Many people have a fear of spiders. The way they lurk and wait for their prey, along with the chance of getting bitten, leave most people feeling uneasy. There are thousands of different types of spiders, but today we are going to highlight the brown recluse spider. Effective Pest Services is here to share facts and characteristics of the brown recluse spider.
What Does a Brown Recluse Look Like?
There are a couple of characteristics that set the brown recluse apart from other spiders. They are often referred to as the “fiddle back” spider because they have a violin shaped marking on their body. This alone can’t distinguish a brown recluse. They also only have six eyes where most other spiders have eight. These two characteristics must both be present to confirm you are dealing with a brown recluse since other spiders may have one of the characteristics but not the other. The brown recluse comes in a variety of shades of brown. As young spiders they tend to be a lighter brown or even a yellowish color and get darker as they age. These spiders are also very hairy and have a fuzzy appearance. An adult is usually about the size of a quarter.
Where Do Brown Recluse Spiders Live in Your Home?
This spider was given its name for a reason. It is not a social spider. They tend to live in dark, cool places that haven’t been touched or disturbed for a long period of time. Common places might include: under porches, corners of basements, under boxes and the deep recesses of closets. They have a very shy nature and tend to avoid humans when at all possible. They are nocturnal and are active throughout the months between March and October. Once a brown recluse is found to be established in a home or structure they are hard to control. One female alone produces around 150 spiderlings in one year. She only needs to mate once to be able to produce eggs for the rest of her lifetime. The spider is most prevalent in the Midwest and Southern United States, but can be found in other areas as well.
When Should I Be Worried About a Brown Recluse Bite?
Like stated above, as a whole the brown recluse spider will avoid humans if at all possible. They will bite if they feel threatened in any way though. Many times, a person that has been bitten by a brown recluse doesn’t realize it for hours. Some may not experience any severe reactions to the bite, while others have major complications from the bite of a brown recluse spider. It all depends on the person’s sensitivity to the venom. In some cases, lesions can appear and later turn into secondary infections. Tissues around the bite can become gangrenous and leave a wound the size of a human hand. Though this isn’t the norm, it is unnerving. In many cases, there is a small amount of redness that heals on its own with no lasting effects.
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Because the brown recluse spider can reproduce so quickly and efficiently, it is important to take care of the problem at the first sighting. They can be hard to get rid of because of their ability to hide. Calling a professional exterminator at Effective Pest Services will help you rest easy, knowing you don’t have a brown recluse infestation on your hands.