It might look like a bruise or might form a blister surrounded by a bluish-purple area that turns black or brown and becomes crusty after a few days.
If you ever think that you've been bitten by a brown recluse spider, tell an adult immediately. Brown recluse spider bites rarely kill people, but it's important to get medical attention as soon as you can because they can make you pretty sick.
With an adult's help, wash the bite well with soap and water. You can also apply ice to the area, elevate it, and keep it still. If it's possible, have an adult catch and bring the spider to the doctor's office with you — this is important because it can sometimes be hard to diagnose a spider bite correctly. The spider can be killed first before you bring it with you; just be sure not to squish it so much that no one can tell what it is.
Doctors treat people who have been bitten by a brown recluse spider with different types of medications like antibiotics, antihistamines, or pain medicines.
Rarely, a skin graft might be needed if the skin is really damaged at the area of the bite. A skin graft is when a small amount of skin is removed from some part of the body and put in a place where skin is damaged to create new skin. As its name implies, the brown recluse is shy and not naturally aggressive.
It is most often found in sites that are rarely disturbed, such as under old boards, in piles of discarded junk, and in seldom-disturbed storage spaces in houses and outbuildings.
Indoors, they are most common in cluttered closets, garages, crawl-spaces, and attics. Adult brown recluse spiders are most frequently seen during the spring months. Brown recluse spiders are insect predators. When large numbers of spiders are present in a building it usually means that insect prey are also abundant.
Within their habitat, there can be serious infestations. Hence, if there is one spider, there are most likely dozens or even hundreds. However, even in homes with extensive infestations, it is unusual to be bitten. If you have a specimen from inside the brown recluse zone or if you think the experts are wrong about your particular spider even though you aren't in brown recluse territory you can try to figure out if it is a brown recluse from its anatomy.
Loxosceles actually means "slanted legs. It's that angular, slanted leg shape that gives the brown recluse its scientific name. Two more distinct features of brown recluse legs include:.
If a spider doesn't have this type of leg, it's definitely not a brown recluse. If it does, you'll want to look at some other characteristics. Assuming you're in brown recluse country and you have a spider with a low-slung body on angled, smooth, solid color legs, the next thing is to look at the spider's eyes.
Brown recluse spiders have six eyes. They're paired in what are known as diads groups of two and arranged on the front and sides of the spider's head. Other spider species might have eight eyes, or six eyes arranged in two triads groups of three.
You can't be sure it is a brown recluse based only on the eyes, but if the eyes aren't in the proper pattern, then it's definitely not a brown recluse.
There are two more characteristics necessary for this to be a Loxosceles :. The one feature most commonly noted in descriptions of the brown recluse is the violin-shaped mark on its back. Not all brown recluses have the classic violin mark.
Even if it's there, you might not be able to clearly see it. Furthermore, there are spiders that also have the violin marking on their backs that are not brown recluses. Brown recluse spiders are difficult to get rid of, largely because of their tendency to hide in dark areas.
Crevices, corners, and wall-floor junctures, especially behind clutter and storage areas, make for ideal hiding places. The best way to avoid an infestation of brown recluse spiders is to seal up the places in your home where they are likely to enter.
Strategies include:. Glue traps can catch the spiders, but it's best to call a professional exterminator who can use appropriate pesticides, which are more effective. Antihistamines, colchicine, dapsone, and corticosteroids are medications used to relieve symptoms. Antivenom, consisting of antibodies that neutralize the venom, can prevent large skin ulcers if administered within a few hours. Call an exterminator. If you think you have been bitten by a brown recluse spider, apply ice, elevate the affected area, and seek medical attention immediately.
Try to capture the spider so an expert can determine if it is actually a brown recluse, or another type of spider. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. University of Kentucky.
Brown recluse spider. Illinois Department of Public Health.
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