Beware of the Brown Recluse Spider?

Answer 1

There are eleven different species of the brown recluse spider in the United States. Most of these are in the Midwestern and central states. People often call this spider the violin spider or fiddle-back spider because of the violin shaped marking on its back.

The spider has six eyes, and the abdomen and long legs are covered in hair. Spiderlings are distinguished from the adult spider by its lighter coloring.

The brown recluse spider is a solitary spider that prefers to be alone in small places and shelters. Indoors, you may find them in cellars, basements, attics, closets and in ductwork. They will look for shelter in folded linens, boxes, shoes and behind furniture. Outside, they are found in garages, storage sheds and barns. They hide under piles of lumber or underneath logs. The spider will occupy dark, undisturbed locations both indoors and outdoors. The male spider is smaller than the female, but their legs are longer than the female.

The brown recluse spider is one of the most dangerous Spiders in the world because it is highly venomous.

Spiderling eggs are normally laid from May to July. They are inside a white silky sac, and there are about 50 eggs in each sac. After one month, the spiderlings will emerge. After one year, the spiderling reaches adulthood. They typically live for one to two years. The spider can live without food for up to six months.

Some people are not affected by the bite of the spider, whereas other people will have side effects when the venom attacks and kills the tissues. The spider is not aggressive and will only bite if it has been disturbed or handled. The effect a person has on the bite depends on how much venom the spider injects. No one has died from a brown recluse spider bite since 1956. Some of the rare side effects of a spider bite are itching, fever, restlessness, nausea and vomiting. Some people actually go into shock.

The bite can be painful and can take a long time to heal. Death from being bitten is rare, but the bite is more dangerous to small children, people in poor physical condition and the elderly. The real danger exists when the bite wound site becomes infected with a bacterium. Anyone bitten should always seek medical attention.