Poisonous spiders aren't native to Vermont.
Although all spiders are poisonous, most are harmless to humans. There are no poisonous spiders native to Vermont but poisonings do occur because of spider bites from a black widow or brown recluse spider that have hitched a ride with people or produce arriving from other parts of the country.
The Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus)
This spider lives in the eastern United States. As with all widow spiders, only the female of this species is poisonous to man. She can be identified by her glossy jet-black body, long tapering legs and round abdomen. The northern black widow's markings vary with red stripes across the female's back or diagonally down the sides and a bright-red hourglass shape on her abdomen.
The web of the northern black widow is unorganized, resembling a cobweb, but its silk is very strong. The egg sac is round and tan. This spider is typically not aggressive and will often retreat or hide when confronted but is more protective of its web when an egg sac is present. Bites usually occur when the spider is disturbed. The bite, according to the Vermont Entomological Society, "is usually not fatal but there have been more cases of severe reactions in infants, children, the elderly or ill persons." They are found around woodpiles, meter boxes and other undisturbed places. Be very careful when working around areas where black widow spiders may live. The bite of the black widow is sharp and painful. Go immediately for medical treatment if you suspect that you have been bitten.
Brown Recluse Spider (Loxosceles reclusa)
The recluse may be brown, gray or even yellow. This fragile-looking spider has a leg span not exceeding a 50-cent piece and often has a black marking on its back that resembles a violin, prompting the nicknames fiddleback spider or violin spider.
The easiest way to identify this spider is by its eyes. While most spiders have eight eyes arranged in two rows of four, the recluse has six equal-sized eyes arranged in three pairs.
Like the widow, the recluse builds an irregular web and inhabits woodpiles, sheds, closets, garages and other undisturbed places. If bitten, it is important to seek medical treatment immediately.
Considerations
The fear of spiders is unwarranted. Spiders are far more beneficial than they are dangerous. All spiders are predators preying on insects, mites and other soft-bodied invertebrate animals that plague man. With the exception of the widow and the recluse, spiders are harmless and are beneficial inhabitants of any ecosystem.
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