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More than 43,000 different species of spiders are found in the world. Of these, only a small number are said to be dangerous, and less than 30 (less than one-tenth of one percent) have been responsible for human deaths.
- John P. Rafferty
There are around 650 species of spider in the UK, ranging from those with a leg span of just a couple of millimetres, to the 12cm leg span of the cardinal spider. Spiders are predators, and they use an impressive pair of fangs to catch prey, and to introduce venom.
- Are there venomous spiders in the UK? Yes, the United Kingdom has over 650 different species of spiders, 12 of which are venomous enough to cause humans severe pain.
- The False Widow. The noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis), usually called just "false widow", is a fearsome arachnid that gets its name because it can be mistaken for the more dangerous black widow.
- The Tube Web Spider. The tube web or cellar spider (Segestria florentina) is gets its name because its web is tube-shaped - in fact, it is the largest species of this kind in Europe.
- The Woodlouse Spider. The woodlouse spider (Dysdera crocata) gets many other names, including "sowbug killer", "woodlouse hunter" and "slater spider", which all refer to the fact that it basically eats woodlice.
- Brown recluse spider. As their name suggests, brown recluse spiders (Loxosceles reclusa) have a shy nature and tend to hide away in dark, sheltered places.
- Hobo spider. Part of the family of spiders known as the funnel web spiders, the hobo spider (Eratigena agrestis, formerly Tegenaria agrestis) can be recognized by it's light to medium brown coloring and the multiple chevron patterns (v-shaped) on its abdomen pointing toward their head.
- Black widow spider. In the genus Latrodectus, the black widow is one of the most venomous spiders and is found on every continent except Antarctica. In North America, they're commonly found in southern Canada and in the northeastern United States.
- Brazilian wandering spider. Commonly referred to as armed spiders or banana spiders (as they tend to be found hiding within shipments of bananas), the Brazilian wandering spider is one that you'll definitely want to avoid.
- Yellow sac spider. (Cheiracanthium inclusum) The yellow sac spider doesn’t look particularly dangerous but is capable of delivering a nasty bite. These tiny spiders (0.5-1 cm) have many species that are found around the world in all continents except Antarctica.
- Wolf Spider. (Lycosidae) Wolf spiders are part of the Lycosidae family of spiders, found all around the world – even in the Arctic Circle. Most wolf spiders have a broad, hairy body that’s 2-3 centimeters long and stout legs that are about the same length as their body.
- Goliath Birdeater Tarantula. (Theraphosa blondi) The Goliath birdeater tarantula is found in northern South America, and is the largest spider in the world – by both weight (up to 175 grams) and body size (up to 13 centimeters).
- Camel Spider. (Solifugae) Found in all warm deserts and scrublands in all continents except Australia, the camel spider is not actually venomous. Nor is it a spider, but it is an arachnid that looks ferocious and is the stuff of legends.
Dec 18, 2023 · Of the 50,000 known spider species, around 200 spiders are more or less venomous to humans. Of these, only four genera are potentially lethal to humans. These are referred to as 'medically significant spiders' and include the following genera: Atrax , Latrodectus , Loxosceles , and Phoneutria .
In actuality the vast majority of spider species produce venom, and for a very good reason. Like many venom-producing animals, the true purpose of spider venom is to subdue small prey (and not to harm humans!) - it is primarily an insecticide. Learn about the difference between venomous and poisonous.
