On August 17th, 23-year-old Salento resident Giuseppe Russo died from septic shock and multiple organ failure believed to have been caused by a violin spider bite – which had been left untreated as he’d mistaken it for a mosquito bite.

The tragedy came just days after 52-year-old Franco Aiello, in Palermo, also reportedly died as a result of a violin spider bite.

The two deaths have sparked widespread concern and left many people with questions as to how dangerous violin spiders really are and what people should do in the event of a bite. 

How can I recognise a ‘violin spider’?

The violin spider is characterised by a particular violin-shaped spot that distinguishes it from others. 

Male bodies reach dimensions of seven millimetres and females nine. This excludes their eight legs. 

They are usually found indoors in northern regions and outside in the hotter southern regions. 

Places they tend to hide within the house include skirting boards, curtains and attics.

How dangerous is the spider?

According to Ethologist (a zoologist who studies animals in their natural habitat) and TikTok star Andrea Lunerti, the spiders are not a cause for alarm. 

In a video published on August 14th he said that violin spiders have always been around and that now they have chosen to live closer to human homes.

“But that doesn’t mean we have to live in fear,” he said.

Alessandro Barelli, former director of the poison control centre based at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, said “fear and alarmism are totally unjustified.”

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“In most cases the lesion is simply a sort of small burn that heals with localised treatment; it is important to wash and disinfect the area and the application of ice can also be useful.”

According to guidance from Milan’s Niguarda hospital, the bite is initially asymptomatic and painless, with the affected area showing no alterations. 

In the hours following the spider bite however, a red lesion appears, causing itching, burning and tingling. 

This may destroy the skin around it and ulcerate over the following 48-72 hours. 

Besides injecting its venom, the violin spider can transmit bacteria into the area’s tissues, which can occasionally worsen the lesion. 

In the more serious cases a fever, vomiting, skin rash, bruising, muscle and joint pain, and bleeding may occur, with the most severe incidents resulting in organ failure and death.

Severe complications are rare (under one percent of cases) and tend to occur in individuals affected by pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes or immune system disorders, according to Pavia’s Poison Control Centre. 

What should you do if bitten?

Some precautions to take if bitten include: washing the wound well with soap and water, putting ice on the bitten area, monitoring yourself for the symptoms listed above and not causing abrasions to the bite.

If you’re concerned about a spider bite, or any other type of insect bite, call your doctor and your province’s poison control centre.

If possible, take a photo of the spider or keep it if it is killed to confirm to the person treating you what type of spider it is.