Spiders

Poisonous

Black Widow spider

The Black Widow Spider!

Scientific Name: Latrodectus spp. (various species)

*Identification:*

- Black body with a distinctive red hourglass shape on the abdomen
- Round, shiny abdomen
- Long, thin legs
- Typically 1/4 inch (6-8 mm) in body length

*Habitat:*

- Found throughout the world, except in extremely cold or wet climates
- Common in warm, temperate regions, including Southern Africa
- Often found in dark, dry areas like basements, attics, and woodpiles

*Behavior:*

- Nocturnal, so most active at night
- Solitary, only coming together to mate
- Female Black Widows are known for eating their mates after reproduction

*Venom:*

- Neurotoxic venom that can cause severe pain, muscle cramps, and breathing difficulties
- Venom is 15 times more potent than rattlesnake venom, but the amount delivered is relatively small
- Symptoms can last for several days, but are rarely fatal

*Reproduction:*

- Female Black Widows can produce up to 20 egg sacs in a lifetime, each containing up to 900 eggs
- Eggs hatch after about 14 days, and the spiderlings disperse after a few weeks

*Interesting Facts:*

- Black Widow Spiders are actually quite shy and will avoid humans if possible
- They are excellent web-builders, creating irregular, messy webs to catch prey
- Despite their fearsome reputation, Black Widow Spiders are generally not aggressive and only bite in self-defense.

Remember, while Black Widow Spiders can be venomous, they are relatively rare and not typically aggressive. If you encounter one, it's best to leave it alone and let it go about its business!

Poisonous

Brown Widow spider

The brown widow spider! Also known as the brown button spider or geometric button spider, this little guy is a relative of the infamous black widow spider. Here are some key facts about the brown widow spider:

# Identification
- The brown widow spider has a mottled tan and brown color with black accent markings.
- It has a distinctive orange-yellow hourglass shape on its abdomen.
- The spider's body is typically around 1/4 inch (6-8 mm) in length.

# Habitat and Distribution
- The brown widow spider is found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.
- It's commonly found in dark, dry areas like basements, attics, and woodpiles.

# Behavior and Diet
- Brown widow spiders are nocturnal and build irregular webs to catch prey.
- They feed on small insects like flies, mosquitoes, and beetles.

# Venom and Bites
- The brown widow spider's venom is neurotoxic, but its bites are generally less severe than those of the black widow spider.
- Symptoms of a brown widow spider bite may include pain, redness, and swelling at the bite site.

# Reproduction
- Female brown widow spiders can produce up to 20 egg sacs in their lifetime, each containing around 120-150 eggs.
- The eggs hatch after about 20 days, and the spiderlings disperse after a few weeks.

Overall, the brown widow spider is an interesting and relatively harmless arachnid. While its venom can cause some discomfort, it's not typically life-threatening ¹ ².

Poisonous

red back spider

The Redback Spider!

Scientific Name: Latrodectus hasseltii

# Identification
- Black body with a distinctive red or orange stripe on its abdomen
- Round, shiny abdomen
- Long, thin legs
- Typically 1/4 inch (6-8 mm) in body length

# Habitat and Distribution
- Native to Australia and Southeast Asia, but introduced to other parts of the world, including Southern Africa
- Commonly found in gardens, homes, and outdoor areas

# Behavior and Diet
- Nocturnal, so most active at night
- Builds irregular webs to catch prey
- Feeds on small insects like flies, mosquitoes, and beetles

# Venom and Bites
- Neurotoxic venom that can cause severe pain, sweating, and vomiting
- Symptoms can last for several days, but are rarely fatal
- Bites are relatively rare, as Redback Spiders are generally not aggressive

# Reproduction
- Female Redback Spiders can produce up to 20 egg sacs in their lifetime, each containing around 100-200 eggs
- Eggs hatch after about 14 days, and the spiderlings disperse after a few weeks

# Interesting Facts
- Redback Spiders are relatives of the Black Widow Spider and share similar characteristics
- They are known for their messy, irregular webs
- Redback Spiders are generally not aggressive and only bite in self-defense

Remember, while Redback Spiders can be venomous, they are relatively rare and not typically aggressive. If you encounter one, it's best to leave it alone and let it go about its business!

Poisonous

sac spider

The Sac Spider!

Scientific Name: Cheiracanthium spp.

# Identification
- Pale yellow or beige color with a distinctive sac-like abdomen
- Long, thin legs
- Typically 1/4 inch (6-8 mm) in body length

# Habitat and Distribution
- Found throughout Southern Africa, including gardens, homes, and outdoor areas
- Commonly found in vegetation, under rocks, and in dark corners

# Behavior and Diet
- Nocturnal, so most active at night
- Hunts actively, rather than building webs
- Feeds on small insects like flies, mosquitoes, and beetles

# Venom and Bites

Poisonous

VIOLIN SPIDER

The Violin Spider!

