From the time that many children are young, they have heard of spiders. Little Miss Muffet and the Itsy Bitsy Spider are taught to children in an effort to entertain them. But do we also teach our children about the harms of spiders? Do they know what spiders can cause harm and what they look like? Better yet, do we know the answers to those questions? Today we will learn about the brown recluse spider, one of the two venomous spiders found in the wonderful state of Texas.
Most Venomous Spiders Found in Texas
The state of Texas has two venomous species of spiders, the black widow and the brown recluse. Both spiders can be dangerous and should be treated with caution should we happen to cross paths with them. Loxosceles reclusa is the scientific name for the brown recluse. They are usually between 0.24 and 0.79 inches in length but may grow larger. Brown recluses are typically light to medium brown in color, but they can range in color from whitish to dark brown or blackish gray. Their abdomen is not always the same color as the rest of their body. Brown recluse has a few nicknames, including fiddleback spider, brown fiddler, or violin spider due to a black line that looks like a violin that is found on their backs. Most spiders have eight eyes, but recluse spiders have only six eyes.
Brown Recluse Spider Location
Brown recluse spiders frequently build their webs in woodpiles and sheds, closets, garages, cellars, and other places that are dry and generally not disturbed often. If they dwell in homes or businesses they seem to favor cardboard, possibly because cardboard looks similar to rotting tree bark. Their webs are irregular shape consisting of disorderly thread. These spiders leave their webs at night to hunt. Males will stray farther from their web than females to hunt. They like to hunt for crickets, cockroaches, and other soft-bodied insects.
Brown Recluse Infestations
A brown recluse will live for one to two years. From May to July the female brown recluse produces several egg sacs. Each egg sac will have approximately fifty eggs. The eggs take about one month to hatch and then a year to grow to adulthood. The brown recluse is extremely resilient and can live for up to six months without food.
Brown Recluse Bite Stages, Symptoms & Treatment
The brown recluse carries potentially deadly hemotoxic venom. The good news is that they don’t bite instinctively. When they do bite it is typically a defense mechanism. If you are bitten by a brown recluse it is not felt initially and may not be painful, but it can be serious. A stinging sensation followed by intense pain can be felt as long as six to eight hours after the bite occurs. You will want to thoroughly wash the area with soap and water and apply an antiseptic if available. In severe cases, the victim may need additional medical care.
Spider Inspections, Control & More in Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville, Cedar Park & Austin Texas
Here at A-Tex Pest Management, we provide spider control services for homes and business properties across Austin, Texas and the surrounding areas. Please call us today to keep your family safe from the venom of the brown recluse!