Here are the top 7 poisonous spiders in Minnesota and you should try as much as you can to avoid them.
1. The Northern Widow
This is one of the three, along with the southern widow and western widow known as the black widow. While the spider species is not common in Minnesota State, they occasionally appear and build their messy web in garages, woodpiles, crawlspaces, and other secluded spaces.
A northern widow spider bite is always painful, and the pain is more likely to intensify a few hours after the spider bite. Its venom contains a specific toxin that can cause excruciating pain at the bitten area. Other symptoms that may appear include dizziness, headache, abdominal spasms, sweating, stiff limbs, and more.
2. Sac spiders
In some instances, sac spider bites are misdiagnosed as brown recluse bites. However, the venom associated with the sac spiders isn’t strong enough to cause harm to most people. However, individuals with a heightened sensitivity to venoms might experience some reactions. The spider venom is likely to result in slow-heating and swelling around the bite.
3. Brown recluse
Generally, the brown recluse spider is commonly found in the central and southern U.S and rarely appears in Minnesota State. The spider is approximately half an inch long. It has very distinctive fiddle-like markings on its back and behind its head. Just as the name suggests, these spiders are reclusive and choose to stay in the basements and attics.
4. The wolf spider
These spiders belong to the Lycosidae family and are available in large numbers in Minnesota. The wolf spider is an avid hunter. Despite its aggression towards its prey, the spiders don’t have anything to do with human beings. The wolf spider’s bite can be painful just like a bee sting. Its venom can result in numbness, but not adverse health complications. Note that secondary bacterial infections might be bad.
5. Nursery web spider
The nursery web spiders belong to the pisauriadea family. The most common ones in Minnesota include the dark fishing spider, forest nursery spiders, and the popular striped fishing spider. These spiders are large and feature impressive leg span that can give even calm nerve a jolt whenever they appear. These spiders are associated with painful bites though their venom isn’t dangerous to humans.
6. The woodlouse hunter spiders
These spiders are associated with the Dysderidae family. They are fierce in appearance and have some threatening fangs. Their bites are quite painful, but the venom isn’t too dangerous to people.
7. The jumping spiders
Being part of the salticidae family, these colorful spiders are common in Minnesota. Their bite is usually similar to a bee sting, but their venom might not be dangerous. The jumping spiders are usually lurching around exterior walls, tree trunks, rocks, and more.