Scientific Name: Loxosceles spp. (various species)

# Appearance
- Small to medium-sized body with a distinctive violin-shaped mark on its body
- Gray to brown color with a long, thin abdomen
- Six eyes arranged in a semicircle

# Habitat and Distribution
- Found throughout Southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana
- Common in dark, dry areas like basements, attics, and woodpiles

# Behavior and Diet
- Nocturnal, so most active at night
- Feeds on small insects like flies, mosquitoes, and beetles
- Uses its venom to immobilize prey

# Venom and Defense
- Venom is necrotic, causing damage to skin and underlying tissue
- Can cause serious health issues, including necrotic lesions and systemic symptoms
- Will bite when provoked, but generally not aggressive

# Interesting Facts
- Violin Spiders are also known as "Brown Recluse Spiders" in some parts of the world
- They're excellent web-builders, creating irregular webs to catch prey
- Can live up to 2-3 years in captivity, making them one of the longer-living spider species.

The Violin Spider is a fascinating, but potentially dangerous creature!

non - Poisonous

Golden Orb spider

The Golden Orb Spider!

Scientific Name: Nephila clavipes (and other Nephila species)

# Appearance
- Large, impressive spider with a golden-yellow abdomen
- Long, thin legs and a distinctive white or yellow stripe on its back
- Body length up to 1 inch (2.5 cm), with leg span up to 4 inches (10 cm)

# Habitat and Distribution
- Found throughout Southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana
- Common in gardens, homes, and outdoor areas, particularly in warm, sunny spots

# Behavior and Diet
- Builds impressive golden-colored orb webs to catch prey
- Feeds on flying insects like flies, bees, and butterflies
- Can live up to 1-2 years in the wild, making them one of the longer-living spider species

# Web-building
- Golden Orb Spiders are renowned for their impressive web-building skills
- Webs can reach up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and are often decorated with stabilimenta (zig-zag patterns)

# Interesting Facts
- Golden Orb Spiders are also known as "Golden Orb Weavers" due to their impressive web-building skills
- They're excellent engineers, using different types of silk for different parts of their webs
- Can live up to 1-2 years in the wild, making them one of the longer-living spider species.

The Golden Orb Spider is a fascinating and impressive creature!

non - Poisonous

wolf spider

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Scientific Name: Lycosa spp. (various species)

# Appearance
- Large, hairy body with a leg span of up to 1 inch (2.5 cm)
- Gray to brown color with distinctive stripes or markings
- Excellent eyesight, with eight eyes arranged in three rows

# Habitat and Distribution
- Found throughout Southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana
- Common in gardens, homes, and outdoor areas, particularly in dry, sandy regions

# Behavior and Diet
- Active hunters, chasing down prey rather than using webs
- Feed on insects, other spiders, and small reptiles
- Known for their speed and agility, with some species able to move up to 1.4 feet (43 cm) per second

# Reproduction
- Female Wolf Spiders carry their egg sacs around, protecting them until the spiderlings hatch
- Spiderlings will ride on their mother's back for several weeks before dispersing

# Venom and Defense
- Venom is not deadly to humans, but can cause pain and swelling
- Will bite when provoked, but generally not aggressive

# Interesting Facts
- Wolf Spiders are also known as "Hunting Spiders" due to their active hunting style
- They're excellent parents, with females going to great lengths to protect their young
- Can live up to 2-3 years in the wild, making them one of the longer-living spider species.

The Wolf Spider is an impressive and fascinating creature!

non - Poisonous

rain spider

the Rain Spider (Palystes castaneus)!

Here are some interesting facts about this amazing spider:

# Appearance
- Body length: 15-36 mm
- Leg span: Up to 110 mm
- Brown to dark brown color with distinctive white or yellow markings

# Habitat and Distribution
- Found in Southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana
- Common in gardens, homes, and outdoor areas

# Behavior and Diet
- Huntsman spider that actively hunts prey
- Feeds on insects, geckos, and other small animals

# Nesting and Reproduction
- Female Rain Spiders weave protective nests for their eggs
- Guard the nest until the spiderlings hatch and disperse

# Venom and Defense
- Venom is not deadly to humans and is comparable to a bee sting
- Will bite when provoked, but generally not aggressive

# Interesting Facts
- Rain Spiders are often seen before a rainstorm, hence their name
- They're excellent climbers and can often be found on walls and ceilings.

non - Poisonous

baboon spider

The Baboon Spider!

Scientific Name: Tarantula spp. (various species)

# Appearance
- Large, hairy body with a leg span of up to 6 inches (15 cm)
- Brown to dark brown color with distinctive markings
- Eight eyes arranged in two rows

# Habitat and Distribution
- Found in Southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana
- Common in rocky outcrops, caves, and underground burrows

# Behavior and Diet
- Nocturnal, so most active at night
- Feeds on insects, small reptiles, and amphibians
- Uses its venom to immobilize prey

# Venom and Defense
- Venom is not deadly to humans, but can cause pain and swelling
- Will bite when provoked, but generally not aggressive
- Can also release urticating hairs to deter predators

# Interesting Facts
- Baboon Spiders are also known as "Tarantulas" in Southern Africa
- They're excellent burrowers and can create complex underground tunnels
- Can live up to 20-30 years in captivity, making them one of the longest-living spiders.​