Arachnophobia, a widely held fear, is fuelled by horror films and books, as well as sensationalist publications in the press.

Crystal Rudd's hand ballooned in size a few days after ... Medics told the mother of three her experience was due to a false widow spider bite. Ms Rudd, from Spalding, Lincolnshire, said after ...

Above all, "You just don't want to be sticking your hands into dark corners," she adds. Black widows make irregular or asymmetric webs, Medline Plus says, and the spiders can bite people when ...

A mother-of-three has credited a spider bite with saving her life — after it led to a shock cancer diagnosis. Sabrena Jones, 54 and from Oklahoma, dismissed the initial bite on the back of her ...

Knowing what to do and what to avoid when bitten by a snake or spider can help save a life. Here’s the expert advice on how to respond whether you suffer a venomous or non-venomous bite.

The Mediterranean recluse spider originated in the Mediterranean region of North Africa and Europe but it is now widely distributed. It has poisonous venom but is thought only to bite when forced ...

The toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline reviewed case data from multiple suspected black widow spider bites, and found that while many encounters were reported, diagnosing an actual bite can ...

These spiders are not dangerous for humans and pets, as they don’t generally bite. But they can bite if they feel threatened or in danger of being squashed. If you are bitten, jumping spider ...

Spider identification expert Stuart Hine explains why we see more spiders in autumn, and what you should do if you spot one. False widow spider bites have been a hot topic in recent years, along with ...

View full profile. Learn about our editorial policies. The thought of black widow spiders is enough to send chills down one’s spine. Their painful bites contain a cocktail of chemicals, primarily the ...

It can be especially helpful for spider bites, fire ant bites, and bee stings. Lavender was found to have notable anti-inflammatory effects on a cellular level, according to a 2012 study.