Are there Black Widow spiders in Kentucky?
Black Widows are found all over Kentucky but are not naturally violent. They will bite if you disturb them or their home. A bite from a Black Widow needs to be treated immediately by a medical professional. As soon as you are bitten, draw a circle around the bite mark and head straight to the emergency room.
Are there brown recluse spiders in Kentucky?
A bite from a Brown Recluse is very serious and requires immediate medical attention. While they are found in Louisville, KY and throughout the state, they are timid and unlikely to bite unless handled or disturbed. Color: Tan to dark brown, abdomen and legs are uniformly colored.
What does a Black Widow Spider look like?
The Southern Black Widow is one of the most known spiders. It is identifiable because it has a sleek black body with red hourglass markings on the abdomen. Sometimes, its spinnerets may look red or orange on females or purple on males.
Where do spiders hide in Kentucky?
Under rocks and woodpiles: Rocks and wood piles are prime real estate, but if these piles are near your home, they can make their way inside. Specifically, more dangerous species of spiders tend to hide in these areas. In the garage: The garage is a likely spot to find spiders in Kentucky who are looking for somewhere to stay warm.
Are there any dangerous spiders in Kentucky?
Out of the hundreds of spider species found in Kentucky, the black widow and brown recluse are the only two whose poisonous bites may cause serious health threats. Fortunately, both spiders are relatively uncommon and have distinctive markings that make them easy to identify from other species.
Are there black widows in Louisville Kentucky?
Unfortunately, there are several species of venomous spiders found in the Louisville area including the brown recluse spider and the black widow spider.
Are brown widows in KY?
These venomous spiders are not native to Kentucky. Brown Widows are believed to have originated in either Africa or South America.
Are there wolf spiders in Kentucky?
Wolf spiders are active hunters that patrol the ground for insects, small spiders, and similar prey. They do not use webs to capture prey. Wolf spiders are among the most commonly encountered Kentucky spiders and are found in all corners of the state and in virtually every habitat.
What is the biggest spider in KY?
The Yellow-and-black Argiope (pictured below, top left), one of the largest spiders in Kentucky, is a type of orb weaver.
Are brown recluse in KY?
The Brown Recluse, Loxosceles reclusa, is the only member of the brown spider family (Loxoscelidae) that lives in Kentucky. It is a tan, long-legged spider with a dark pattern on the cephalothorax that resembles a violin or a fiddle.
Are there scorpions in Kentucky?
The Southern Devil Scorpion, Vejovis carolinianus, (also called the Plain Eastern Stripeless Scorpion and the Southern Stripeless Scorpion) is the only kind of scorpion known to live in Kentucky. It is about 2" long when fully grown, and is fairly common in wooded areas in the southeastern United States.
Are there hobo spiders in Kentucky?
Although it does not live in Kentucky, the notorious Hobo Spider from the Western U.S. is a member of this family of spiders. It has a bite which may produce effects similar to a brown recluse bite (although the danger of both spiders has been the subject of much debate!).
Which is more poisonous black widow or brown widow?
A brown widow's bite is usually less severe than a black widow bite as they tend to inject less venom. The venom from a brown widow is about twice as potent as venom from a black widow but they don't make as much. One out of twenty bites cause death.
Does Kentucky have jumping spiders?
The Bold Jumping Spider, Phidippus audax, (below right) also called the "Daring Jumping Spider" and the "Bold Jumper," is one of the largest jumping spiders found in Kentucky (1/2"). It is also one of the most commonly seen jumping spiders, and is often found hunting around homes and barns and on fences.
Are daddy long legs poisonous?
Daddy long legs, also known as cellar spiders, contain venom and possess fangs, but there has been no evidence of their fangs being too short to cut through human skin or of their venoms being deadly and poisonous to humans. In reality, daddy long legs are not poisonous or dangerous to humans and are not known to bite.
Are false black widows poisonous?
