They occur over most of South Africa but not within 100Km of Cape Town and are rare elsewhere. They can be found under stones, in caves and dark areas. Violin spiders are free-living spiders that don’t build webs.
#Black and white spider skin
Sac spider bites can be extremely painful, but it does not have the enzyme to cause any skin lesions. These spiders will build a silk sac where they’ll lay their eggs. They’re often found in plants, houses, in the folds of curtains, under clothes, behind picture frames and in the dark corners of cupboards. Their eyes are in two rows, and the front legs are longest. Sac spiders are two-clawed, medium-sized spiders recognised by their uniformly straw-coloured bodies with the chelicerae and eye area blackish.
The venom is less lethal than that of Black button spiders. If bitten, symptoms can include nausea, sweating, disorientation and shortness of breath. You should seek immediate medical assistance at a hospital with a poison unit, especially in the case of children. Their venom is neurotoxic, and bites will be very painful. If disturbed they’ll retreat, or they will fall to the ground but will bite when picked up. They’re generally inoffensive and will escape into their retreat. They’re brown with banded legs, and their abdomen varies from cream to black. They make three-dimensional webs in dark corners in a variety of microhabitats and are commonly found around houses. You should seek immediate medical assistance at a hospital with a poison unit where it’s treatable with anti-venom in extreme cases.īrown button spiders are commonly found in the Western Cape. Their venom is highly neurotoxic leading to respiratory failure, causing pain, sweating, nausea, disorientation and shortness of breath. They’re black as adults with bright red patterns on the dorsal abdomen when subadult. It may be lethal to 20% of dogs bitten.īlack button spiders are common throughout the province and can be found in their three-dimensional webs in dark areas usually under stones, among grass or inside bushes but will rarely be seen. The use of pain medication is all that is required. The venomous bite results in a server pain lasting 10-40 hours. Baboon spiders will lift their front legs when they feel threatened. Female baboon spiders live in silky burrows in the ground.
It’s not needed to visit a doctor.īaboon spiders are large, bulky and hairy spiders that can grow to up to 6 cm body length. Their bites cause a mild pain similar to a bee sting and may be itchy for a while. This docile spider feeds on insects and small vertebrates. They’re brown in colour with light and dark bands on the underside of their legs. These spiders are often found curled up in the corner of a ceiling especially when it rains. Here are some of the types of venomous spiders you might encounter in the province: Anti-venom is the last resort administered in a medical facility.
All envenomations are treatable, once a diagnosed has been made. It’s important to remember that deaths caused by spider bites are rare, and no deaths have been recorded in southern Africa, however, if you’re bitten and unsure about the type of spider that bit you, you should seek medical assistance from a poison unit such a Tygerberg Poison Unit, 0. Most spiders are not harmful, but it’s best to take precaution if you encounter one. Spiders play a very important role in our ecosystem they’re responsible for controlling insect populations.Īs we approach summer, you’re more likely to come across a wide range of spiders. Our province is home to a variety of spider species.