Dill speaks with BDN about spider species found in Maine
The Bangor Daily News interviewed Jim Dill, a pest management specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, for the article, “Maine is home to hundreds of spider species. Here’s a guide to the ones you might find.” In Maine, spiders are relatively harmless to people, according to Dill. While the bites of some species can cause allergic reactions, none of Maine’s native spiders are considered to pose a serious threat to humans, the BDN reported. On rare occasions, two of the country’s most poisonous spiders — the black widow and brown recluse — have accidentally been transported to Maine from southern states in produce shipments and construction materials, Dill said. But these species are unable to gain a foothold in the state because of the cold winters, the article states. The article also cited a UMaine Extension fact sheet about the fishing spider. They aren’t known to be aggressive to humans, but they will bite if provoked, and their bite hurts like a bee sting, according to the bulletin. However, their venom won’t cause a problem unless a person is specifically allergic to it.