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IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
The brown recluse spider is found mainly in the southern and Midwestern states especially Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. To date, infested Ohio counties have had a history where this spider probably hitchhiked (shipped) into the home in furniture, appliances, storage cartons, boxes, old clothes and other household goods. The brown recluse spider is not aggressive. Most bitten people have directly contacted the spider when putting on clothing or shoes not used for long periods of time. They usually occur in houses on the floor or behind furniture (undisturbed areas).
Some have been bitten after sleeping in an unused bed after rolling over onto the spider or others after accidentally touching the spider when cleaning out undisturbed storage areas. Fatalities are rare, but bites are most dangerous to children, elderly and those in poor physical condition.
IDENTIFICATION
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 eight legs and violin marking appear on the flattened-like cephalothorax (combined area of the head and thorax). Both the male and female brown recluse spiders are similar in appearance and equally toxic. The immature stages closely resemble the adults except for size and a slightly lighter color.
LIFE CYCLE AND HABITS
These spiders spin small, loose, white to off-white webs with irregular strands. The female lays eggs from May through August in off-white silken cases (sacs) about 1/3-inch in diameter. Sacs containing 40 or more eggs each are found hung in the web, overwinter in sheltered, dark areas and are guarded by the female until her death. Each female may lay as many as 300 eggs during her lifetime. Spiderlings emerge in 24 to 36 days leaving the egg case with slow development (10 to 12 months), and are influenced by weather conditions and food availability. Spiders can survive long periods of time without food or water and may live as long as two years.
This spider is most active at night when it comes out in search of food consisting of cockroaches and other small insects. During the day, time is spent in quiet, undisturbed places such as bathrooms, bedrooms, closets, basements and cellars. The spiders sometimes take shelter under furniture, appliances and carpets, behind baseboards and door facings, or in corners and crevices. Some have been found in stored clothing, old shoes, on the undersides of tables and chairs, and in folded bedding and undisturbed towels stored for long periods of time. Outdoors, the spider may be found in sheltered corners among debris, in wood piles, under loose bark and stones, in old barns, storage sheds and garages. These spiders are very adaptable and may be active in temperatures ranging from 45 to 110 deg F.
BITE SYMPTOMS
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.
FIRST AID
If bitten, remain calm, collect the spider, if possible, for positive identification and get medical attention immediately (contact your physician, hospital and/or Poison Information Center). Apply antiseptic solution to prevent infection and ice packs to relieve local swelling and pain directly to the bite area. An effective antivenom is not generally available. The physician will usually administer high doses of cortisone-type hormones to combat hemolysis and other systemic complications. A report suggests that treatment with dapsone (a drug used mainly for leprosy) may reduce the degree of tissue damage.
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