What Spiders Are Not Venomous?
WouterAlmost all spiders are venomous, but not all are dangerous to humans. A few spider species can cause localized pain and some are venomous enough to cause illness.
Venom is a toxic substance injected into the body by a spider, usually in response to a threat. It is designed to kill insects and other smaller animals. Spiders do not normally harm larger creatures like humans. Some spiders have more powerful venom, but these can cause fatalities if not treated correctly.
The most common spider species that bite people are black widows and funnel-web spiders. These species have been known to puncture human skin and cause necrotizing lesions.
Another spider to keep an eye out for is the wolf spider. These spiders live in burrows, basements and other areas where humans are likely to be. However, wolf spiders do not tend to be aggressive. They are generally seen in low numbers, and they usually stay in crawlspaces or breezeways.
House spiders are small arachnids, measuring from 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Their bodies are mottled with a speckled pattern. When a house spider is threatened, it will attempt to flee.
There are several different species of spiders that can be found in Australia and the United Kingdom. Some of them, such as the false widow spider, are known to be very venomous.
A few other species, such as the Sydney Funnel Web Spider, are known to have caused human deaths. One article stated that the venom is so toxic that “it would be unwise for an infant to be bitten by this species”.
There are also a number of spiders that are non-venomous. This group includes the Orinomana spider and the philoponella spider.
