Spiders
Spiders are arachnids with eight legs and six or eight eyes. There are over 40,000 different species in the world. Some live in warm climates while others prefer the cold. Spiders spin webs made out of silk. Some species use their webs to catch their food while other prefer to leave the web to hunt. Most spiders prefer insects while others are herbivores. Spiders are unable to digest solids. They secrete enzymes to liquefy a meal prior to eating. Spiders typically only bite humans in self-defense. Some species are poisonous. If you are uncertain of the type of spider that bit you, try to take it to the doctor with you in a sealed container. Black widow spiders, western black widow spiders, brown recluse spiders, desert recluse spiders and hobo spiders are all poisonous and found in the United States.
Black Widow Spiders are the most poisonous spider in North America. They are easily identified by the red hour glass on their abdomen and found in the South.
Western Black Widow Spiders reside in the Western United States. They live in dry dark places. They eat other pests such as beetles, flies and cockroaches.
Brown Recluse Spiders are typically found in the Midwest and like to live indoors. Their venom is not deadly, but the bite is painful and results in a long lasting open sore.
Desert Recluse Spiders have a violin shape on their back. They are found in California, Utah, Arizona and Nevada. Their bite will leave a red mark.
Hobo Spiders build a funnel shaped web and wait for insects to walk into their trap. They are found in the Pacific Northwest.