Blog Post

Are there poisonous spiders in Kansas?

Nathan Vogt • February 26, 2021

Spiders. You see them all the time; wolf spiders crawling across the ground outside, and Garden Spiders just chilling on their giant, intricate webs. But you wonder, how many of these creepy-crawlies are dangerous?

There are 3 spiders Native to Kansas that have venom strong enough to adversely affect humans. Spiders naturally live outside, so seeing them there doesn’t necessarily mean you have an issue. The main problem is when these spiders take up residence indoors.

Brown Recluse Spider

This spider is a common household pest throughout kansas. Sometimes called the Fiddleback spider, this arachnid will live in houses, garages, behind boards and in amongst lumber. Brown Recluse spiders range in color from tan to dark brown, and can grow to have an overall length of 2” or more. These spiders are most active during the nighttime hours. Brown Recluse spider bite symptoms often take a few hours to appear.

Common symptoms include swelling, soreness, and redness at the site of the bite. In more severe cases, skin lesions and blistering can occur, along with tissue decay surrounding the bite. The most severe cases often develop in kids or elderely, and can include rash, dizziness, nausea, fever, and chills.

Black Widow

Black Widow spiders are seldom found indoors. They are often found outdoors, hiding in boxes, flower pots, and sometimes in garages. And watch out for patio furniture that was left unused over winter. You can easily identify a black widow spider by their jet black body, with a red hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen. The black widow’s venom is more potent and affects the neurological system. However, your chances of being bitten by a black widow spider are slimmer than that of being bit by a brown recluse because they prefer to live in more secluded areas. The black widow’s bite is most dangerous to children and elderly.

Symptoms include redness and swelling. In more severe cases, this might be accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, and muscle or stomach cramps.

Yellow Sac Spider

Not as dangerous as black widows or brown recluses, the yellow sac spider is also a commonly indoor pest. They're a relatively small spider, mostly light yellow or cream color. They’re named ‘Sac Spider’ because they spin secluded tunnels of silk, or sacs, as their nests.

The bite of a Yellow Sac spider is often mistaken for that of a brown recluse. Usually, a Yellow sac spider bite isn’t very severe. Although a bite might be painful at first, with feelings of burning or stinging at and around the bite, more severe symptoms like fever, nausea, and muscle cramps aren’t as common.

How to prevent spider bites

The main thing you can do to prevent getting bitten is to control the spider population. This is accomplished by regularly treating the exterior and interior of your house or property. Many pest control companies will offer a regular pest control program, with special add-ons for spider control. A second thing you can do is to be mindful of where spiders might be living. Spiders don’t seek people out with the intention of biting them. For the most part, they will try to avoid humans. There are some basic things you can do to prevent spider bites, both indoors and out.

Outdoors: Wear gloves when moving building materials that have been sitting for a while. This includes lumber and boards, bricks, cinder blocks, and sometimes firewood. Be on the lookout for spiders when moving and opening items that have been in storage, such as boxes, rubbermaids, bags, and luggage.

Indoors: Inside, most spider bites occur when the spiders get trapped against a person’s skin. Clothes, towels, sheets, and even hats can all be potential hiding places for spiders. Shake out towels or clothes before putting them on to dislodge any spiders hiding inside. Regularly sweeping and vacuuming storage areas can help prevent you from coming into contact with spiders.

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