There is no reason to fear spiders (arachnophobia) here: Digesting a spider, even a venomous one, is not something to worry about. This has been confirmed by Christopher Buddle, a spider expert at McGill University in Canada.
Not all spiders are dangerous to humans
“If you swallow a spider, even if it is considered venomous, I don’t think it would react by biting as it slides down your esophagus, and certainly, it would have no chance to bite while being digested by stomach acid.”
“Not all spiders can attack you with venom – this means you might feel uncomfortable if they accidentally crawl into your nose or you ingest them – but all these creatures have enough venom to kill small prey,” Buddle added.
Some spider species are dangerous to humans, including the Black Widow Spider and the Brown Recluse Spider.
Buddle also noted that spiders with a strand of silk at the back can bite other objects, but in reality, arachnids only bite humans when they feel threatened, are cornered, or want to “surprise” us, such as when you put your foot into a shoe that hasn’t been used in a long time.
If a spider is in your mouth while you are sleeping, it may have accidentally “fallen” in, unless you have “swallowed” too many bugs, leading the spider to believe it could have a nice meal by crawling into your mouth!
Some spider species are considered “monsters” with extremely potent venom
However, if you accidentally swallow a spider and realize it belongs to one of the 7 extremely dangerous spider species listed below, you should be cautious. Some spider species are aggressive and will readily attack any creature that approaches if provoked, including humans. A study in the United States found that among 3,000 spider species, about 60 are considered capable of causing injury (minor or major) to humans.
1. Redback Spider (Latrodectus hasselti)
Habitat: The Redback Spider is scattered throughout Australia and is also found in New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Japan.
Size: Females 1 cm, males 3 to 4 mm.
Redback Spider
According to research, about 250 people require antivenom treatment for bites from Redback Spiders each year. Approximately 80% of bites result in little or no reaction, while 20% cause pain for the victim for about a day without serious consequences. Some more severe cases may exhibit symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, headache, vomiting, and insomnia.
There have been no recorded fatalities from bites by this spider. Redback Spiders usually do not wander far from their webs, and most attacks occur when humans come into direct contact with the spider’s web.
2. Sydney Funnel-Web Spider (Atrax robustus)
Habitat: The Sydney Funnel-Web Spider lives within a 160 km radius of Sydney (Australia). Other Funnel-Web Spider species are also found throughout the country.
Size: Females 3.5 cm, males 2.5 cm.
Sydney Funnel-Web Spider
Researchers at the Australian Museum report that although the Sydney Funnel-Web Spider has not caused any fatalities since the use of antivenom began in 1981, it remains “a symbol of horror and fascination for spider enthusiasts in Sydney.”
Currently, the silk from the Funnel-Web Spider is used to make optical devices. You can find this species under rocks and logs in the forest, inside compost heaps, or in the soil beneath your home. Funnel-Web Spiders prefer moist environments and areas in contact with the ground.
3. Six-Eyed Sand Spider (Sicarius hahni)
Habitat: South Africa.
Size (including legs): 5 cm.
Six-Eyed Sand Spider
The Six-Eyed Sand Spider is a very special species because of its ability to camouflage, burying itself in sand, and even appearing like sand on the surface. You only truly discover this creature when you see its crab-like legs moving. The Six-Eyed Sand Spider has a coat of fur that helps it stick sand grains to its body, so it is always covered in sand.
The Six-Eyed Sand Spider rarely bites humans, but its venom is extremely toxic, capable of causing capillary bleeding, tissue destruction, organ failure, and can even kill a rabbit within hours.
4. Brown Widow Spider (Latrodectus geometricus)
Habitat: South America.
Size (including legs): Females 4 cm, males 1.25 cm.
Brown Widow Spider
The Brown Widow Spider has venom that is twice as potent as that of the Black Widow Spider. However, the likelihood of delivering venom to a victim is lower than that of its “brother.” This species is quite shy and often lives in secluded places with little human activity, such as outdoor trash bins, under porches, in mailboxes, in cramped garages, or under outdoor seating.
5. Brown Recluse Spider (Loxosceles reclusa)
Habitat: South America.
Size (including legs): Females 2.5 cm, males 2 cm.
Brown Recluse Spider
The venom of the Brown Recluse Spider contains a rare type of protein not found in the venom of other animal species, which can cause bruising around the bite site and lead to infections.
Brown Recluse Spiders typically live under stacked logs, archways, or in drawers of furniture that are rarely disturbed. When bitten by this spider, you may not feel the bite at first, although the pain will become severe after a few hours. In rare cases, the venom can cause coma, kidney failure, and seizures.
6. Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus mactans)
Habitat: Primarily in South America, with some occurrences in the Western Hemisphere.
Size (including legs): Females 4 cm, males 1.25 cm.
Black Widow Spider
The venom of the female Black Widow Spider is 15 times more potent than that of a rattlesnake. If bitten by this spider, the pain will quickly spread throughout the body, accompanied by symptoms such as chills, tremors, vomiting, difficulty breathing, delirium, paralysis, and seizures.
It is estimated that about 5% of cases involving Black Widow Spider bites result in death.
7. Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria)
Habitat: Brazil.
Size (including legs): 17 cm.
Brazilian Wandering Spider
The Brazilian Wandering Spider has been recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most venomous spider in the world. They aggressively attack their prey with continuous bites.
Phoneutria Fera is a genus of spiders belonging to this family. Its venom can severely damage the nervous system to a much greater extent than that of other spider species.
