A spider bite is a rare occurrence north of the Alps. Whoever it hits can curb unpleasant symptoms with the right action. It should be clarified in advance whether it is actually a spider bite. Read this guide on how to spot a spider bite. This is what to do after a spider bite in Germany.

Spiders rarely bite humans

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Spider bite Germany dangerous?
  3. Detect Spider Bite
  4. spider bite what to do
  5. Spider bite which spider?
  6. Prevent spider bites at night
  7. frequently asked Questions

    8. the essentials in brief

    • A spider bite in Germany can be recognized as a single red spot and is usually not dangerous.
    • Serious symptoms include pain, severe redness and swelling, vomiting, cramps, and circulatory failure.
    • Immediate measures: Catch the spider alive and take it to the doctor. Treat mild discomfort with ice cubes and anti-inflammatory ointment.

    Is a spider bite dangerous in Germany?

    Germany is not a crisis area for a spider bite. The vast majority of native spider species are not poisonous to humans. Spiders lead a secluded life in fields, forests and gardens or well hidden in buildings. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that the paths of spiders and humans will cross, which in an emergency could result in a spider bite. A slight pain and small red spot are the most common symptoms. Sometimes it itch for a short time and the confrontation is quickly forgotten. You shouldn't completely ignore a spider bite in Germany for good reason.

    Since global warming has become increasingly noticeable, those affected cannot simply return to business as usual once a spider has bitten. Rising temperatures mean that some venomous spiders have made the leap across the Alps and are spreading throughout our regions. There is therefore no clear answer to the question "Is a spider bite dangerous in Germany?" Rather, the potential danger depends largely on the accompanying circumstances. This guide explains what these are and what to do after a spider bite.

    digression

    Large angle spider - harmless monster

    As dangerous as it looks, the greater angle spider doesn't actually bite humans

    As a typical successor to culture, the large angle spider (Eratigena atrica) spreads fear and terror when it dashes through the room with its eight long, hairy legs. Although the majestic house spider can bite, people and pets are usually spared. The long-legged monster has woodlice and other pests in its sights. Frightened Large Angle Spiders sometimes run towards a human, which is mistakenly interpreted as an attack. In fact, the shy spider is on the run and is desperately looking for a dark hiding place. Ideally, you should clear the way for the fleeing angle spider. Alternatively, capture the spider with a jar, slide a piece of paper underneath, carry it to a far corner of the garden, and set it free.

    Recognize spider bite - symptoms

    What does a spider bite look like? After waking up in the morning or after gardening, indefinable skin irritations raise this question. The main clue to a spider bite is a single red spot. Spiders are not parasites, they live solitarily and not in large swarms. If the shy animals get into trouble, they bite once and run away. In contrast, blood-sucking mosquitoes, angry bees, bed bugs, fleas and other vermin cause multiple bites and stab wounds. Common symptoms after a spider bite are summarized in the following table, differentiated according to harmless and dangerous:

    harmless/harmless dangerous/toxic
    small red spot strong pain
    slight redness massive swelling
    annoying itching blistering/necrosis
    Mosquito bite-like nausea
    Vomit
    fever/chills
    circulatory failure

    Please note that this overview does not claim to be scientifically complete. Rather, the aspects mentioned relate to symptoms of spider bites in healthy adults. For small children, allergy sufferers and weakened seniors, it is advisable to consult a doctor as soon as possible after a conflict with a spider. The tiny venomous claws of cross spiders effortlessly pierce delicate baby skin with correspondingly violent side effects. In addition, it has usually not yet been found out in a small child whether a spider bite allergy exists.

    background

    Diligent pest controllers for free

    Encountering a spider does not end well for pests in the house and garden. In fact, spiders are busy chasing other insects, such as lice, mosquitoes, mosquito larvae, flies and similar nuisances. Experts have determined that spiders living in Germany alone consume more than 5 tons of insects every year. Worldwide it is a record-breaking 800 tons. In comparison, we humans eat about 400 tons of meat and fish every year. This circumstance characterizes spiders as insatiable eating machines and important natural pest controllers in the house and garden. Without their jaws and poisonous claws we wouldn't have to fear spider bites, but in return we would of course sink into a sea of vermin.

    What to do after a spider bite?

    The above overview makes it clear that a spider bite can have harmless and dangerous consequences. The recommended reactions are coordinated with this. Harmless symptoms can be alleviated quickly with simple home remedies. In the case of severe symptoms, danger is imminent, so that immediate action is required. What to do after a spider bite in Germany is explained in more detail in the following lines:

    Catching or photographing a spider

    Should you catch a vicious spider red-handed, seize the opportunity for positive identification. To that end, capture the long-legged culprit alive. This is easy and animal-friendly with a spider grab or insect catcher. A drinking glass that you put over the spider is well suited for live capture and assessment. A piece of cardboard slipped underneath makes the catch glass escape-proof. Alternatively, quickly snap a photo of the fleeing spider. If these methods fail, make a brief note of the insect's key characteristics for later research and precise identification.

