 The
Brown
Recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa) is a member of the "brown" spider family, Loxoscelidae.
These spiders are also commonly referred to as "fiddleback" spiders or
"violin" spiders because of the violin-shaped marking on the top surface of
the cephalothorax (fused head and thorax). However, this feature can be very
faint depending on the species of recluse spider, particularly those in the
southwestern U.S., or how recently the spider has moulted. The common name,
brown recluse spider, pertains to only one species, Loxosceles reclusa.
The name refers to its color and habits. It is a reclusive creature that
seeks and prefers seclusion.
They are light in colour and about 7mm long; their six eyes
are arranged in two curved rows. They are most common in the western and southern
United States. A few species are harmful to man - including the brown
recluse, which occurs in the United States and Chile.
Life Cycle:
Egg laying primarily occurs from May through July. The female lays about 50 eggs that are encased in an off-white silken sac that is about 2/3-inch diameter. Each female may produce several egg sacs over a period of several months. Spiderlings emerge from the egg sac in about a month or less. Their development is slow and is influenced by weather conditions and food availability. It takes an average of one year to reach the adult stage from time of egg deposit. Adult brown recluse spiders often live about one to two years. They can survive long periods of time (about 6 months) without food or water.
Habitat:
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. This spider roams at night searching for insect prey. Recent research indicates that the brown recluse spider is largely a scavenger, preferring dead insects. Mature males also roam in search of females.
Brown recluse spiders generally occupy dark, undisturbed sites, and they can occur indoors or outdoors. In favorable habitats, their populations are usually dense. They thrive in human-altered environments. Indoors, they may be found in attics, basements, crawl spaces, cellars, closets, and ductwork or registers. They may seek shelter in storage boxes, shoes, clothing, folded linens, and behind furniture. They also may be found in outbuildings such as barns, storage sheds, and garages. Outdoors, brown recluse spiders may be found underneath logs, loose stones in rock piles, and stacks of lumber.
The brown recluse spider is not aggressive, and it normally bites only when crushed, handled or disturbed. Some people have been bitten in bed after inadvertently rolling over onto the spider. Others have been bitten after accidentally touching the spider when cleaning storage areas. Some bites occur when people put on seldom used clothing or shoes inhabited by a brown recluse.
Bites:
The brown recluse spider is a shy species that bites humans when
trapped in clothing or rolled onto when people sleep in bed. Persons bitten
by the brown recluse usually do not
 feel pain for 2-3 hours. A sensitive
person may feel pain immediately. A blister arises around the area of the
bite. The local pain becomes intense with the wound sloughing tissue often
down to the bone. Healing takes place slowly and may take 6 to 8 weeks. If
the bite of a brown recluse spider is suspected, collect the spider and
consult a physician immediately.
The venom of the brown recluse
destroys the walls of the blood vessels near the site of the bite, sometimes
causing a skin ulcer several inches in diameter. The wound, which may take
several months to heal, is occasionally fatal.
Click photo for a larger view!!
 A
brown recluse bite may go unnoticed for 6-8 hours, before a reddening,
swelling and blistering of the wound starts to appear. The occurrence of
additional symptoms of a recluse bite will depend upon the amount of venom
injected by the spider. A severe bite can produce a necrotic lesion (i.e.,
an area of dead skin tissue) that may require surgery. Although an antidote
has been developed, it is not widely available and it appears to be most
effective before the lesion develops. In some cases, antibiotics and the
drug Dapsone may be used successfully to treat the bites without surgery,
but these decisions are made after careful diagnosis by a physician. Prompt
medical attention is critical to successful chemical or surgical treatment
of the bite.
Often the Brown Recluse and male Southern House spider are
confused. The photos below show a close up of the eyes of both which are
quite clearly different. However its often hard to tell when they are
scurrying across your floor at night!!
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| Close up of Brown Recluse |
Close up of Male Southern House Spider |
Click here for more information on Brown Recluse Spider bites.
Information
and pictures were taken from children's projects and where credited to that
child does not claim to be original information. Where possible, permission
to reproduce has been sought. Any infringement of copyright is purely
unintentional.
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