Why Do Spiders Bite Humans?

[ClaryS]

I used to just leave spiders alone in the house or put them outside until recently when I was bitten on the leg by what the doctor said was a spider, probably while I was asleep. Anyway it went septic and took weeks to heal, in fact three months later and I still have two angry looking red spots on my ankle. So, why do they bite humans? it can't be to try and immobilise the human to eat it as they do with anything caught in their web, no spider would be that optimistic surely? its not to feed on the blood like a mosquito (is it?). Now any spider found in the house does not get a first class ticket outside in a glass, they get a white knuckle ride down the toilet or plug hole. So, why do spiders bite humans?

[ClaryS]

andy_hughes I didn't feel the bite, its not the bite that's the problem its the stuff injected into the wound that causes the problems -and if mosquitoes can break through human skin then a spider surely can too?

[Tilly2]

A house load of wasps is a different kettle of fish from a lone spider.

[woofgang]

well I have been stung by wasps but i don't go around trying to exterminate them all.

[chelle7272]

Big spiders are not always harvestmen, I had a huge house spider in the house this week. could not trap it in a pijnt glass as it would not have fit!
Trapped it in the end but had to get a friend to dispose of it as they terrify me. Even she had second thoughts when she saw the size of it!

[Prudie]

Andy, sorry but have seen you post on here many times that large house spiders don't come into the house but live indoors all the time and we only see them when they come out from under the sofa to look for a mate in September time. I refute this. I'm petrified of spiders and have an inbuilt radar for them, I'dknow. They definitely could not live in a modern house with no nooks and crannies never being seen most of the year (I'm talking about the hideous large tegenerias). Apart from that there's lots of info confirming they come in from outside - particularly when it's going to rain.

[Milvus]

In answer to Andy's question, there are about a dozen native spiders that bite. None of them have toxins that are powerful enough for serious damage in humans (unless you are particularly sensitive). For the brave, have a look here: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/insects-spiders/identification-guides-and-keys/spider-bites/

[viv38]

If a spider bit me, I would regard it as bad luck and I'm sorry yours turned septic Clary, but I would still NOT kill them and I would NEVER squirt them with lacquer. I have a huge one in my house just now and I see it every so often scurrying across the carpet. Happens every year at this time.

[paddywak]

Perhaps this will help you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8dSBWysmnM

[Traci66]

I used to have a pet tarantula and she bit me when we first got her, the bite was no worse than a bee sting.

[fairycakes69]

My 10 month old granddaughter was bitten by a spider, ended up in hospital in surgery at 1.00 in the morning had gone septic was 1 mm from her bone. Just as well her mum knew something was wrong, doctor just gave her cream. So yes spiders can bite and cause problems.

[SpikeyBush]

I've worked all over the world and in some places there are some very aggressive spiders that will go out of their way to bite humans. I refer to them as the arachnid football hooligans. Over the years I've been bitten and stung by allsorts. But back in the UK it is very rare to have any complications from a spider bite. Usually it is a last line of defence when you are accidentally squashing them, that happened to me the other week tidying up the cables behind the television. But their venom has no effect on us but as with any break in the skin there is a risk of infection.

I cherish the spiders in my house as they are far more effective against flies and wasps than anything you can buy in the shops.