Bites from Hobo and Sac spiders cause discomfort and wounds that mimic a bee or wasp sting, although the initial pain is much less because the fangs of these spiders are not nearly as large or strong as bees / wasps. To help identify the type of spider bite you have, capture the spider or take a photo with your phone and take it to a local clinic (someone might be able to identify it) or research it online. Most spider bites or harmless or cause only mild discomfort that fades away after a few days. [9] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Treating spider bites with antiseptic gel, ice and over-the-counter medications is typically all that’s needed. Generally speaking, spiders bite only in defense, particularly while being crushed between your skin and something else.
Reaction to bee and wasp stings can range from minor skin swelling and redness (like a small contusion or bruise) to a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) in those who are sensitive — medical attention may be necessary. Bees and wasps don’t inject venom but kill many more people per year than spiders due to anaphylaxis reactions that go untreated. Anaphylaxis is usually controlled by epinephrine (adrenaline) injections that reduce the body’s allergic response. An injection can be given by your doctor or administered at home if you have an epinephrine “pen”. The type of spider bites most often confused with bee / wasp stings are from Hobo and Sac spiders. Black widow bites can cause similar serious symptoms, but their two-fanged puncture wound doesn’t resemble a bee / wasp sting.
Although the sting marks of scorpions look much different than the two-fanged puncture wounds of black widows, the pain and other symptoms can be quite similar because both species produce neurotoxic venom. An antivenin (Anascorp) is available, but it’s not used widely in the U. S. due to America’s low mortality rates. Much like most spider bites, the vast majority of scorpion stings can be treated with antiseptic gel, ice, and over-the-counter medications. The bark scorpion is native to Arizona, New Mexico and parts of California.
The main differences from a brown recluse spider bite are that tick bites don’t initially hurt and never lead to ulceration (necrosis) of the skin surrounding the bite. Another difference is that ticks usually burrow into the skin before infecting the host, so you can sometimes see them underneath the top layer of skin. In contrast, spiders don’t burrow or nest in or on people.
