Lindsay Hovatter, age 11,

It a tarantula poisonous?

The tarantula is a spider and almost all the spiders have poisonous glands. As a rule, this poison is used only to subdue the struggling insects on which they feed. However, every little spider will put up a fight for life when she feels threatened. If you catch a house spider, she may bite your hand and you may get some of her poison in the wound. However, enough poison to stun a wasp will not do you much harm though, like any small wound, the bite should be treated with iodine.

The tarantula is a big spider with a much bigger dose of poison than the house spider. Her bite can be dangerous and should be treated by a doctor. Serious trouble, however, is more likely to come from infection from a neglected wound than from the actual spider poison.