How do I get rid of brown recluse spiders? Small update p 3

[Aimeedyan]

We spotted 2 in a web on our back porch last night after dark. I completely freaked out and want them GONE.

I know spiders are hard to kill and we have LOTS of spiders but I don't bother killing any of them (until now!) because they are good for the bug population but I don't want this type of spider hanging around.

We have a can of spray - should we just spray them when we see them? Or something bigger? I think I'm going to go around the exterior of the house tonight with a waterhose and spray all the corners and such since we have quite a few webs hanging out.

What else can we do? Has anyone had a problem with them before?

 

[mickeyboat]

I would move. Seriously.

Denae

 

[Kitty 34]

I would move. Seriously.

Denae

That's what I was going to say!!! Really.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I don't know how to get rid of them, but I hope nobody gets bit. I had a brown recluse spider bit and it is not fun. I had a very small bite compared to ones I have seen on TV shows.

 

[SamIAm21]

This might be a job for a professional Orkin guy or something. They have knowledge about how these spiders nest and where they nest. Also, they probably have the right type of insecticide that will kill them.

After seeing what one of those spiders did to my friend's leg, I don't blame you one bit for wanting them gone!

 

[Aimeedyan]

This might be a job for a professional Orkin guy or something. They have knowledge about how these spiders nest and where they nest. Also, they probably have the right type of insecticide that will kill them.

After seeing what one of those spiders did to my friend's leg, I don't blame you one bit for wanting them gone!

I know the bite to me or DH would be horrible and possibly life threatening, but I know it would kill one of my dogs and that is why I'm so motivated to get them off my property. They are 3 of the most important things on the planet to me and I can't imagine them getting bit by one.

 

[diseve]

I have had two bites from brown recluses. These spiders scare me. I would agree with the pp about getting the bug guys to come and spray. That is what we have done.

 

[phamton]

It might not be a brown recluse as many spiders look similar. "Since the "violin pattern" is not diagnostic, and other spiders may have similar marking (i.e. cellar spiders (Pholcidae family) and pirate spiders (Mimetidae family)), for purposes of identification it is far more important to examine the eyes. Differing from most spiders, which have 8 eyes, recluse spiders have 6 eyes"

"Habits and Development
In nature, brown recluse spiders live outdoors under rocks, logs, woodpiles and debris. The brown recluse hunts at night seeking insect prey, either alive or dead. It does not employ a web to capture food -- webs strung along walls, ceilings, outdoor vegetation, and in other exposed areas are nearly always associated with other types of spiders."
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef631.asp
http://spiders.ucr.edu/recluseid.html

"With no physician's care at all, most recluse spider bites show an excellent outcome. Although several deaths from loxoscelism were reported in medical journals, none of the reports is convincing. We are not aware of any verifiable deaths caused by the bite of the North American brown recluse spider." http://spiders.ucr.edu/expert.html

 

[powellrj]

I don't want to scare you, but please watch this. This is a family from our church and they STILL haven't moved home and this started almost 2 years ago. http://www.theindychannel.com/station/10222871/detail.html

 

[wvrevy]

Unless I could find out where it went to the optomitrist, I don't think I'd worry about how many eyes it has.

I'm with the previous posters...call a moving van.

 

[leafette]

If they are in webs, they aren't brown recluse spiders.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I would call the professional insect removal company right away. Call the bug man!

 

[phamton]

I don't want to scare you, but please watch this. This is a family from our church and they STILL haven't moved home and this started almost 2 years ago. http://www.theindychannel.com/station/10222871/detail.html

Scary stuff but highly unusual. Even that story said they do no build webs.

 

[java]

oh no! MOVE!

I can handle most spiders- but brown recluse no thanks. However I agree with the if it is in a web chances are not a recluse(they are called that for a reason....)
Good luck.

 

[DrCavin]

If they are in webs, they aren't brown recluse spiders.

Not according to OSU:

The brown recluse spider spins a loose, irregular web of very sticky, off-white to grayish threads. This web serves as the spider's daytime retreat, and it often is constructed in an undisturbed corner

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2061.html

 

[DisneyDotty]

This is the scariest thing I've read in a long time!
I'm thinking John Goodman from "Arachnaphobia." That story about the Cooks was right out of a horror movie!
My MIL was hospitalized after a brown recluse bit her--she almost lost her leg.
Good luck! I know I'd have a hard time living in a house where those buggers hang out!

 

[ducklite]

I agree with whoever suggested calling the exterminator. I had the bug guy out last week because I thought I had brown recluses in my garage. He and DH determined that I'm neurotic and they were harmless, but he sprayed anyhow.

I'd err on the side of caution.

Anne

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

I was bit by a brown recluse on my back. It was EXTREMELY painful and the whole right side of my body was stiff. The bite started out like a mosquito bite and it was very painful and hot. Then as the days went on it started to bullseye and I couldn't move (turn my head, lift my arm, walk, etc...) that is when I went to the doctor. Doctor told me it was a brown recluse - the 2nd most venim spider next to the black widow.

Get an exterminator to get rid of those things ASAP!!

Lisa

 

[phamton]

They have a web but not a traditional spider web (think Charlotte's Web). There are way too many myths about brown recluse.

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/myths/fiddleback.html

http://spiders.ucr.edu/myth.html

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/myths/brownrecluse.html

"'Brown recluse bite' has become medical shorthand for "this patient has a mysterious sore or lesion." In such areas as the Pacific coast states, it is safe to say that 100% of these reports are errors, and the vast majority (80-95%, depending on locality) are not spider bite cases of any kind."

My FIL was diagnosed with a brown recluse spider bite although no spider was ever seen and we lived in an area which was not native to brown recluse. Most likely it was a flesh eating bacteria or some other type of necrotic wound and not from a spider bite. Physicians and the media love to jump on the "brown recluse bite" bandwagon.

This map shows the area they live in. The red portion is the brown recluse area:

 

[mamacatnv]

Great, I'm headed to the red zone for a vacation in 2 weeks! I guess I better go Google the spider so I know what it looks like.

My DS was bit along his diaper line by a recluse when he was 1.5 - that scar is now between his shoulder blades Our Dr. had to get out several reference books to determine what the bite was.

Knowing what I know now from too much TV and reading, they scare the crap out of me!