6 DEADLIEST Spiders You Should NEVER Touch!

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-22

[00:00:04]Black widow spider. [music] The black widow genus of spiders consists of several species who carry a trademark hourglass shaped mark on their backs and are notorious for their neurotoxin infused venom. They dwell in temperate regions throughout the world and apparently they like the same places where grapes usually grow.

[00:00:22]>> [music] >> Black widow venom is reportedly 15 times more potent than that of a rattlesnake.

[00:00:26][music] It overloads neurons and affects the connections between nerve cells resulting in a condition called latrodectism. Bites are accompanied by excruciating side effects including nausea, muscle aches, sweating, vomiting, and difficulty breathing caused by paralysis of the diaphragm.

[00:00:42]>> [music] >> Despite their deadly reputation, black widow bites rarely cause severe harm, let alone death. Those [music] greatest at risk for severe symptoms or worse are children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems. [music] Fatalities can also occur due to cardiovascular complications resulting from hypertension. Black widows are non-aggressive typically only bite out of self-defense. Many bites result from accidental [music] contact such as unknowingly sitting on one or cleaning dusty corners in your house. Brown widow spider. The brown widow spider was first described based on a specimen discovered in South America, but the species is thought to have evolved in Africa. It exists in other parts of the world [music] such as Southern California, Hawaii, Florida, the Caribbean, Japan, Cyprus, and Australia as an invasive species. [music] This tropical and subtropical species only seems to be spreading with a more noticeable presence in US Gulf states in recent years. While the brown widow's venom is estimated to be up to twice as strong as the black widow's venom, [music] brown widows typically only inject a minimal amount of venom when they bite. This is an example of how venom toxicity [music] is just one factor that determines a spider's deadliness. In many cases a brown widow bite hurts and leaves a mark much like a common household spider.

[00:01:55]>> [music] >> Severe symptoms are possible, and there's at least one documented case of a patient requiring hospitalization.

[00:02:02]But, unless [music] side effects extend beyond mildly inconvenient redness and discomfort, experts recommend [music] washing and icing the wound and applying an anti-itch cream. It should go away on its own, but any signs of infection, such as swelling, pus, or warmth to the touch indicate that it's time to seek professional care. [music] Brown recluse spider. Infamous for its venomous and painful bite, the brown recluse spider is common throughout the South and Central United States. Unlike most spiders who have eight eyes, the brown recluse has six uniquely [music] shaped eyes. The uniformly colored velvety species measures just 3/8 of an inch on average. It gets its name from its elusive and nocturnal nature, which entails avoiding humans as much as possible. The brown recluse, like many other spiders, usually only bites in response to a perceived threat, and it's entirely possible to trigger one without needing to. Bites are highly venomous [music] and should be treated with emergency medical care, according to the National Institute of Health. There is no antivenom, but most bites [music] will heal just fine without medical attention or scarring. Symptoms vary depending on the amount of venom injected [music] and the victim's sensitivity to it, and may include chills, nausea, fever, itching, sweating, and general discomfort. Not great. [music] Reactions can be immediate, delayed, or for a lucky few, completely absent. Less fortunate individuals may experience blistering, lesions, and even volcano lesions, which are open wounds that have become gangrenous and which grow as large as a human hand. The ideal [music] response to a bite is to wash it and get to the ER, just in case your side effects fall into [music] the unfavorable end of the spectrum. Chilean recluse spider. The Chilean recluse spider is native to South America, dwelling primarily in Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.

[00:03:47]This species is also sometimes seen [music] in Mexico and the US. It's perhaps the most dangerous spider within its genus, despite measuring a mere 8 to 30 mm. It's also called the corner spider since it tends to hide in difficult-to-access spaces like within cracks and behind or underneath furniture. [music] It's said that up to half of all Chilean households host at least one of these pesky and potentially harmful [music] intruders. The Chilean recluse spider is active year-round but tends to come out more during hotter weather, often prompting experts to warn the public to be cautious. In late 2018, the spider made headlines for seriously injuring a 16-year-old Chilean girl who ended up in the hospital. People are most likely to fall victim by unintentionally encountering a Chilean [music] recluse spider, for example, by reaching into a dark closet where one has taken up headquarters. The skin blisters and swells immediately following a bite.

[00:04:37]Over the following hours, the victim can expect their pain to worsen, for the bite to become itchy, and for a dark spot to form on the site. While only an estimated 3% of cases are fatal, experts warn people to err on the safe side for spiders before sticking their hand or foot into a dark [music] space. But if worse comes to worse and a Chilean recluse bites, it's recommended to clean the wound, apply ice, [music] and get to an emergency room. Six-eyed sand spider.

[00:05:03]The medium-sized six-eyed sand spider dwells in deserts and sandy environments throughout southern Africa. It measures between 1 and 2 inches long and has a leg span of around 4 inches. This species is related to recluse spiders, which are distributed worldwide, and several African and South American species. Its flattened stance and laterally moving legs have also earned it the nickname of the six-eyed crab spider. This creature [music] is covered in small hairs called setae, which help to camouflage it by holding particles of sand. [music] The six-eyed sand spider is possibly the world's most venomous spider. According to toxicology studies, it contains a hemolytic component which ruptures red blood cells and causes a necrotic effect, meaning it destroys tissue. [music] There is no antivenom, meaning this spider's bite is more likely to be lethal than many other species, but nobody knows for sure because [music] there are no confirmed records of human bites. There are two suspected cases, [music] one which resulted in the amputation of a man's arm due to severe necrosis, and another where the victim bled to death.

[00:06:05]The good news is that the six-eyed sand spider is pretty shy and rarely comes into contact with humans. [music] When it does, it doesn't always bite. And when it bites, it doesn't always release a large amount or any at all. Australian funnel-web spiders. The Australian funnel-web family of spiders consists of 40 known species and is named after their peculiar [music] tube-shaped webs. While some species are presumed to be harmless, others possess potent and fast-acting venom and rank among the world's most dangerous spiders. [music] Perhaps the deadliest family member is the Sydney funnel-web spider, which lives in various bushland and suburban environments along Australia's East Coast. It looks terrifying with its rear-facing fangs that are sharp enough to cut through fingernails and relatively large body size. This nocturnal creature hides out during the day, which is why it's somewhat common for people to find one camping in their shoe or in a dark corner of their home.

[00:06:58]>> [music] >> In fact, its proximity to humans is one of the major reasons it's considered so dangerous. The Sydney funnel-web spider is both highly venomous and aggressive.

[00:07:06][music] It's likely the culprit behind all serious funnel-web spider bites and the 13 recorded deaths that resulted from the bites between 1927 and 1980. The spider's venom contains an ultra toxic protein, [music] which severely affects the nervous system and can kill a human within 15 minutes. Bite symptoms include rapid heart [music] rate, difficulty breathing, and numbness around the mouth. While the funnel-web spider did [music] not evolve specifically to attack humans, its venom is particularly effective on primates [music] and invertebrates, something Dr. Robert Raven, curator of arachnids at Queensland Museum, calls an [music] evolutionary accident. The good news is that household pets recover from bites quickly and safely. And luckily [music] for humans, an antivenom was introduced in 1981, and there have been no known fatalities since. Thanks for watching.

[00:07:54]Which spider scares you the most? Have you ever been bitten by a spider? Let me know in the comments below, and remember to subscribe if you haven't already. See you later. Bye.