Venomous snakes, spiders & bugs in Mexico.
Mexico, home to venomous killer caterpillars, poisonous spiders, fatal tsetse fly, blood sucking deer ticks and the ancient Aztecs. Mexico is an adorable country, absolutely beautiful, with world class hotels and superb beaches providing fantastic cheap vacations.
But Mexico is full of poisonous insects and snakes in virtually every place you could go to, killing hundreds of people every year, and infecting thousands more, including tourists.
When in Mexico, or any other foreign country, please remember to pack anti-histamine tablets, these will help if you are ever bitten, and if someone you know has been bitten by a snake, never suck out the poison.
Tourist Warning:
The Brown Recluse Spider
The Brown Recluse Spider, or the Violin Spider, are very small and grow between 6-20mm in size, but they can pack a huge punch. They like undisturbed placed like garages, and wood or rock piles, but are frequently found in the house behind wardrobes, in clothes or linen piles, cupboards and under beds.
They are nocturnal creatures and if the male goes hunting at night, it can often be found in temporary cover, like footwear, discarded bras, or drawers.
Venomous Brown Recluse Spiders are not aggressive, but when they feel threatened, they will attack. Most of the bites from these spiders go by unnoticed, which is where the danger lies.
Many of these bites will come to nothing more than a bit of itching and swelling, whereas some, as you can see by the picture above, are a bit more serious. Once a Brown Recluse Spider bites someone, the venom will be throughout their blood system in minutes, but still giving the person time to seek medical attention before serious internal injuries can happen.
Most fatalities occur in younger children up to the age of seven, the elderly or anyone with an insufficient immune system. Even a cold or simple illness can cause these bites to turn into something deadly.
If bitten symptoms may include vomiting, rashes, fever and joint pain, which may eventually lead to coma and death. Seek medical attention immediately if anybody has been bitten.
This is Mexico's most venomous spider. Whilst on vacation or on holiday to Mexico, ensure to check clothes before they are worn.
Tourist Warning 2: Kidney Harvesting Crime in Mexico
Puss Caterpillar
The puss caterpillar goes by many different names, such as the Tree Asp, Southern Flannel Moth, Pussy Moth, and the Asp Caterpillar. This moth is only dangerous in its caterpillar stage.
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The caterpillar is covered in tiny reddish hairs, and all these are attached to venom glands, and once anything comes into contact with the very sharp hairs, they are injected with venom through the hair.
Symptoms of caterpillar hair poisoning are nausea, rashes, blisters, abdominal pains, swelling, burning sensations, numbness, chest pains, difficulty in breathing and death. If injected by these furry critters, get help immediately, stop for nothing, your life may depend on it.
Many vacations to Mexico have been ruined when children pick up these caterpillars to play with.
- Poisonous Processional Caterpillars in Portugal
The Deer Tick
The Deer Tick, sounds like a normal little animal tick which obviously is attracted to animals, and you would be right, BUT........it does bite humans.
If a tic bites a person, 99% of the time, they do not notice the initial bite, and the tic can stay on the body, drinking your blood, for nearly four days, before it falls off, full.
The Deer Tic can give its host Lyme Disease, and the initial symptoms of this are headache and fevers, and as time goes by, stiff joints and heart problems, possibly leading to death. If bitten, or even if you suspect a bite, see a doctor, if not treated quickly, the bitten person can suffer with these medical problems for years.
Tourist Warning 3: Mexican Drug Tunnels to Forida, Arizona and Texas.
Assassin Bug
The Assassin Bug has over thirty different names, but the disease they carry, Chagas Disease, is still the same. It is estimated the nearly eleven million people in Mexico have this potentially fatal disease, but do not yet know it.
Similar to Mesothelioma ( Asbestos Poisoning ) this disease will stay with you for life, and it may only show itself after twenty to thirty years after the initial bite. Vacations to Mexico are fantastic, but not worth thirty years of pain.
There are several species of this bug, some with bites that you will feel instantly, and some with bites that you will never notice. One of the names of this bug is the Kissing Bug, because they will bite their victims at night around the nose and mouth area. Many people who have felt the bite in the dark have mistook it for a mosquito bite.
Initial bites can be cured with medicines, with a 90% cure rate. If the bite goes untreated, after four weeks, you will be 80% likely to have Chagas Disease for the rest of your life. 40% of these people will develop heart and digestive problems later on in life, with the cause being constantly misdiagnosed.
If bitten by anything whilst on holidays to Mexico, seek medical advice, no matter how trivial it may seem.
Snakes
Mexico is home to over 60 different species of Coral Snakes, all venomous, all bite, some can kill. Coral snakes are regarded as one of the top five most poisonous snakes in the world, killing many people annually, especially in South America and Mexico. Their colors vary, but many have a distinct three colour pattern.
