Most Common Dangerous Spiders in Utah
The most common spiders in Utah are: black widow, brown recluse, yellow sac spider, camel spider, huntsman spider and wolf spider.
Black Widow
The Black Widow Spider can be found throughout North America. It is a surprisingly common one amongst other spiders in Utah.
Black Widow spiders mature when they turn black and show a distinctive red hourglass mark. Black Widows that aren't black are often called the “red hourglass” spiders.
Where can you find Black Widow spiders in Utah?
Black widows usually live in undisturbed areas of the environment with little to no activity going on around them. These areas include, but are not limited to, piles of wood, rocks, on or inside fences, crevices of buildings and homes and often nestle where debris has settled. It is important to realize that this spider is classified as one of the most dangerous species in Utah.
A bite from a Black Widow spider will leave you with two small holes on the surface of your skin. Spiders sometimes “dry bite”, which means no venom was actually released in the bite. According to Wikipedia, “a spider that self-protects itself by biting without injecting venom may dry bite if it is threatened, but does not want to waste its venom”. So basically this means that spiders are a lot more delicate than people make them out to be!
Brown Recluse
Brown recluse spiders typically range between 6 and 20 millimeters (0.24 to 0.79 in) in length, but may grow larger. These spiders are usually light to medium brown, although they can be white or blackish gray. The Brown Recluse spider has a distinctive marking along its back and neck that is often said to resemble the shape of a violin outline.
Where can you find Brown Recluse spiders in Utah?
Brown Recluse spiders are found in most areas of the US, where they hunt for insects. A bite from a Brown Recluse spider usually looks like a small bump and is painless. However, if left untreated, it can cause severe skin damage and even death.
Hobo Spider
Hobo spiders are common in Utah. This spider has an abdomen with V-shaped patterns in the middle of its body, which can be found towards the head and chest regions. These V-shaped patterns point upwards towards the head region. The Hobo spider also has a light line running down their back, which is typically lighter tan to light brown in coloration, but can also be darker brown.
Where can you find Hobo spiders in Utah?
Hobo spiders were first discovered in Utah in the 1990s. They are extremely fast runners, but they are not good climbers and usually build their webs close to the ground. Hobos live in small holes or crevices where they will strategically build funnel-shaped webs.
A Hobo Spider bite can result in necrosis, where the skin around the area of the bite begins to die. Although this spider is classified as a dangerous arachnid, there are very few documented cases of severe bites. This spider moves and attacks quickly. Its victims rarely see or catch it after their incidences occur.
Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders are extremely common in the United States, especially in Utah. Scientists have identified more than 120 species of wolf spider in the U.S., and many fear at the sight of a wolf spider due to its large stature (some species grow up to 2 inches in length), but on the contrary, wolf spiders are currently classified as one of the most dangerous spiders in Utah.
Where can you find Wolf spiders in Utah?
The Wolf Spider is seen on the ground in open areas like farm land or grassy areas. It is often seen with a splotchy-stripes and typically camouflaged from predators.
Wolf spiders are considered one of the most dangerous species of spider, but their bite is not lethal. That being said, a bite from a Wolf spider can be very painful for some people. Additionally, some people may have an allergic reaction to the venomations produced by this species of spider. If you suspect that you’ve been bitten by a Wolf Spider, seek medical attention immediately and tell your doctor about it.
Yellow Sac Spider
Most people living in Utah are unaware of how common the yellow sac spider is. Many other characteristics also exist, including an average length of only 6 mm and a brownish tint to its eyes and mouth.
Where can you find Yellow Sac spiders in Utah?
Yellow Sac spiders travel from place to place at night. They are nocturnal creatures and are only found around the evening time. They spin a flat silk sac for defense purposes and reside there until the next evening comes, which makes them quite easy to catch.
The Yellow sac spider has the highest toxicity rating of any Utah spider. Emergency Room doctors recommend that you apply hydrogen peroxide to the bite and surrounding area, then apply ice. If you get nausea or vomiting, visit a doctor immediately.
Camel Spider
Big, hairy, and scary looking is the best way to describe the characteristics of the Camel spider.
Where can you find Camel spiders in Utah?
Camel spiders are typically found under rocks or any shelter from the sun, in dry and hot areas. Some species of camel spiders can hiss, and will use this as a defense mechanism towards predators. While these spiders are undoubtedly large, they do not bite humans.
If you have been bitten by a Camel Spider, you are not in any danger. They are harmless and typically leave only small, harmless bites. If the bite is severe enough, we recommend visiting a doctor immediately for treatment.
Huntsman spider
The Huntsman belongs to the giant crab spider species. These spiders are typically brown in color, with darker areas around their eyes and legs.
Where can you find Huntsman spiders in Utah?
Huntsman spiders are found in Southern Utah, and tend to be located in warmer states across the U.S. They usually live on shrubs or rocks, or on the ground. A rare occurrence is for Huntsman spiders to crawl through ceilings. These spider like creatures are not typically seen as dangerous to humans because their size is so large.
If you have been bitten by a Huntsman spider and believe it may be infected, clean the bite with hydrogen peroxide, apply ice and compression, and seek medical attention.