Continuing our October series on scary insects, we bring you the brown recluse.  Spiders spark a special kind of fear in most of us.  Arachnophobia is a real issue for many people.  But even though these spiders are frightening to look at, they are mostly harmless.  The brown recluse is one of only two poisonous spiders here in Oklahoma.  When do Brown Recluse spiders come out?  The brown recluse spider tends to be nocturnal and hunt at night.  In some special cases, it will roam during the day, but this is uncommon.  

The brown recluse spider is known as a recluse for a reason.  They are generally shy and uninterested in engaging with humans.  These spiders do have a poisonous bite with which they hunt, but only bite humans when they feel threatened.  Night time hunting is there preference, and they abide by this unless they are under duress such as a lack of food, overpopulation or effected by pesticides.  

THE HUNTER

The brown recluse is a hunter by nature.  It does not spin a large web like a cobweb or orb spider.  It’s webs are irregular and found in their den.  These webs start sticky, but quickly lose their stickiness as dust settles on them.  This is ok for the brown recluse, since it does not use its web to catch or subdue its prey.  It stalks other insects and spiders from the shadows, and then bites and injects its prey with venom.  The unlucky insect can stay alive a few days until the brown recluse decides to eat it.  Contact your Oklahoma exterminator today.  

Once the prey has been bitten, the brown recluse does not wrap the insect up.  It simply brings the new meal back to its den and eats it when it is ready.  These spiders can use their web to feel the presence of their next meal and then attack, but they have also been known to travel far from their den to hunt.  Brown recluse spiders can live for months without food or water.  

THE BITE

The scariest part of this spider is its bite.  As stated before, these spiders are not after us, but when cornered, they will bite us.  The fangs of the brown recluse are small, and can not puncture clothing, but they can bite directly through the skin.  During the day, they often hide under bed sheets or in shoes, where an unsuspecting person could either roll over on them, or put a naked foot into a slipper, giving the spider reason to bite.  Your Oklahoma pest control company can help eliminate this problem.  

The initial bite of the brown recluse is often not even felt.  In many cases, the wound becomes red and pimple like, and then simply goes away.  But for many people, it can get much worse.  The bite can become a necrotic legion.  This is a sinking bluish patch with irregular edges, a pale center and peripheral redness.  The tissue is dying, and can leave a large, deep scar.  Often other symptoms such as fever, chills, dizziness, rash or vomiting can occur.  It is important that if you believe that you have been bitten by a brown recluse, you seek medical attention immediately.  

HABITAT

The brown recluse spider is an excellent hider.  It seeks refuge in any place that it can hide.  These spiders are tough enough to survive high heat attics in the heat of summer, or cold basements in freezing winters.  Any crack or crevice is a potential hiding spot for these arachnids.  They prefer low moisture areas such as under tree bark, or loose stones.  Essentially, any enclosed area where they can hide is likely.  

One tell tale sign of infestation are the molted skins of the spider.  As it grows, it must molt it’s skin to continue growing.  Often these skins can be found where they are commonly hiding.  These spiders are brown with a dark brown “fiddle” shape on their back.  This is where they get the fiddle back name.  Their eyes are also distinct.  They have three sets of two eyes each in a semi circle.  This is uncommon in the arachnid world.  Most spiders have eight eyes.  

LIFECYCLE

Brown recluse spiders have been known to live up to two years in captivity.  Some scientist believe that they can live longer in ideal conditions, but it is important to note that they can survive winters.  Between February and September, female recluses will lay an egg sack containing up to 50 eggs.  These eggs will hatch, and the spiderlings will undergo a molt before leaving the sac.  They will stay in the den with the mother for another molt, and then leave, searching for their own habitat.  

After leaving the den, the spiderlings will molt another six or seven times before completely becoming an adult the following year.  In ideal conditions, a female can produce up to five egg sacks in her lifetime.  A Tulsa exterminator can help you keep these pests to a minimum.  

HOW TO GET RID OF BROWN RECLUSE SPIDERS

Again, for many people, brown recluse spiders represent the most fearful of creatures.  And in many homes, they can be a dangerous inhabitant.  If you find yourself dealing with brown recluse spiders in your home, it’s important that you get help from a licensed Tulsa pest control company.  These technicians are trained in the best methods of keeping these spiders at bay.  

TermMax Pest Control is a fully licensed pest control company here in the Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Sapulpa, Sand Springs, Pratville, Coweta, Catoosa, and Owasso area, ready to meet all of your exterminator needs.  Call today for a free estimate.  We are here to help!

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