Spiders in Michigan That Bite

Michigan state is the home to several spiders that bite

Spiders that bite make their home everywhere, including the state of Michigan. Almost all spiders contain venom glands, but the amount of certain spider venom is so low, the impact of a spider bite is inconsequential. Poison from a spider is not always injected when they bite. Some spiders' fangs are not long enough to puncture human skin. Even though Michigan is not typically known for poisonous spiders, several poisonousspecies make their home in this state.

The Brown Recluse

One of the spiders in Michigan that bite is the brown recluse. The brown recluse lives mainly in the southern states. However, they make their way up to Michigan from time to time. The coloring of the brown recluse varies from a dark brown to an orange/yellow.

According to the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University, no specimen of this spider has been collected in the state. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources state that there have been instances of the spider's presence. Spiders make their way to the state by way of shipping crates from the southern states.

The Northern Black Widow

the northing black widow can be found in Michigan

Found throughout the lower peninsula of the state of Michigan, the northern black widow resides in places such as hollow logs, tree stumps and debris piles. This spider rarely makes an appearance in houses. One of the distinguishing characteristics of this spider is a very round abdomen that is black and shiny. The female of this species displays an hourglass shaped red marking on the bottom of the abdomen. The male of the species lacks this identifying mark, and is a bit smaller. The male northern black widow displays yellow and red stripes or spots on its back.

The Daddy-Longlegs Spider

The daddy-longlegs spider makes up a part of the opilionids family of spiders. Other names for the daddy-longlegs spider include granddaddy-longlegs, harvestmen or simply opilionids. Unlike most spiders, the daddy-longlegs contains a one-segmented body, instead of two. This type of spider is not poisonous, but can still bite.

The Yellow Sac Spider

The yellow sac spider makes takes up residence in foliage. They congregate under stones, boards and piles of leaves. A house or building makes a good place for yellow sac spiders to live. They situate themselves under window sills, ceilings and in the corners of walls. Both the male and female of this species display the same coloring and size. The coloring of a yellow sac spider varies from a cream color to a light yellow. The jaws, feet and antennae of this spider are dark brown.

References

• Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Brown Recluse (Loxosceles Reclusa)
• Michigan Department of Natural Resource: Black Widow (Latrodectus Variolus)
• University of California, Riverside: Daddy Long Legs Myth
• Michigan State University: Yellow Sac Spiders (Cheiracanthium Inclusum and C. Mildei)

Resources

• Michigan State University: Spiders of Medical Importance