Brown Recluse Spider
CBS4
Investigates Spider 'Myth' In Colorado
cbs4denver.com, CO -
Dec 7, 2005
CBS4 investigators wanted to find out
if the Brown Recluse Spider was
to blame. ... "He said 'that's a
Brown Recluse Spider bite,'"
Luchetti said. ...
Kids
skip Christmas gifts to save pet bitten by a brown
recluse
Old Berthoud Recorder,
USA - Dec 7, 2005
... examined what was initially
a plum-sized lump in Zoey’s chest, they determined with
deadly certainty that the dog had been bitten by a brown
recluse spider. ...
People
show caring is sharing
Evansville Courier
& Press (subscription), IN - Dec
20, 2005
... is raising his three daughters
- ages 7, 9 and 10 - by himself after his wife died
last year from complications brought on by a brown
recluse spider bite. ...
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>>
What is a brown recluse spider?
Brown recluse, or fiddle (Loxosceles), spiders are about
0.5 in.(1.3 cm) long with a dark violin-shaped mark on
the combined head and midsection (cephalothorax). They
are found most often in the south-central part of the
United States and live in hot, dry, abandoned areas, such
as wood or rock piles.
Where are they found?
QUCIK and SIMPLE IDENTIFICATION OF BROWN
RECLUSE SPIDERS
Large Brown Recluse
Spiders: about the size of a quarter, including its legs.
Small ones: size of a dime. Note that the "VIOLIN"
part is very difficult to see. You may need a magnifying
glass. Thi photo shows a recluse in its typical resting
posture -- look at the legs and how they position themselves.
It's NOT a Brown Recluse IF any
of the following are true:
1) It's really BIG:
A spider's body is in two main parts. The size of the
body, not including legs, of a recluse is smaller than
a dime.
2) It's really HAIRY:
Brown recluses have only very fine hairs that are invisible
to the naked eye.
3) It JUMPS:
Jumping spiders live up to their name, and some other
spiders including wolf spiders occasionally jump, but
recluses don't.
4) I found it in a
WEB
Brown recluses don't spin a web to catch prey; they
spin silk retreats and egg cases, but don't form a typical
recognizable web.
5) It has DISTINCT
MARKINGS VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE, such as
stripes, diamonds, chevrons, spots, etc. that are easily
seen.
Brown recluses have no markings on their legs or abdomen
(the largest part of the spider's body). The "violin"
is very small and located on the front half of the body.
The violin is also indistinct in some, especially young
spiders. They're really rather dull looking.
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"The severity of a person's
reaction to the bite (from brown recluse) depends on
the amount of venom injected and individual sensitivity
to it. Bite effects may be nothing at all, immediate
or delayed. Some may not be aware of the bite for 2
to 8 hours, whereas others feel a stinging sensation
usually followed by intense pain if there is a severe
reaction. A small white blister usually
rises at the bite site surrounded by a large
congested swollen area. Within 24-36 hours,
a systemic reaction may occur with the victim characterized
by restlessness, fever, chills, nausea, weakness
and joint pain. The affected area enlarges,
becomes inflamed, and the tissue is hard to touch. The
spider's venom contains an enzyme that
destroys cell membranes in the wound area with affected
tissue gradually sloughing away, exposing underlying
tissues. Within 24 hours, the bite site can erupt into
a"volcano lesion" (a hole
in the flesh due to damaged, gangrenous tissue)."
Control of indoor infestations
of the brown recluse spider can take a long time (6
months or more) and can be difficult because humans
have a very low tolerance for this pest, it tends to
be widely dispersed within infested buildings, and it
seeks secluded sites. Control of spiders, including
the brown recluse, is best achieved by following an
integrated pest management (IPM) approach. IPM involves
using multiple approaches such as preventive measures,
exclusion, sanitation, trapping, and chemical treatment
when necessary.
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information >>
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