SIZE: 1/4 to 3/4 inch (6.4-19.1mm) COLOR: Golden brown
DESCRIPTION: Brown recluse spiders belong to a group of spiders commonly known as violin spiders or fiddlebacks. This is because of a characteristic fiddle-shaped pattern they have on their head region. The spider is golden brown with the fiddle being dark brown or black. This spider is not hairy and the fiddle pattern is often shiny.
HABITAT: The spider commonly lives in basements and garages of houses and often hides behind boards and boxes. Bites often occur when the spiders hide in towels or old clothes left in those areas.
TYPE OF DAMAGE: The severity of the bite may vary. The symptoms may vary from no harm at all to a reaction that is very severe. Often there is a systemic reaction within 24-36 hours characterized by restlessness, fever, chills, nausea, weakness, and joint pain. Where the bite occurs there is often tissue death and skin is sloughed off. In some severe cases, a wound may develop that lasts several months. In all cases, a physician should be notified. If at all possible, kill and take the spider to the physician for positive identification.
SOLUTION: Wear gloves when working boxes of old clothing or material that has been undisturbed for a long period. Use sticky traps in areas suspected of having an infestation. Use aerosol insecticides to control spiders in difficult to clean spaces.
Page last Updated on March 21, 2000 by Mike Scott © Copyright 1998 PbM