Poison VS Venom Toxins in Pittsburgh, PA; Are Spiders Poisonous or Venomous?

When it comes to spiders most people think that all spiders are a danger and should be avoided at all costs. The interesting thing about spiders is that they are very helpful to your home. The spiders are known for eating other pests that may be a nuisance to you and your family. Nearly all the spiders that you will see around your home are pretty docile and would rather hide than confront and attempt to bite a person in their path. They happen to have fangs that are not strong enough to penetrate a person’s skin in most instances. The other problem that people have with spiders is they think they are poisonous or venomous. The funny thing is that these words are not interchangeable and are each a particular toxin that in introduced into the body differently and effects people differently as well.

Stewart Termite & Pest Control Explains the Difference Between Poison & Spider Venom

How is Venom Different from Poison?: The first main distinction between venom and poison is how they are administered to a person or animal. If you come in contact with a substance that is poisonous it means that it has come in contact with your skin and been absorbed or eaten and ingested. A poison is often something that you don’t want to eat or touch or even breathe in. When you are dealing with a venom it is delivered to a person through a bite or a sting. That is why it is not strictly a problem with spiders but many other animals, reptiles and pests as well. The venom is a toxin that is injected into the body usually by a spider, snake or stinging insect. The reason that most pests have a venom is to help them defeat a predator or prey. This subdues them so that the other pest can get what they want or escape. Spiders are a pest that are not poisonous but they do have some level of venom. Unless you have a compromised immune system a spider does not have enough venom to cause serious problems to a person. There are very few spiders that are a real issue.
Most Venomous Spiders: When you are dealing with a common every day spider you don’t need to worry too much about them and the venom that they possess. The ones that you do come across that you can be cautious of are the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider. They each have some level of toxin venom that can have an adverse effect on a person if they are stung. You might have headache, dizziness, pain and on rare occasions even death. The brown recluse has a toxin in their bite that can cause necrosis of the surrounding skin and the tissue. If you are bitten by one of these spiders you may need to contact a health care professional.

Spider Control

Stewart Termite & Pest Control offers pest control to help treat for spiders around your home as well as keep insect populations down that spiders are attracted to. Contact us to learn more and schedule your next appointment today!