Spiders

Brown Recluse Spider

Adult brown recluse spiders are soft-bodied, yellowish-tan to dark brown, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long and have long, delicate grayish to dark brown legs covered with short, dark hairs. The leg span is about the size of a half dollar. Distinguishing characteristics are the presence of three pairs of eyes arranged in a semicircle on the forepart of the head and a violin-shaped, dark marking immediately behind the semicircle of eyes with the neck of the violin pointing towards the bulbous abdomen.

The severity of a person's reaction to the bite depends on the amount of venom injected and individual sensitivity to it. Bite effects may be nothing at all, immediate or delayed. Some may not be aware of the bite for 2 to 8 hours, whereas others feel a stinging sensation usually followed by intense pain if there is a severe reaction. A small white blister usually rises at the bite site surrounded by a large congested and swollen area. Within 24 to 36 hours, a systemic reaction may occur with the victim characterized by restlessness, fever, chills, nausea, weakness and joint pain. The affected area enlarges, becomes inflamed and the tissue is hard to the touch. The spider's venom contains an enzyme that destroys cell membranes in the wound area with affected tissue gradually sloughing away, exposing underlying tissues. Within 24 hours, the bite site can erupt into a "volcano lesion" (a hole in the flesh due to damaged, gangrenous tissue).

The open wound may range from the size of an adult's thumbnail to the span of a hand. The sunken, ulcerating sore may heal slowly up to 6 to 8 weeks. Full recovery may take several months and scarring may remain. Plastic surgery and skin grafts are sometimes required. The brown recluse spider is not aggressive and normally bites only when crushed, handled or disturbed. It is aptly named since it is a reclusive creature seeking and preferring seclusion.

Black Widow Spiders

The female spider is black with red or orange markings on the underside of the abdomen. The marking is often in the shape of an hourglass. Males are much smaller and often have a mottled brown and white appearance. Females are about ½ an inch in length while males are about ¼ an inch in length. Most of the time, the female black widow will consume the male after mating. The female will create an egg sac that contains around 300-400 eggs. She will be more likely to bite if she has just created the egg sac since this uses a lot of her energy and she will be hungry. A Black widows' venom is a neurotoxin. The venom will go into your nervous system. Usually, there is little reaction at the site of the bite. Fatalities from a black widow bite are rare, but small children and the elderly are at highest risk. When first bitten, the bite may not be noticed or feel as if you're being poked with a pin. This may be followed by a dull pain and cramps, often in the abdomen. As symptoms progress, one may experience sweating, weakness, nausea, vomiting and tremors. A victim may also undergo difficulty in breathing.

House Spider

House spiders are those web-building spiders common in the corners and garages of most homes and buildings. They are responsible for most of the cobwebs seen inside buildings. Cobwebs are actually old webs that have collected dirt such that they become easily visible. The spider lings float, or “balloon,” on tiny strands of silk onto buildings from wooded areas or fields. Once on the building they construct webs outside or crawl inside to find a suitable web site. Flying insects make up most of their diets, so these spiders are most common around windows and doorways.

Any corner inside or outside is suitable for house spiders to construct their webs. These spiders are more common in garages, crawl spaces and basements as these areas are less disturbed and tend to harbor insects.

Wolf Spider

Wolf Spiders come in many sizes with a body ranging from ¼-inch to more than on and a half inches in length. The largest species may have a leg measuring up to three inches or more leading many homeowners to mistake them for tarantulas. Most wolf spiders are brown although some may appear black. These spiders are usually quite hairy.

Wolf spiders are active hunters which search for prey during the day or night, depending on the species. These common spiders may live in significant numbers around homes and other buildings, especially those structures which have lush landscaping. Wolf spiders enter underneath doors and through cracks in the exterior walls. Wolf spiders are unique in that they carry their egg sacs from the tip of their abdomens attached to the spinnerets. The young spider lings also ride on the mothers back for a few days after hatching. Bites involving wolf spiders are rare and are not dangerous.

Outdoors, wolf spiders occupy a wide variety of habitats, usually at ground level. They will be common in heavy ground covers, such as ivy or monkey grass, and can be found beneath stones and other items, as well as within cracks between landscape timbers. They do not breed in homes, and usually only one to a few will be seen inside.