    Self-treatment for mild symptoms

    A spider bite with slight redness should be washed out and cooled

    You can treat minor discomfort after a spider bite yourself. Home remedies and preparations from the medicine cabinet relieve itching and prevent swelling and inflammation. What to do after a spider bite is explained step-by-step in the following short instructions:

    1. Rinse the bite wound with clear water
    2. ideally dab with an iodine-soaked cotton pad
    3. Cool the wound with ice cubes, an ice pack or a cooling pad
    4. Treat cooled, swollen area with ointment against itching and inflammation
    5. Monitor spider bite closely for 30 to 60 minutes

    If you do not notice any improvement after an hour, please contact your family doctor. If symptoms such as a blister, a red circle or bleeding and moisture leakage occur during the observation, please drive to the nearest doctor's office immediately.

    Act correctly in case of severe symptoms

    If you suffer from severe pain and other serious symptoms after a spider bite, immediate action is required. Nevertheless, you should take a little time to catch the spider, take a picture of it or quickly note down important features. The more specifically the spider species can be determined, the more effectively your doctor can treat you. This is what to do after being bitten by Nurse Thornfinger or another poisonous spider:

    1. do not initiate self-treatment
    2. do not scratch and do not cool
    3. Take spider bite victims to the doctor (do not drive yourself if you are affected)

    Severe swelling is characteristic of a spider bite from a thorn finger or garden spider. By elevating the arm or leg during transport, you curb the process. With expert medical treatment, the worst symptoms subside within three days. The bite wound itself remains red and swollen for some time. Permanent damage is not to be feared.

    tips

    Skin areas with inflammation or necrosis of unclear origin should not be dismissed lightly as spider bites. Experts warn against fatal misdiagnoses that confuse spider bites with Lyme disease, herpes, staphylococci or skin cancer. If the symptoms worsen and the spider bite happened at night and without visual contact with the spider, the diagnosis should be questioned critically.

    Spider bite in Germany - which spider bit?

    The water spider can bite, but is extremely rare because it is considered "Endangered" and is on the Red List of Endangered Animals

    Most spiders in Germany are harmless and useful lodgers who prefer to live in secret. However, in the course of global warming, various poisonous spider species have immigrated to Germany, the bite of which should not be taken lightly. Were you able to catch or photograph the culprit? Then please take a look at the following table with important identification features of poisonous spiders in Germany whose spider bite can be dangerous:

    Dangerous Spiders Nurse Thornfinger cross spider field angle spider European Black Widow curl-hunting spider water spider
    size 10-15mm 7-18mm 9-12mm 7-15mm 10-19mm 8-15mm
    color Red orange variable coloring yellowish brown black yellow-brown Brown
    special feature long, light brown legs cross on the back yellow stripe in front 13 red spots on abdomen 5 cm long legs densely hairy abdomen
    spider bite appearance swollen, like a bruise like mosquito bite like mosquito bite Redness, swelling, blistering like bee sting like wasp sting
    Happen + field and forest + field and forest + Lawn, dry grass + dry grassland + pine forest + under water
    + in tall grass + garden + Wood edge, hedges + sunny rock garden + under stones + under shore stones
    scientific name Cheiracanthium punctorium Araneus Eratigena agrestis Latrodectus tredecimguttatus Zoropsis spinimana Argyroneta aquatica

    These spiders' danger potential is based on a combination of powerful mouthparts and a paralyzing venom injected into the skin. The larger the spider, the more serious the spider bite, because a larger amount of toxins enters the human body.

    Further explanations

    The spider bite from Nurse's thorn finger really hurts. Its powerful jawed claws can easily penetrate human skin to inject a venom. This results in massive swelling, which requires a visit to the family doctor. However, the victims are not without blame for the dilemma. Nurse thorn fingers only bite when their easily visible living webs are destroyed or a female believes her brood is in danger.

    As the only native spider with a low risk potential, the garden spider is widespread in Germany. Their short venomous claws can seldom bite through human epidermis, except for the delicate skin of children. The field angle spider is closely related to the well-known house angle spider. Numerous medically relevant bite attacks are ascribed to this species of spider. A small spider bite by the field angle spider is said to result in severe symptoms. However, experts suspect classic misdiagnoses, because no bite was directly observed, which excludes an unequivocal identification.

    A completely different caliber is the immigrant European black widow. The spider bite is associated with severe pain up to circulatory collapse and respiratory arrest. Of course, the spiders are considered less aggressive and lazy to bite. However, anyone who destroys the safety net or crushes the spider and causes distress will not be spared the extremely painful spider bite. The large ruffling spider is in a much worse mood, its powerful claws effortlessly penetrating thinner areas of skin and leaving bite wounds similar to bee stings.

