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| Spiders |  Black Widow |
Spiders have a characteristic appearance which is easily recognized by most people. They possess eight legs which immediately separates them from insects which only have six legs. Spiders lack wings and antennae.
Young spiders or spiderlings resemble the adults except for size and sometimes coloration. All spiders have a pair of jaw like fangs. Each fang has a small opening in the end in which venom is injected into it's prey. Spinnerets, located at the end of the abdomen, are silk spinning glands used for webmaking.
Many species of spiders are common household pests in the United States. Certain common household spiders spin webs overs lamps, in corners and in basements. This creates an unsightly mess but causes no real harm. Remember that every "cobweb" was made by a spider. Although all spiders use venom when they bite and kill their prey, the black widow and the brown recluse spiders are the only spiders in North America consistently dangerous to humans. Even though their is little danger of complications from spider bites, be advised that all spider bite victims should take the spider with them when consulting their physician.
Under most conditions outdoors, spiders are considered beneficial because they feed on insects. However, they are undesirable to most homeowners when indoors, and the unsightly webbing spiders use to catch insect prey usually outweighs this beneficial behavior.
Many spiders are associated with moisture and are found in basements crawl spaces, and other damp areas. Others live in warm, dry places so are found in subfloor air vents, in upper corners of rooms or in attics. Most spiders hide in cracks, darkened areas, or areas where they can construct their web.
The Black Widows web is an irregular mass of fibers with a small central area which the spider waits until it's prey becomes trapped. They are usually found outside behind shrubs, along foundations, under boards, stones, and especially where wood siding or brick extends close to the ground. Black Widow spiders usually do not enter inside homes.
The Black Widows venom contains a nuerotoxin the affects the nervous system. The severity of a persons reaction to the bite depends on the area of the body where the bite occurs, the persons size and general sensitivety, the amount of venom injected, depth of bite, seasonal changes in venom potency, and temperature. The bite pruduces a sharp pain similar to a needle puncture. The pain usually dissappears rapidly. Local muscular cramps may appear from 15 minutes to several hours after the bite, spreading and becoming more severe as times passes. The venom then grows weak, tremors develop, and the abdominal muscles become stiff. Respiration becomes spasmadic, and the patient is restless and anxious. During this period, a feeble pulse, cold skin, labored breathing and speech, light stupor, and delerium may be noted. Convulsions and death may occur in some victims, especially if the person is sensitive to the venom and no treatment is received. An anti-venom for the black widow is available to most physicians.
The Brown Recluse is a soft bodied and secretive spider found in homes and other buildings. The adult body varies from 1/3" to 1/2" in length, with the arrangment of the legs producing an overall size of 1" in diameter or greater. The body is yellow to dark brown and has a rather distinctive darker brown violin shaped mark on the top of it's head. This spider is particularly widespread in the southern, western and midwestern United States and is a very serious problem in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Surrounding States.
Brown Recluse Spider
The Brown Recluse spider can also inflict a very dangerous bite. The initial pain associated with the bite is not intense, and generally less troublesome than a bee sting. Within 8 to 12 hours the pain becomes quite intense, and over a period of a few days, a large ulcerous sore forms. This sore heals very slowly and often leaves a large, ugly, disfiguring scar.
Brown Recluse Bite and Infection.
The Brown Recluse is usually found indoors, especially in bathrooms, bedrooms, closets, garages, basements, and cellars. They may also be present in attic areas, or other locations above the ceiling. They may also be found in out buildings. Their web is not very elaborate and is best described as an off-white to gray, nondescript webbing. Most bites occur when a person crushes the spider while putting on clothes that may have been hanging for some time, or by rolling on the spider while asleep in bed. Gardeners should wear gloves and be especially alert when handling leaves or bark mulch.
Control Clues:
Indoors - Liquid sprays such as Demon WP or Flee. Spiders must be killed by spraying directly on contact. Residual sprays are ineffective since spiders do not absorb chemicals through their feet or legs as cockroaches do.
Vacuuming and removal of webs and egg sacs. Removal of clutter and other sanitation steps directed at conditions favoring spiders and insect populations.
Outdoors - Liquid broadcast spray such as Dragnet.
Application Don'ts: Baits, and Aerosol Foggers Don't Work.
