealings they will have if they come across any of the
most venomous spiders in the world; in order for them to be better off avoiding them for their own safety.
Although, most of the
most venomous types of spiders are passive (do not attack when not being threatened), there are those that are highly aggressive and territorial. One must always be on the lookout for this type of spiders. An encounter with them will definitely assure a percent of a possibility of imminent attack. The effects of the attacks will differ depending on what species of spider have caused the bite. Some venomous spiders could only have bite effects limited to skin ulceration but there are those of course that could cause neuro-paralysis and even death. But even if the species of venomous spiders that only cause skin ulceration is not as worse as those their fatal counterparts, people would still have to be wary of them as they don't do ordinary skin ulcerations. The skin ulcerations they cause are often not negligible and would definitely cause considerable infections and the worsening case of the bitten individual may result to fatal complications. There are also spiders that have weird painful effects to humans, such as
priapism. Priapism is a condition of prolonged penile erection to males, similar to the effect exhibited by Viagra just a bit longer, thus causing tremendous pain to the individual suffering from it. Clitorism is its female counterpart effect.
Here are the list of the top five most venomous spiders in the world and a picture for each one of them for easy identification:
1. The Black Widow
The
black widow is perhaps the most famous of all the species of highly venomous spiders in the world. Perhaps because they are the most common ones found in human houses and establishments and also the easiest to identify. Despite its commonality, it's definitely something you wouldn't want to disregard once you see it. They can facilitate the
most painful bite effects in the realm of spiders. The black widows are considered to be the most venomous spiders in
North America. Its reputation is preceded with many accounts and reports of human deaths because of its bite. To identify of a black widow spider, look for a
red hourglass mark on the abdomen. This is the most obvious way to identify a black widow. Though, the color of the hourglass mark may range from yellow to orange as well. The female black widows are relative larger to its male counterparts and are also the dangerous ones.
Male widows are generally harmless. A black widow's bite is not painful in itself, but the after-effects and the symptoms that will follow will be like hell. Their venoms are neurotoxins which exhibit symptoms like back and abdominal pains, very severe muscle cramping,
nausea, difficulty in
breathing, profuse perspiration,
hysteria, high blood pressure, and high fevers. The effects of the widow's venom have not been known to have long term effects but have had reported cases of death following after its symptoms.
2. Redback Spider
The
redback spiders can be found almost everywhere in
Australia. They also belong as well to the widow family commonly found in the American continents. Unlike its relative, the black widow, its red markings isn't found below its abdomen but above. Redback spiders are also black in color, but don't have glossy features as its relative. The redback spider also has a reputation that concerns with human fatality. It also induces the same kind of neurotoxin venom as that of a widow, thus the symptoms that follow after are more or less the same with that of a widow's bite. There are about 250 reported redback spider bites each year that are countered with antivenom treatments.
3. The Brown Recluse
This species of spider may not be as deadly as the others mentioned in this article. However, it still has a reputation to preserve and ought to be acknowledged - the reputation of being a
flesh destroyer. The
brown recluse can be identified through its brown
upside down violin "fiddle-shaped" marking on top of its cephalothorax. The venom of this spider doesn't facilitate neurotoxins that directly affect the interior human system. Instead it causes extreme skin ulceration that if gone unchecked and worsens, could potentially lead to mutilation. At first, the bite would simply look like an ordinary bug bite, but after 24 hrs, swelling and blisters would follow after. Skin lesions would follow after. Each year, a lot of limb amputation reports are related to a
brown recluse's bite.
4. The Tree-dwelling Funnel Web Spiders
In contrast to the widow spider family, the male of the species are the ones more deadly.
Tree-dwelling funnel web spiders are indigenous to Australia and are mostly found in the eastern parts of the continent. Their venom is five times deadlier than that of a widow spider and if the bite is left untreated, it would definitely lead to death. An interesting thing about its venoms is that all the other animals in the world are apparently immune to it, except
humans and
monkeys.
5. Brazilian Wandering Spider (the Banana Spider)
Indigenous in the
jungles of South America and are considered to be the
most dangerous venomous spider in the world. With venom that can kill a full grown mouse with only a dosage of 0.006mg, they have succeeded the reputation of being the deadliest of them all. What makes this spider even more dangerous is their highly
territorial and aggressive nature. This spider doesn't normally dwell in their webs but are found prowling in the jungle floors and could also be regularly found in human dwellings. They are also called "
banana spiders" because locals would often find the dreaded spiders stowed away in banana crates. The serotonin levels of its venom are very high, thus causing tremendous pain upon a bite. Their venoms could also cause priapism to its victims.