In Mexico, they are called the twenty minute snake, because after you have been bitten, you will be dead within twenty minutes.
Most of these snakes are very small, some about 20cm, but some can grow to 150 cm ( 5 feet ), the venom from the Coral Snake is a neurotoxin, and will immediately begin to attack your breathing systems, and medical attention needs to be given very quickly.
Anti venom is available, but artificial respiration may be required to save the life. If a person is bitten whilst on vacation to Mexico and becomes unconscious, continue with artificial respiration until medical help arrives, do not stop, their life depends on it.
Warning
The Screw Worm Fly is a deadly and dangerous tissue eating maggot. It kills herds of cattle, sheep and people. It is now known to be in Mexico, Jamaica, and Panama. It is on Americas most wanted list for deadly insects. Follow the free link to our sister site for more information.
There are many vacation packages and holiday deals to Mexico online. Prior to leaving, ensure about inoculations for everyone.
The most dangerous, venomous and vile creature in Mexico, are drug lords. 25,000 murders occurred in Mexico in 2017, and 2018 may top this number. (Sky news)
Cocaine and marijuana production is a massive problem in Mexico. Always be alert to danger.
Muggings, car jackings, as well as kidnapping, shooting and stabbings seem to be a daily routine in the life of a Mexican city or town.
Kidney harvesting is also getting to be more common. One way this is done is a chance meeting of an attractive person in a bar. A few drinks later the victim is unknowingly given a drug to knock them out.
They wake up in a bath of iced water with a note in front of them and a phone nearby. The note says "Do not move, your kidneys have been harvested, call an ambulance'
Over 30,000 people have been reported as missing in Mexico. This includes students and people whom were on vacation. (reuters)
Tsetse Fly
- Tsetse Fly in Mexico, kills over 3 million people every year
Free Links To:
What To Do In Cancun Mexico
Tulum All Inclusive Resorts And Luxury Five Star Hotels
What To Do On Vacation In Tulum, Mexico
What To Do Whilst On Vacation In Los Cabos Mexico.
Gregg on June 07, 2020:
Was this meant as a fear tactic to stop tourism in Mexico?
Rob on September 23, 2019:
Have a home in S Baja for 11 years. The only poisonous creature I've seen is scorpions (at night), and they hide when you get close.
dr david jones on January 22, 2018:
theirs no place like home
Donald Trump on August 31, 2017:
Boy are you stupid.
Susan on April 24, 2016:
This is waaaaay to sensationalised! I live in Mexico ... Would not want to live anywhere else ... We had poisonous snakes and brown recluse spiders, dangerous ticks in Canada among other things. What no one should travel to parts of Canada ... Also, yes there are coral snakes here, NOT necessarily a twenty minute death sentence! Our friends daughter is happy and healthy following a coral snake bite. Medical care required asap for sure. She was in hospital for 4 hours and released. It is rare to ever see them. They want to get away from humans as much as humans want to get away from them! We have never seen one. We also have scorpions! Rare they ever sting but it does hurt ... Mexico is an amazing country but if this article scares you off we will have less tourists in our paradise. Unfortunately Mexico needs tourists to support the economy ...
Sara on March 06, 2016:
Mexico is a huge place, it's not all dangerous. Many of these creatures are also in Canada and the United States. I spend 6 months of the winter each year with my child in the Yucatan. We have never had any problems....
Jorge Garcia on February 24, 2016:
One more reason not to go to Mexico, if people want to take a,chance thats on them. Not me , it is,better to be safe than sorry.
Nicholas swan on January 07, 2015:
Found this web page very useful..Going Cancun in April 2015
Risha Linda Mateos from Florida on November 23, 2014:
Thanks. Good to know. I travel to Mexico often and did not realize they had coral snakes and that poisonous fuzzy caterpillar. In Tennessee I was bitten by a fiddle back (brown recluse) spider and my entire arm swelled up huge and was hot to the touch for a long duration. The pain was terrible. After it healed it left a circular mark or my arm that would erupt from time to time until an old farmer told me that next time it erupted I should light a self striking match, blow it out and stick it in the center of the eruption to cure it. It sounded crazy but I followed his directions and it has never erupted again and I am left with only a small white scar.
Eduardo Enriquez on October 06, 2014:
You should make a warning, thos photos are really graphic, now with more reason next time I travel to Mexico I will get every kind of insurance, this article really freak me out, even a car insurance.
frank on May 01, 2013:
i got bite
Kat Katrawitz on March 14, 2013:
Bitten by red ant in Playacar -quiter a nip for a little 'un. Too masny mozzie bites to count.