Although false widows do have a venomous bite, the venom is not particularly potent. Usually the only symptom is pain at the site which may radiate away from the bite. It ordinarily lasts between one and 12 hours, and rarely for more than 24 hours. Often, the symptoms are no worse than the pain of a wasp sting.
What is a black widow?
A female black widow is shiny black with a red hourglass mark on the underside of her abdomen. On some varieties, this mark is reduced to two separate spots. Spiderlings and male spiders are smaller and have several red dots on the upper side of the abdomen.
What kind of spiders are in Lexington KY?
LEXINGTON, Ky. Out of the hundreds of spider species found in Kentucky, the black widow and brown recluse are the only two whose poisonous bites may cause serious health threats. Fortunately, both spiders are relatively uncommon and have distinctive markings that make them easy to identify from other species. ...
What color are brown recluses?
Most adult brown recluses are about the size of a dime to a quarter with legs extended. Their colors range from tan to dark brown with abdomens usually darker than the rest of the body. Adults have one feature that distinguishes them from other harmless spiders.
What family is a black widow spider?
The spider will then eat the victim, or save it for a later feeding. Black widow spiders are part of the "cobweb spider" family, Theridiidae. Like most cobweb spiders, black widows build a compact, tangled web, usually in a sheltered location.
Do black widow spiders bite humans?
A female does not always try to eat the male, and if she does, the male is often able to escape. Male black widow spiders are not known to bite humans. The bite from a female black widow is seldom life threatening, but medical help should be sought immediately. An antivenin for black widow bites has been developed.
3 Poisonous Spiders Found in Kentucky
Although some states are not home to poisonous spiders, the same cannot be said about Kentucky. Kentucky is home to three highly venomous spiders. This includes the Southern Black Widow, the Northern Black Widow, and the Brown Recluse.
9 Less Poisonous Spiders Found in Kentucky
It’s important to note that technically all spiders are venomous. However, most spider venom does not affect humans. Similarly, some spiders are so small that their fangs can’t penetrate human skin in the first place. So, they are essentially non-poisonous. As a result, you don’t have anything to fear from these other spiders.
Conclusion
Even though we only covered 12 spiders in this list, Kentucky is home to nearly 50 different types of arachnids. The 12 in this article are the most popular and important to be aware of, such as the three poisonous varieties.
What kind of spiders live in Kentucky?
There are many different species of cobweb spiders in Kentucky. Most are similar in shape, but exhibit a wide array of color patterns. Shown here are some of the most common and distinctive varieties. Black Widows, with their shiny black bodies and bright red markings, are among our most distinctive cobweb spiders.
How long do cobweb spiders live?
They shed their skin as they grow. Many cobweb spiders live for less than 1 year. At the end of the summer, many types of female cobweb spiders produce a large amount of eggs that they wrap in an eggsac made of silk. In many species, the young spiders hatch in the spring.
What is the color of a cobweb spider?
GENUS and SPECIES: Spintharus flavidus. While many types of cobweb spiders have predominantly dark coloration, a few species are brightly colored.Pictured below is Spintharus flavidus, a medium-sized (body apx 5mm long) cobweb spider that is found in low vegetation and at the woods edge.
What is the difference between a cobweb spider and an orb weaver?
The main difference: webs made by cobweb spiders appear messy and disorganized, unlike the organized, circular webs made by orb-weavers and many other web-building spiders. In addition, cobweb spiders often have abdomens ...
What is the name of the spider that lives in the house?
The American House Spider, Parasteatoda tepidariorum (previously Achaearanea tepidariorum), also called the Common House Spider, is a typical cobweb spider. It is also one of the most commonly encountered cobweb spiders in urban areas, and can be found in almost every garage, barn, and attic in Kentucky.
How many eyes do cobweb spiders have?
