The Northern Black Widow, a smaller version of the famed venomous Black Widow spider, has been discovered in Quebec for the first time.
The Black Widow’s smaller cousin is thankfully less poisonous than its counterpart. It also fears humans significantly more. Nevertheless, people are worried that its bite could pose a health risk, especially to children and the elderly.
The spider is typically found during the fall, for example while clearing the back yard. Although it fears humans, its bite can be quite painful and even require medical attention if the accompanying redness and pain doesn’t subside. There is no anti-venom available for this spider according to Wikipedia.
Reportedly, warmer climates explain why this spider has been able to move North into Quebec.
Source: La Presse