Did you know that out of 43,000 species of spiders, less than 30 have had their name associated with human death? That means, less than 1/10th of 1% of spiders can hurt you. What is even crazier is that one of these spider species lives here in St. Louis. We are talking about brown recluse. Although you are unlikely to die from a brown recluse bite, they are considered one of the most dangerous spiders here in the United States. If you are dealing with spiders inside your home, and are unsure if they are brown recluse, we have some ways you can tell.
What Brown Recluse Look Like
One of the biggest problems with brown recluse is that they look very similar to other non-harmful species of spiders. Cellar spiders, wolf spiders, and house spiders are a few examples of spiders that look like brown recluse spiders. The best way you can tell a brown recluse from these other spiders is with the violin-shaped mark located just behind its eyes. Other than this, a brown recluse can be identified by its sandy brown body and uniformly light brown legs. If you see a spider with legs that are striped or pigmented, it is most likely not a brown recluse.
How Brown Recluse Bites Occur
Brown recluse spiders do not actively hunt humans, meaning they won’t chase after you or climb onto your bed just to bite you while you sleep. What brown recluse try to do is keep their distance. As much as they can they will avoid coming in contact with you and your family. It is only when they are disturbed or cornered that they will bite humans. Most commonly homeowners will be bitten when interacting with items in a storage area or basement.
How Dangerous Are Brown Recluse Bites?
If you are bitten by a brown recluse, it is advised to seek medical attention. Although the venom from these spiders is rarely fatal, it can be extremely destructive to your body and can lead to life-long effects. Symptoms associated with a bite from a brown recluse can include the following.
Pain and redness around the bite area.
Fever
Chills
Joint pain
Weakness
Nausea
A deep ulcer where the bite occurred
Seizures and/or coma (extremely rare)
How You Can Prevent Brown Recluse
Brown recluse enter into homes to hunt for other pests. Keeping this in mind, here are some ways you can prevent both brown recluse and other pests.
Use a caulking gun to seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation as well as spacing around window and door frames.
Make sure weather stripping around your home is in good condition.
Install door sweeps under all doors that lead into your home.
Check your window and door screens to make sure they are all in good working order.
Fix leaky pipes, broken gutters, and address other moisture issues around your home.
Store leftover foods inside airtight Tupperware containers after each meal.
Clean up messes around your home as they occur.
Pick up and clean out pet food and water bowls before bed each night.
The Best Way To Keep Dangerous Spiders Out Of Your Home
It is difficult to fully prevent brown recluse on your own, and when it comes to the health and safety of your family uncertainty is unacceptable. If you are looking for a certain way to keep your home safe from dangerous spiders and the pests they invade to hunt, we have your solution here at Arenz Pest Management. Our team can get your home the protection it needs to stay pest-free, year-round.
Contact us today to learn more about our pest control, or to schedule an appointment to have brown recluse eliminated from your home.
Tags: home pest control | spiders | brown recluse spider |
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