Brown Recluse Spider

[tallyho8]

I used to have a LOT of spiders in my horse barn. When I got rid of all the flies, the spiders vanished also.

 

[N80]

I would encourage everyone to be diligent in educating and arming themselves with all the information they can on this spider. It can and does inflict serious damage to it's victims.

I used to never worry about spiders either.

Well, I never said they couldn't inflict serious damage. I said it was uncommon. Getting hit in the head by a meteorite can inflict serious damage too, but you don't see too many people walking around with steel umbrellas. Again, what you worry about is up to you. My point is that there are a lot of better things to worry about.

For me, the time wasted looking under every pillow, in every shoe, in every pair of pants just isn't worth it. Getting bit once would make it even less worth it. What are the odds of a second bite?

 

[JRobyn]

I'm also a bit more "emotional" about recluses than should be logical: I have a cousin in WA that was bit on the shoulder and nearly lost his arm. He was a building contractor, and it ended his career.

- Jay

 

[rox]

meledward23, did I read your post correctly? Are you saying that you have many Brown Recluse spiders around, or jsut spiders I general?

Do the Beown Recluse spiders live only in a certain part of the country? I wonder if we have them in southern France. Climate is similar to southern California.

actually don't think Ihave ever had a spider bite.

 

[LMTC]

We used to see a fair number of spiders around/in the house. Wife can't abide by them....they are #1 on her "I-can't-stand-them" list. Several years ago we started spraying the exterior.....crawlspace, eaves, bottom boards, etc. with Bifen IT around April and then again in late September or October. We have seen probably no more than 3 spiders in the house in 3 years. Prior to doing this, we killed several each week.

 

[rox]

I asked Richard to send me the file (pm him) and it is well worth it, the pictures along with the text are great. I have also figured out that I probaby have had spider bites, because I have had sores with that little hole in the middle of the wound lke the pics show. I really appreciated having this file. Tahnks Richard.

 

[meledward23]

Yeah Rox, plenty or BR's out at the barn to go around. These spiders (BR's) are actually not "troublesome" in some regards. They run from light. They love the dark. So, unless you are crawling around under stuff, or picking through and old pile of junk you will rarely encounter one. Never the less I hate doing anything in that **** barn.

My wife's family owns the actual barn itself. I just work the land. The main barn is 28,500 sq ft if I recall correctly with full fly control. I am not sure what the spiders get after. Actually it is rarer to find them in the main barn, than our hayshed and tool sheds.

I dont tolerate spiders anywhere on my property. I seed a spider the whole area gets nuked.

 

[N80]

I have also figured out that I probaby have had spider bites, because I have had sores with that little hole in the middle of the wound lke the pics show.

Well, they might be spider bites, but probably not. And it is highly unlikely that they are Brown Recluse bites.

I've seen a trend over the last few years of people calling any unexplained red place a spider bite. I've seen lots of doctors propogating this myth. Most spiders can bite you. But very rarely does this result in any significant reaction. Spiders do not go around biting people. Unlike ticks, lice, scabies, mites, etc, they do not eat us. A spider has to be forced into close proximity to your exposed skin and feel threatened before it can or will do anything to hurt you.

Spiders are a lot like snakes, everyone thinks every spider is a Reculse or a black widow. I cannot count the number of spiders that patients bring into my office, often alive, quite certain they are Brown Recluse spiders. Many types of spiders have a violin-like design on their backs. Most spiders that people bring in are much too large to be Recluses. My point is, every snake in the water is not a water moccasin and every spider in your house is not a brown reculse. Every body take a deep breath and relax. Get a brown paper bag if you need one.

 

[1bush2hog]

What are the odds of a second bite?

Hopefully none of us will ever have to find out.

 

[txdon]

I dont tolerate spiders anywhere on my property. I seed a spider the whole area gets nuked.

Don't come to central Texas. Right now I have spider webs in every corner of every building. I have black widows with the remains of the males still in the web. I walk with a stick in front of me in the woods to knock down the spider webs before I have a face of web. My golf cart has three complete spider webs that catch bugs as I drive. Brown recluse spiders have disappeared into the wood walls in the bedroom......and yes, I know the difference between the Black Widows and the Brown Recluse and other similar shaped spiders (see picture at beginning of thread).

Spiders are keeping the bug population in check and the wasps are working hard trying to keep the spider population in check. No need to nuke, just work with nature and be careful.