Which is more poisonous, the brown recluse or the black widow?

Most spiders in the United States are harmless, unless you have some type of allergic reaction to their bite, but the brown recluse and black widow spider are exceptions. read more

Brown recluse spiders (Loxosceles reclusa) are tan to dark brown with a leg span of approximately 1 inch. Many have a violin-shaped marking on the chest. Brown recluse spiders are located mainly in the south central United States. Both black widow and brown recluse spiders are common in North America and throughout the world. read more

The bites from a brown recluse and a black widow look similar, like a target or bull's eye, centered at the site where the fangs penetrated. The California Poison Control System says that in the case of a black widow bite, a red ring surrounds a pale center while in the case of a brown recluse bite, the center forms a blister, surrounded by a red ring and then a pale ring. read more

Be cautious of both black widow spiders and brown recluse spiders if bitten. Both can cause painful bites, which can be deadly in some cases. The brown recluse spider bite can cause severe blistering, blue discoloration, and necrotic lesions with scarring. read more