Some dangerous South African spiders

1) Black button spider (Latrodectus indistictus): 

• Black medium-sized spider
• most have some form of orange-red markings on the dorsal side (top) of the abdomen, absent in some females. They never have any red markings on the ventral side (bottom) of the abdomen.
• make a smooth, round whithish-yellow egg sac about 10mm in diameter. More than 1 egg is found in the web
• one of the most dangerous spider in South Africa
• venom is neurotoxic
• bite is painful and produces symptoms within half an hour

2) Brown button spider (Latrodectus geometricus): 

• show an hour-glass pattern on the ventral side of the abdomen
• they vary in colour from light yellowish-brown, with geometric patterns on the dorsal side of the abdomen, to pitch black
• normally found around human habitation
• lay more than 1 egg, which are slightly smaller than the black widow eggs and are always spiky and irregular in shape

3) Sac spider (Clubionidae): 

• have a black face appearance with the compact body in various shades of cream, light brown and yellow
• have long legs with the hairs on the foot very dark brown to black
• chelicerae are black, long and rather stout
• most members of this family construct tubular or flat sacs of dense white silk, either open or closed at the ends, to use as a retreat
• leaf-curling sac spiders make sacs in rolled-up leaves, in folded blades of grass or under loose bark
• the long-legged sacs spiders that are often found in houses make a flattened, disc-shaped sac in the fold of curtains, behind or under objects. The sacs are papery and shiny and very tough. The egg sac is similar but smaller.
• these spiders are aggressive and will bite at the slightest provocation.
• bites that are painless are characterised by 2 bite marks about 6mm apart.
• the venom is cytotoxic and within 24 hours the site becomes inflamed and swollen, and ulcerates after a few days.
• the ulterative wound is very slow in healing and often becomes subject to secondary infection. Accompanying fever may be present and often with severe headaches.

4) Violin spider (Loxoscelidae): 

• the colour varies from brick-brown to rich red-brown, with darker markings on the abdomen
• they have a characteristic dark-brown to black violin-shaped marking on the carapace, hence the common name
• the spider roams freely at night in search of prey
• the venom is cytotoxic causing ulcerating wounds, often involving severe secondary infection
• the resulting tissue damage leaves disfiguring scars that may require plastic surgery

5) Six-eyed crab spider (Sicariidae):

• have a flattened body with thickish legs
• the eyes are set in 3 pairs on the front of the flattened carapace
• the legs are extended sideways and held close to the ground
• the venom is cytotoxic, causing severe ulcerative wounds with tissue damage at all levels
• it destroys the tissue structure in the vinicity of the bite as well as tissue thoughout the body causing internal haemorrhaging and necrosis

6) Small Baboon spider (Harpactirella lightfooti): 

• is from the South-western Cape
• small and more slender than the other baboon spiders
• it lacks cheliceral scopula and the spinnerets are very long and protrude beyond the posterior end of the abdomen
• venom is neurotoxic