What are the Most Deadly Spiders in Tennessee?

Tennessee has two spiders that can cause serious harm: the black widow and the brown recluse. Deaths are extremely rare, and most people who are bitten recover completely. Here’s how to tell them apart, where they hide around Tennessee homes, what to do if you’re bitten and how to keep them out.

How common are bites?

Most spiders in Tennessee are harmless. The two that matter do bite people every year, though. In 2014, the Tennessee Poison Center received almost 300 calls about spider bites. More than half involved brown recluses, and 40 involved black widows. Only a very small percentage of people, mostly the very young or elderly, are at risk of a severe reaction.

Black widow vs. brown recluse at a glance

	Black widow	Brown recluse
Looks	Shiny black, round abdomen, red hourglass underneath	Tan to brown, violin-shaped mark on its back
Eyes	Eight, in two rows of four	Six, in three pairs
Where it hides	Garages, crawl spaces, woodpiles, under playsets and outdoor furniture	Closets, attics, basements, boxes, shoes and stored clothing
Web	Messy, strong, close to the ground	Loose and irregular, used for resting, not hunting
Bite	Muscle cramps and pain that can spread	A sore that can slowly break down skin

Black widow spiders

Black widows live in every part of Tennessee. Adult females are shiny black with a red hourglass on the underside. Males and young spiders are lighter and rarely bite.

“The most common place I find black widows in Middle Tennessee is in undisturbed areas such as garages, under playsets, crawl spaces, or wood piles around the home.”

Brad, General Manager, U.S. Pest Protection

Black widow bites can cause painful muscle cramps that spread to the stomach, back or chest, along with nausea and sweating. Read our full guide: Are black widow spiders common in Middle Tennessee?

Brown recluse spiders

Brown recluses are shy and stay hidden in dark, undisturbed spaces, so seeing one usually means there are more nearby. The best way to identify one is its six eyes in three pairs. Most spiders have eight. The violin mark helps, but other spiders have similar markings.

A brown recluse bite may not hurt at first. Over the following hours and days, it can become painful and form a blister or sore that heals slowly. Read our full guide: How do I know if I have brown recluse spiders in my home?

What about brown widows?

You may read about brown widows, a widow spider with an orange hourglass that’s spread into parts of the South. They aren’t one of the two spiders Tennessee health experts list as venomous. If you find a widow-like spider and aren’t sure what it is, take a photo or call us, and we’ll identify it.

Spiders that look scary but aren’t dangerous

Most spiders you’ll see in a Tennessee home are harmless and actually help by eating other insects:

• Wolf spiders: big and hairy, and they run fast, but they’re not dangerous to people
• Cellar spiders: long, thin legs, found in basements and corners
• Orb weavers: the big, beautiful garden webs
• House spiders: small, common and often mistaken for brown recluses
• False widows: round and glossy like a widow, but brown with no red hourglass

What to do if you think you’ve been bitten

1. Wash the bite with soap and water.
2. Apply a cool compress or wrapped ice.
3. Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. It’s free and open 24/7, and it connects Tennessee callers to the Tennessee Poison Center.
4. Call 911 or go to the ER for severe pain, spreading cramps, chest pain or trouble breathing, or if the person bitten is a young child, an older adult or pregnant.
5. If you can do it safely, photograph the spider or capture it in a sealed container for identification.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Always follow the guidance of Poison Control or your doctor.

How to keep dangerous spiders out

• Clear clutter from garages, basements and closets.
• Store firewood away from the house.
• Shake out shoes, gloves and stored clothing before wearing them.
• Keep boxes sealed, and use plastic bins instead of cardboard.
• Seal gaps around doors, windows and where pipes enter.
• Wear gloves when moving stored items or firewood.

How U.S. Pest Protection helps

Common spiders are covered under our regular spider control plans. For brown recluses, which are harder to get rid of, we offer brown recluse treatment built around finding where they hide. Call 615.590.1260 or schedule a free inspection.

FAQs

Sources: Tennessee Poison Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (spider bite calls, who is at risk); Tennessee Poison Center and University of Tennessee Extension (Tennessee’s two venomous spiders, identification).