Spiders in Illinois

We have many different kinds of spiders in Illinois. Most of them are beneficial and will not only keep many other pest populations down, but will keep some spider species populations down, too! And if you have a garden, you WANT spiders in there dealing with the insects that can damage your plants. But having them in your home is another story. A house spider is harmless – as are many of the other spiders you may find inside.

Unfortunately, In Illinois, we also have the dreaded brown recluse spider and the black widow spider. While brown recluse spiders are not aggressive, they are one of two poisonous spiders in our area. They most commonly bite in response to body pressure when they are inadvertently trapped against bare skin. Bites are commonly misdiagnosed. In rare circumstances a necrotic-like sore could result. While male black widow spiders rarely bite, females may bite in defense, especially after laying eggs. Symptoms of a black widow spider bite include fever, increased blood pressure, sweating, and nausea. Pain is usually almost immediate and reaches its maximum in 1-3 hours.