Poisonous Spiders Found in Indiana

The Midwestern United States is a relative safe zone from dangerous animals and poisonous creatures. However, the black widow and brown recluse spiders are poisonous, and frequently inhabit dark crevices of basements and storage areas throughout Indiana. There are certain characteristics to note when identifying these spiders, advisable precautions to take to avoid encountering them and helpful information for how to treat spider bites if you're bitten.

Black Widows and their Bites

Female black widows are black with a red hourglass mark on their undersides. These are the poisonous ones of the family, and the males are generally white or yellow striped. Bites may result in scabbing, reddening and slight swelling at the local tissue. Black widow bites can be slightly more severe, including the possibility of severe muscular pain, stiffness of the stomach and legs, difficulty breathing and nausea. If unattended, the after-effects can be extremely painful and more dangerous, particularly for children or the elderly.

Idenfiying Brown Recluses and their Bites

Brown recluses are originally from South America, and uncommon in all but the South and Midwestern America. They are a dowdy brown color, and according to the Washington State University Extension, "are known as fiddle-backed or violin spiders, as they have a dark violin pattern on the front portion of the body."
Bites by a brown recluse may result in a burning sensation, scabbing, reddening and swelling at the local tissue. One Indiana resident describes a long-unattended bite as "scarring" in an online "Bite Report."

Other Poisonous Spiders in the Midwest

The other main poisonous spiders in the United States are hobo spiders and tarantulas. Hobo spiders are slightly aggressive and dangerous, somewhat similar to the brown recluse, but these creatures are more common in the Northwestern United States. Tarantulas inhabit the South and Southwestern United States. Although not commonly identified in Indiana, they have been sighted.

Care and Precautions for Poisonous Spiders and Bites

Cleaning the bite with soap and water, and then covering with a cool compress, is a general treatment for spider bites, but you should consult a physician as soon as possible. Your doctor might recommend calcium gluconate.

Be careful around garage or basement clutter that spiders might inhabit, particularly wood piles and in dank, humid places. At night, be aware of bright lights that can attract insects, including predator spiders. Keep wood piles away from the house, eliminate clutter around your house, garage and lawn and ensure that you have tight-fitting screens on windows. Those precautions will discourage spiders from moving in.

References

• Hobo Spider.com: Brown Recluse Spiders
• Washington State University Extension: Spiders
• Bite Report: Brown Recluse Spider Bite