The Brown Recluse Spider

The best way to deal with a Brown Recluse spider is to avoid it altogether! How to do that is addressed first. If, however, you are unfortunate enough to get up close and personal with a Brown Recluse spider, you may just end up with a spider bite. How to determine if you have been bitten by a Brown Recluse spider and what to do about it is addressed next.

First, How do I avoid the Brown Recluse spider?

The Brown Recluse Spider or “corner spider” is native to the Midwestern and Southeastern states. Its bite injects a harmful and strong poison. It is brown in color, but can range from light tan to dark brown and has a dark stain that looks like the shape of a violin with the base heading forward. These spiders can and do spread, traveling inside boxes and packaging.

The brown recluse spider lives in dark corners and places inside houses, under furniture, boxes, dark spots in baths, garages, closets, vent and heating ducts and seldomly use clothes or shoes. Brown Recluse Spiders can survive six months without food or water. The spider usually hides during the day and roams at night. It is usually shy and non-aggressive. Bites occur when the spider is disturbed or accidentally touched. Most the time, the bite is the the result of pressing on the spider when a person sleeps or when people get dressed with clothes that have been hanging and unused for a long time. The bite is usually on the face or the extremities.

Preventing Spider Bites

This is by far the most appealing of options. Do what ever you can to not get bitten. The following are a few suggestions:

• Shake out clothing and shoes before dressing (especially if you haven't used the clothing or shoes for a while).
• Inspect bedding and towels before using.
• Always wear gloves when handling lumber, firewood, rocks etc. (make sure to inspect the gloves before wearing them).
• Remove storage boxes from under beds and remove bed skirts. Move the bed away from the wall.
• Use care when handling cardboard boxes (Recluse spiders are often found in the space under folded cardboard flaps).

Exclusion - Try to avoid letting them in your home or garage, basement, or attic.

• Install tight fitting screens on windows, doors and install door sweeps.
• Seal or caulk cracks and crevices where spiders enter the house.
• Install yellow or sodium vapor light bulbs outdoors (these tend to attract fewer insects for spiders to fee upon).
• Tape the edges of cardboard boxes (this eliminates spider entry).
• Use sealed plastic bags to store loose items in the garage, basement and attics.

Sanitation. Keep areas clear of trash, etc.Remove trash, old boxes, old clothing, wood piles, rock piles and clutter.

• Eliminate clutter in closets, basements, attics, garages and other outside buildings.
• Do not stack wood against the house.
• Clean up dead insects that the Brown Recluse spider feeds on.

Non-chemical controlUse sticky raps or glueboards to catch spiders.

• Dust and vacuum thoroughly to remove spiders, webs, and egg sacs. Then dispose of vacuum bag OUTDOORS!
• Use a rolled up newspaper or fly swatter to kill individual spiders.

Insecticides

There are several insecticides for spider control and some are even labeled for homeowner use. If you are dealing with a indoor infestation of the Brown Recluse, it would be prudent to hire professional pest exterminators.

Second, How do I know if I've been bitten by a Brown Recluse spider and what should I do?

Bite Symptoms

If you have taken all the precautions to avoid the Brown Recluse spider and still get bitten, here are some things that might help with the bite. The physical reaction to a Brown Recluse spider depends on the amount of venom injected and how sensitive a person is to it. A few people are unaffected, whereas most experience immediate or delayed effects. The venom kills the tissues at the site of injection.

The bite may feel like a pinprick or go unnoticed. Some don't even notice a bite for two to eight hours. Initially the bite site will be mildly red and upon very close inspection, reveal fang marks. Some feel a stinging sensation followed by intense pain. Commonly, the local bite site will become firm and heal with little scarring over the next few days or weeks.

Some victims experiences systemic reactions that include restlessness, itching, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting or shock. A small white blister usually rises at the bite site with a swollen area around it. The area enlarges and becomes red and the tissue can be hard to the touch. The bite will look dry, blue-gray or blue-white and have irregular sinking patch with ragged edges and then surrounded by redness. This is sometimes referred to as the “red, white and blue sign.” It can be 1½ inches by 2¾ inches.

One of the biggest issues is that the bite of the spider can cause a painful deep wound that takes a long time to heal. Fatalities from the Brown Recluse spider have been reported only in children younger than seven. Bites are more dangerous to young children, the elderly or anyone in poor physical condition.

There are some 'old wives tales' for treatment, most of these should be avoided. Do not do any of the following:

• Do not apply heat to the area as this will accelerate tissue destruction.
• Do not apply any steroid creams (hydrocortisone creams).
• Do not attempt to remove the spider venom using suction devices or try to cut out the affected tissue.
• Do not apply electricity to the area. Anecdotal reports of this have never been shown to be effective.

Treatment

If you get bitten by a Brown Recluse spider, try to remain calm and be seen by a doctor that day. Try to carefully collect the spider, if possible, for positive identification. Then, do the following:

• Apply an ice pack directly to the bite area to relieve pain and swelling.
• Elevate the area if possible above the level of the heart.
• Wash the area thoroughly with cool water and mild soap.
• Try to avoid strenuous activity because this might spread the spider's venom in the skin.
• Use acetaminophen for pain.

The doctor may also suggest any of the following: tetanus immunization, pain medication, antibiotics (if signs of infections are present), and antihistamines for itch relief.

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