Howling at a red bump on your leg that seems too enormous for a mosquito bite? 'Must be a spider bite!' you think, sending yourself into panic mode. Spoiler alert: spiders are not as sinister as you might think. Spider bites are rare, often misdiagnosed, and only a couple are serious business.

Mixing up spider bites with other bites or skin issues are as common as finding kale in a vegan's fridge. People waking up to a red mark often dramatize it to be a terrifying memento from a spider. In reality, as echoed by both Rick Vetter, a veteran entomologist at the University of California, and Jonathan Day, a seasoned expert in medical entomology at the University of Florida, these "spider bites" are most likely disgruntled mosquito bites that have been scratched into an infection.

Here's the rub - spider bites, much like a gothic subculture, vary considerably. Some bites merely leave a pimple-like bump on the skin, others look like a scene from The Walking Dead. Misidentifying a bite from two different spiders like black widow and brown recluse, Vetter quips, is like fumbling between getting stabbed or trampled to death. They're distinct and should never be mistaken for each other.

Of course, some bites are predictable. The broad strokes paints a spider's bite similar to a beesting: a sudden prick of pain followed by a red, inflamed skin lump that recedes after a few days. The brown recluse and black widow, however, are premier league.

Consider brown recluse bites as the skin's hurricane, stirring everything from small blisters to large necrotic sores. Infected individuals may show symptoms resembling an infection. The black widow, the diva of venomous spiders, can cause skin lesions, although much of the drama happens internally, triggering pain around the bite that can spiral throughout the body, with other symptoms surfing in.

Fun fact: Hobo spiders, wolf spiders, house spiders do not harbor venom that harm humans. Their bites may cause a sharp sting and a swollen, red lump that won't warrant an ER visit unless you're showing serious symptoms similar to the widow or recluse family.

The reason spiders resort to biting, Vetter explains, is self-defense. A defensive yet unintended squashing could lead to this - akin to rolling over in bed onto your partner's arm (only much less forgiving).

Said all that, remember, spider bites are as rare as successful fad diets and shouldn't make you lose sleep. In fact, only the brown recluse and black widow should get your undivided attention. When symptoms mirror those of the flu, breathing problems, seizures, or numbness, consider a trip to the ER. For all others, a simple cleaning, swabbing, and cold-compressing should do the trick.