    In the near future, the water spider will probably no longer be considered in this overview. The spider of the year 2000 is an endangered species and is on the Red List of Threatened Species. The only aquatic spider is dependent on clear, stagnant or slow-flowing water with a dense growth of aquatic plants. Pollution and extensive use of pesticides deprive the shy water spider of its habitat, making an encounter or even a spider bite unlikely.

    Preventing spider bites at night - tips & tricks

    Spiders in bed are no joke

    Hobby gardeners who are close to nature welcome spiders in the garden as hard-working helpers against all kinds of pests. It's no more fun when the spiders invade the house in autumn in search of a cosy, warm winter quarters. The idea that the nocturnal insects hide in the bedroom and sneak into bed at night is particularly frightening. If people roll over in their sleep, the uninvited bedfellows get under the wheels and bite. It doesn't have to come to that if you deny spiders access to your house and apartment. How to do it:

    • Equip windows and doors with close-meshed insect screens
    • After dark, no windows tilt in lighted rooms
    • Banish night lights from bedrooms
    • Regularly remove spider webs from the house

    Light sources outside the house magically attract spiders. Here the beasts hope for fat booty. This is the reason why spiders can often be observed on lamps on the balcony and terrace, in the house entrance or in the conservatory. Don't leave lights on all the time. By equipping the lamps with a motion detector, the light only shines for a short time to show you and your guests the way at night.

    Scent barriers are ineffective

    Scented traveling barriers against spiders have no effect. What's touted as a mosquito repellent in the form of essential oils and fragrant herbs leaves hard-bitten spiders cold. The German Wildlife Foundation was able to observe that garden spiders don't care about the presence of scents and aromas. Where a heated roof lures over your head, the long-legged vagabonds wander unperturbed past all scent barriers into the house.

    frequently asked Questions

    Spider Bite or Pimple? How can I tell the difference?

    It is difficult for the layperson to distinguish a spider bite from a conventional pimple right away. By picking up a magnifying glass, there's a good chance of making an informed distinction. A spider bite occurs because thorn fingers or cross spiders bit with their mouthparts. The mouthpart consists of the upper jaw claws and the lower venomous claws. Thus, the bite wound leaves two small wounds that cannot be recognized by a pimple.

    Is a spider bite dangerous for my dog?

    Cross spiders will also bite a dog's nose if it gets too close

    Poisonous spiders only become dangerous for your dog if they feel threatened. Nurse thorn fingers, garden spider and water spider don't hesitate and bite. However, the amount of poison injected is too small to cause serious damage to your four-legged friend. If you observe symptoms such as increased salivation, disorientation, vomiting or convulsions, please consult a veterinarian immediately.

    What to do after a spider bite?

    First, try to capture the vicious spider alive with a jar. Then localize the bite wound, which can be recognized by slight reddening, swelling and itching. Cooling is the best immediate remedy for discomfort after a spider bite. After half an hour apply an anti-inflammatory ointment. If the symptoms worsen with nausea, dizziness, fever and chills, please go to the family doctor and take the caught spider with you.

    How dangerous is a spider bite in Germany?

    Most native spiders, both indoors and outdoors, are harmless. Either their fangs are too weak to pierce skin, or the injected venom is not strong enough to cause serious harm. A few, very rare spider species in Germany can emit such a strong poison with their bite that it is dangerous for humans and pets. These include nurse's thorn fingers, garden spider, water spider, curl-hunting spider and European black widow.

    Does an ultrasound device help against spider bites at night?

    Spiders have no ears and no hearing. Nevertheless, the insects can perceive sounds. For this reason, the bodies are covered with extremely delicate sensory hairs, which spiders use to perceive sound waves.As a result, ultrasonic devices are touted as an effective remedy for spiders and nocturnal spider bites. For a short time, your bedroom will actually remain spider-free. However, the insects quickly get used to the sound waves and ignore the noise. Wherever spiders are, confrontations with humans are the exception, but spider bites at night cannot be ruled out.

    How can you recognize a spider bite from a garden spider?

    Cross spiders are among the few species of spiders whose bite can have noticeable consequences for humans. With their powerful mouthparts, the insects can penetrate thin areas of skin, such as in the hollows of the knees or armpits. The spider bite can be recognized by two puncture wounds on the skin, mostly associated with slight reddening. In contrast to other types of insects, the garden spider usually only bites once and flees. If you recognize several puncture wounds, there are other causes behind them, such as mosquitoes, bed bugs or fleas.

    tips

    If a red circle forms around the wound after a suspected spider bite, please consult a doctor. Circular, red edges around a bite wound indicate Lyme disease. If the red circle continues to expand, there is little doubt that it is infected. Borreliosis is primarily triggered by ticks lying in wait in the garden or on the go and not by spider bites.

Category:

Animals in the garden