Honey rose on February 06, 2013:
thanks for helping for my homework and plus my teacher sent it back to me when I had 177 pages and she said not enough
Swag on November 13, 2012:
In the assassin bug title you forgot an "s." =-p
edd on August 05, 2012:
Well, the Brown Recluse Spider lives in USA too, Texas and other states. I think thet can be only found in the north of Mexico.
Luna on August 02, 2012:
I live in México, and I travel a lot, I know all of these animals but the catterpillar. I have never been bitten neither by any of them, I'm a biologist so I do not host in the most luxurious hotels and we are usualy in rural places camping. You dont need to freak out and stay in home, just be careful, and avoid zones of risk, and if you go the wild have a tourist guide.
anonimo on January 06, 2012:
tanks for all this information to my homeork
Ben Shane-Stone on October 15, 2011:
i was close to dying off a shark attack never going back again.
shazbutxanda on September 23, 2011:
OMG kill em all i say !!!
WillSteinmetz on May 25, 2011:
What hell happen his hand, :D Great hub
FAQs
Is there any poisonous spiders in Mexico? ›
There are three venomous spiders in Mexico which you should be mindful of: The 'Black Widow', the Brown Recluse (also known as a 'Fiddle-back' due the shape of its body), and the Hobo spider. Read our related article about spiders to be mindful of in Mexico for additional guidance.
Are there snakes and spiders in Mexico? ›Mexico has dangerous beasts lurking in the land and sea! There are around 600 species of snake in Mexico with venomous varieties including vipers, coral snakes, sea snakes and colubrids. Spiders can also be harmful in Mexico along with scorpions and some species of Lizard!
Are there any poisonous snakes in Mexico? ›The venomous snakes of Mexico are included in three groups: the vipers or "víboras" (Viperidae), the coral snakes or "coralillos" and the sea snakes (Elapidae and Hidrophidae), and the colubrids or "culebras" (Colubridae), in descending order of medical importance.
Does Mexico have big spiders? ›A new species of large cave-dwelling spider, the Sierra Cacachilas wandering spider, has been discovered in Mexico. The Sierra Cacachilas, related to the notoriously venomous Brazilian wandering spider, was found in a small mountain range outside of La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Are scorpions in Mexico? ›Scorpion envenomation represents a public health problem in several parts of the world. Mexico harbors the highest diversity of scorpions in the world, including some of the world's medically important scorpion species.
What is the biggest spider in Mexico? ›What is the biggest spider in Mexico? The newly discovered Mexican Wandering Spider is the biggest spider in Mexico, with legs up to 10cm long.
Do you get black widows in Mexico? ›Black widow spiders (Latrodectus mactans and Latrodectus hesperus) are found throughout southern Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
What is the biggest snake in Mexico? ›Fer-de-Lance Snake.
Are tarantulas in Mexico poisonous? ›No need to fear for your own safety though, because while a Mexican redknee tarantula's venom is fatal to its small prey, it's only the equivalent of a bee sting to humans.
What big snakes live in Mexico? ›The majority are pitvipers, including the Querétaro dusky rattlesnake, the banded rock rattlesnake, and the fer-de-lance. There are also snakes in the waters of Mexico, such as the yellow-bellied sea snake.
Are there tarantulas in Mexico? ›
Tliltocatl vagans (synonym Brachypelma vagans) is a species of tarantula known commonly as the Mexican red rump. It ranges predominantly in Mexico (including the Yucatán Peninsula), but is also found in Central America.
Does Cancun have poisonous snakes? ›Cancun is home to four different kinds of pit vipers, and all of them are dangerously venomous. Each of these vipers has a "pit" between the eyes and nostrils that allows extrasensory organs to detect and analyze potential prey for the snake.
Are there banana spiders in Mexico? ›They are found in Central America and Mexico, while other species in the genus are also found in various parts of South America. They are visually similar to another group called wandering spiders (but also see that diverse kinds often get mistakenly called banana spiders).
Are there poisonous spiders in Cancun? ›Mexico is home to one of the world's most diverse flora and fauna, and that list includes several venomous species including the Chilean recluse spider. This arachnid is mostly dormant during the spring and more active during the warm and wet summer months.
Are there scorpions in Cancun? ›You can potentially find scorpions throughout most of Mexico, including in resort areas like Cancun and Cabo, however, there are some areas with higher risk than others. Certainly outside the resort areas of Cancun, Cabo, Tulum and others, you can find many scorpions.
What can sting you in Mexico? ›...
What Kinds of Insects and Bugs Can You Expect to Find in Cancun and other Mexican Resort Areas?
- Mosquitoes. ...
- Tabanos. ...
- Chakistes. ...
- Agua Mala. ...
- Africanized Bee. ...
- Spiders. ...
- Scorpions. ...
- Snakes.