Cobweb spiders have 8 eyes and (like all spiders), they have 8 legs, 2 body parts, and fang-like mouthparts called "chelicerae.". Simple metamorphosis: like all spiders, young cobweb spiders hatch from eggs and look like tiny adults. They shed their skin as they grow. Many cobweb spiders live for less than 1 year.
Is cobweb spider poisonous?
No other Kentucky cobweb spiders are known to have venom that is medically significant to humans (remember, though, that all spiders can be dangerous if a person is allergic or sensitive to spiders and insects). There are many different species of cobweb spiders in Kentucky.
How big are black widow spiders?
Size: Adult female is about 1/2 inch long.#N#Color: Adult females are glossy black with a variable number of red markings on the top and bottom of abdomen. Adults males are similar, but with a few white markings. Juveniles are highly variable.#N#Features: Abdomen is nearly spherical on adult females and juveniles. Male is slimmer with longer legs (pictured here ).#N#Notes: Bites are very serious and require immediate medical attention, but the spider is timid and unlikely to bite unless handled. Black widows are common all over Kentucky. They tend to occur in concealed outdoor locations: piles of rocks, piles of firewood, and dark corners of garages and out-buildings. Females are common; males are very rarely encountered.
Where are purseweb spiders found?
Features: Purseweb spiders are large spiders with low, flat bodies. Notes: Purseweb spiders are common in Kentucky forests. Their webs are hidden, so they are rarely seen. Males, however, are sometimes found wandering on roads and sidewalks in the spring.
What are wolf spiders?
Size: Wolf spiders range in size from tiny (the size of a pencil eraser) to about the size of a U.S. silver dollar, with legs outstretched#N#Color: There are many species of wolf spiders in Kentucky, but most are dark or light brown, usually with contrasting spots or stripes.#N#Features: Wolf spiders are fast-moving and they are typically seen running on the ground. They are not web builders.#N#Notes: Wolf spiders often wander into homes. Because they are brown in color, wolf spiders are often mistaken for brown recluses. Like most Kentucky spiders, the bites of wolf spiders are harmless except to allergic individuals. Wolf spiders are among the most common kinds of spiders in Kentucky.
What color are grass spiders?
Size: About the size of a U.S. quarter, with legs outstretched.#N#Color: Brown with prominent longitudinal gray or tan stripes .#N#Features: Prominent hind spinnerets: these are two, small, finger-like projections on the end of the grass spider's abdomen (used to spin the web). Many other spiders have spinnerets, but they are very large and distinctive in grass spiders.#N#Notes: Grass spiders are very common in Kentucky lawns where they build large, funnel-shaped webs. They also occasionally wander into homes. Because they are brown and of a similar size, grass spiders are often mistaken for brown recluses. Like most Kentucky spiders, though, the bites of grass spiders are harmless except to allergic individuals.
What color are brown recluses?
Size: About the size of a U.S. quarter, with legs outstretched.#N#Color: Tan to dark brown, abdomen and legs are uniformly colored with no stripes, bands, or mottling. The legs are long and thin and lack conspicuous spines.#N#Features: Dark violin-shaped mark on back, with the neck of the violin pointing toward the rear (abdomen) of the spider. This feature is consistent in adult brown recluses, but can be hard to see and is less obvious in younger spiders. Also, brown recluses only have six eyes: most Kentucky spiders have eight.#N#Notes: Bites are very serious and require immediate medical attention, but brown recluses are timid and unlikely to bite unless handled. These spiders are more common in Western KY, less common in Central and Southeastern KY. They tend to occur in hidden locations indoors and outdoors: piles of cardboard or paper, stacks of cut wood, and wall-voids of buildings.
Where are orb weavers found?
Orb weavers are almost always encountered inside their webs. Notes: Orb weavers are commonly found on porches and gardens in Kentucky, especially in late summer.
What color are American house spiders?
Notes: The American House Spider is one of the most commonly encountered spiders in Kentucky and is found in many homes and buildings. Because it is brown in color, American house spiders are often mistaken for brown recluses.
