This fiddler does not play a happy tune with most
Shelly Cox, Remington Nature Center
One of the top ten phobias in the World is arachnophobia, and this condition can be debilitating for some individuals with extreme phobic responses and may keep them from enjoying a normal life. One species in particular, the brown recluse often creates a visceral reaction in many people. How can a creature so small create such fear, even among those without arachnophobia? This reaction in large part is due to their behavior which is indicated in their name of recluse… they are secretive. Meaning they are good at staying hidden, and you never know when you will encounter one. It doesn’t help when the media sensationalizes their bites which feed on our fears.
The brown recluse is native to the Midwestern states from Eastern Texas, north to Southeastern Nebraska, and east to Southwestern Ohio and south to Western Georgia. They have a fairly small geographical native range, so how does a spider with such a small home range cause so much fear nationwide? The answer is misidentification and misinformation. The brown recluse may be the most misidentified species of spiders in North America. Brown recluses are approximately the size of a quarter and in some cases may be a larger. Unlike most spiders, they lack spines on their legs and fur on their bodies. They are uniformly brown or grayish-brown in color and have no discernable markings or patterns on their body, except the characteristic violin shape behind their head. This marking has become key in accurately identifying a recluse. However, this is not foolproof. A few individuals may exhibit no violin pattern at all, in addition, there are other spider species with similar patterns behind their head, leading to misidentification. The eyes are the most accurate way to identify these spiders from others. Most spiders have eight eyes, whereas the recluse only has six.
A study was done asking people from all over the country to submit spiders they believed to be brown recluses. Individuals in California submitted 581 specimens, and only one turned out to be a brown recluse, and it arrived in California from Missouri where it was unknowingly transported with a family that moved and brought it with them. In comparison, those specimens submitted from Kansas and Missouri were 75%-90% brown recluses.
Because they can be easily transported from one region to another it is, in theory, believable to assume the brown recluse is everywhere. While the transportation and establishment of many nonnative species ranging from insects to plants is commonplace around the world, it has thus far not applied to the brown recluse. In areas where one shows up, subsequent studies have not produced any established populations to those places. The only exception is in warehouse settings where trucks are transporting things all throughout the country, these spiders have been known to set up home in those buildings. These unique situations are not considered colonization as they do not leave the building and establish populations outside those warehouses. They are also easily eradicated from those facilities.
The reputation these spiders have for being extremely dangerous, and even killers is grossly over exaggerated. Largely due to the negative media coverage they receive because sensationalism sells. As a result, in recent years the brown recluse has become one of the most feared spiders in our country. Yes, the brown recluse does have the potential to be dangerous and a bite should be taken seriously, and prompt medical attention should be sought. Typically, a bite would produce itching and mild discomfort or no reaction at all. Approximately 10% to 20% of the those bitten will experience pain that develops two to eight hours after being bitten, swelling, and itching. Some individuals may experience nausea, fever and vomiting. In most cases an ulcer will appear accompanied by increased pain and inflammation. This is called cutaneous loxoscelium, as the spider venom eats away at the tissue, the ulcers sometimes grow to large proportions. On average three to four inches, but in extreme cases ulcers up to ten inches have been reported. Treatment usually involves antibiotics to ward off infection, pain medications and antispasmodic medications. For those with debilitating health issues or compromised immune symptoms the venom may be deadly. The extremely young and elderly are also at a higher risk of life-threatening complications.
I cannot, however, stress enough bites are rare, and when they occur usually go unnoticed. As an example, in 2001, over 2,000 brown recluse spiders were removed from a home in Kansas. Even with such an extreme infestation, the four people who lived there had experienced no harm from the spiders. This illustrates these spiders would prefer to avoid us. Despite living with these spiders and encountering them frequently they obviously did not live up to their notorious reputation as potential human killers.
Brown recluses live up to four years, this is due in large part to their ability to survive extreme conditions, including drought and food shortages. They can also tolerate temperature fluctuations, and survive easily in hot attics, freezing basements and outdoors in their normal habitats. Mating season begins in June and once mated the female may lay several egg sacs over the course of her life, each one containing up to fifty eggs. Unlike many spider species, brown recluses do not balloon themselves to new locations. Therefore, their population rarely expands very far from the parental site.
When encountering a spider, you believe may be a brown recluse, reach out to an expert for positive identification to determine if your home is at risk of infestation. If you or someone you know has been bitten by a spider, try to capture the spider, apply a cold compress to reduce inflammation and seek medical attention. Having the spider will allow for positive ID by an arachnologist so that medical experts can treat them appropriately. Do not rely on a physician’s ability to identify what the spider is, they rarely have expertise in this area. Request a true expert be contacted. This will go a long way in determining if further action needs to be taken at your home to control a potential infestation of brown recluse.
Bites generally happen when putting on clothes that have been stored or placing your foot in a pair of shoes. Their fangs are too small to bite through fabric, but when bare skin comes in direct contact with them, they will bite to protect themselves. Shake out clothes that have been stored, as well as your shoes (a habit I have developed). If an infestation is suspected contact a trusted pest control company to advise you. While I recognize being faced with something from your nightmares can be scary and may even feel threatening, try to remain calm, and remember these spiders mean no harm to you.
Shelly Cox: 816-596-8211 | scox@stjoemo.org