Wildlife & Encounters

Spiders — the two worth a little caution, and the many that aren't

Missouri has lots of spiders, and almost all of them are harmless and helpful. The brown recluse and black widow deserve real caution, but both usually bite only when trapped against skin.

The two to know

The plain answer: Spiders eat pests and would much rather hide than meet you. Even the brown recluse and the black widow bite only when they're pressed against skin — pulled on inside a sleeve, a glove, or stored bedding. Knowing the two and giving them space is most of the work.

You don't need to fear the spiders you see on a wall or in a corner web. The two below are the ones worth recognizing, plus one big, alarming-looking spider that's actually harmless.

Missouri's spiders

Common ones to recognize

A few you may run into around the home and yard:

Brown recluse

Light-to-dark brown, ¼–½ inch body, a violin shape behind the head, and six eyes (not eight). A shy nighttime hunter that hides in quiet spots — closets, boxes, attics, shoes, stored clothes. Common throughout Missouri. A bite may not hurt at first but can become a painful, slow-healing sore.

Black widow

Shiny black with a red hourglass underneath. Builds a messy, tangled web in sheltered spots — woodpiles, sheds, meter boxes. A bite brings intense pain, cramping, and muscle aches.

A harmless surprise: tarantulas

Southern Missouri has native tarantulas. They look alarming but are shy and essentially harmless to people.

Bite care

If you think you were bitten

A brown recluse bite

Brown recluse: the bite may not hurt at first, but it can turn into a painful, slow-healing sore. Wash it with soap and water and use a cool compress — not heat, which can make the sore worse. Seek medical care if it worsens, spreads, or you start to feel sick.

A black widow bite

Black widow: expect intense pain, cramping, and muscle aches. Seek medical care, especially for young children, older adults, or anyone with health problems.

Either way, call your doctor or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if you're worried — don't try to diagnose a spider bite from a photo online.

Keeping spiders out of the house

Both spiders to watch for are hiders, so the main prevention step is taking away their hiding spots:

Declutter storage areas, closets, and the garage so there are fewer dark, quiet places to settle in.
Shake out shoes, gloves, and stored clothes before you put them on.
Wear gloves when you reach into boxes, woodpiles, and other places you can't see into.
Use sticky glue boards along walls and in corners to keep an eye on what's around. Catching several brown recluses usually means there's a population — consider calling a licensed exterminator.

MU Extension has a Missouri spider identification guide. For any bite you're worried about, your doctor or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) is the right call.

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