Triatomines, commonly known as kissing bugs, also deserve a place among the most dangerous animals in Mexico. Similar to mosquitoes, these insects can be carriers of a nasty parasite that causes Chagas disease.
Can scorpions climb walls in Mexico? ›They can climb fences, stucco walls and trees. You can find them living under the bark of palm and other trees. They are also the only scorpion variety that will congregate with other kinds of scorpions.
Does a wolf spider bite hurt? ›Since wolf spiders are large, their bite may be painful. If you have mild pain, swelling, or itchiness around the bite, it shouldn't last long. The pain should go away within minutes. The swelling should go down slowly, and the itching may last a few days as the skin heals.
What is the world's deadliest spider? ›According to the Guinness World Records, the Sydney funnel-web spider, Atrax robustus, is the most dangerous spider to humans in the world. Native to Australia, this poisonous spider is found in moist habitats such as under logs or in gardens.
What is a Mexican spider? ›
The Mexican Cupiennius salei spider is one of many wandering spiders of the Ctenidae family. The Cupiennius genus runs throughout Mexico and much of South America. Many wandering spiders resemble wolf spiders, but this type of spider can be large and venomous, depending on the species.
Are Mexican tarantulas poisonous? ›While the Mexican red-knee tarantula is venomous, it rarely bites. And if it were to bite a human, the pain from the venom has been compared to that of a bee sting, causing mild discomfort unless the individual has an allergic reaction to the bite.
Are there brown recluse in Mexico? ›More than 80 percent of brown recluse spiders live in the Western Hemisphere. A large number of them are concentrated in Mexico and Central America. While their range may not be as far spread as other species, their reputation precedes them. For many, these relatively small, tan-colored arachnids pose a large threat.
Do you get black widows in Mexico? ›Black widow spiders (Latrodectus mactans and Latrodectus hesperus) are found throughout southern Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Is there tarantulas in Mexico? ›Tliltocatl vagans (synonym Brachypelma vagans) is a species of tarantula known commonly as the Mexican red rump. It ranges predominantly in Mexico (including the Yucatán Peninsula), but is also found in Central America.
Are Mexican fire legs poisonous? ›Mexican Redleg Tarantula Behavior and Temperament
Mexican redleg tarantulas are one of the most docile spiders in the pet trade, which is why they are quite popular among arachnid keepers. These spiders rarely bite, though it's important to note their bite is venomous.
Sydney funnel-web spider. According to the Guinness World Records, the Sydney funnel-web spider, Atrax robustus, is the most dangerous spider to humans in the world. Native to Australia, this poisonous spider is found in moist habitats such as under logs or in gardens.
What spider is the most poisonous? ›Brazilian wandering spider
The Guinness Book of World Records considers the Brazilian wandering spider the most venomous in the world. Hundreds of bites are reported annually, but a powerful anti-venom prevents deaths in most cases.
They are found in Central America and Mexico, while other species in the genus are also found in various parts of South America. They are visually similar to another group called wandering spiders (but also see that diverse kinds often get mistakenly called banana spiders).
Are there huntsman spiders in Mexico? ›Although this species of spider is already established in the Southeast, sometimes they stow away on produce from Mexico or Central America and land in other states in the U.S.. This robust arachnid prefers to live in warm climates.
Are there poisonous spiders in Cancun? ›
Mexico is home to one of the world's most diverse flora and fauna, and that list includes several venomous species including the Chilean recluse spider. This arachnid is mostly dormant during the spring and more active during the warm and wet summer months.
What is the biggest snake in Mexico? ›Fer-de-Lance Snake.
Are there pythons in Mexico? ›Summary. Loxocemus bicolor, sole member of the monotypic family Loxocemidae, is a species of python-like snake found in Mexico and Central America. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Are there rattlesnakes in Mexico? ›There is at least one rattlesnake species in every Mexican state and as many as 10 Crotalus species. The states with more species are Veracruz and Sonora, and the ones with less species are Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Yucatán and Tabasco.
What is a Mexican spider? ›The Mexican Cupiennius salei spider is one of many wandering spiders of the Ctenidae family. The Cupiennius genus runs throughout Mexico and much of South America. Many wandering spiders resemble wolf spiders, but this type of spider can be large and venomous, depending on the species.
Are there scorpions in Cancun? ›You can potentially find scorpions throughout most of Mexico, including in resort areas like Cancun and Cabo, however, there are some areas with higher risk than others. Certainly outside the resort areas of Cancun, Cabo, Tulum and others, you can find many scorpions.
Does a wolf spider bite hurt? ›Since wolf spiders are large, their bite may be painful. If you have mild pain, swelling, or itchiness around the bite, it shouldn't last long. The pain should go away within minutes. The swelling should go down slowly, and the itching may last a few days as the skin heals.