Brown Recluse (GRAPHIC CONTENT)

[xrtoronto]

Inappropriate.


I knew some snake bites were capable of doing stuff like this (and worse) but had no idea spider bites would do this!! I don't know where this spidy lives...just hope it's not around here.

[StarOfAfrica2]

Midwest.  Just like their name (Recluse) they like any nice shadowy corner.  Basements.  Cabinets.  I've killed millions of those things, they give me the heebie jeebies just thinking about getting bit.  They freak me out worse than Black Widows.   They like quiet out of the way spots with lots of shadow to hide in.  During the fall always make sure you look inside a cabinet or mailbox or that back corner of the toolshed before you reach a hand in.  If you get bit, head for the hospital ASAP.  You can always tell a Brown Recluse because it has a violin shaped mark on its back.  They are also called Violin Spiders.

[Seraphim]

Friend of mine found one in his car, after workin up in the forest near victorville. He didnt even know what it was, just said to me "look what I caught!". Of course, I said, "I hope you didnt get bit"
"why?"
"thats a brown recluse. It can kill you"
"cool! ill keep it as a pet!"
"Dude. Dont. It can KILL you"
"ok. still cool."

[Sandman]

Fact, fear, and loathing

In other words... don't worry about 'em.

oh... and

Snopes is your friend.

This is also a good read.

[Estes]

Originally posted by Sandman
Fact, fear, and loathing

In other words... don't worry about 'em.

oh... and

Snopes is your friend.

This is also a good read.

Yep, although those photos may very well be a worse case scenario, I was bit by one a long time ago. And to quote my doctor "If its going to rot, its going to rot, not much you can do about it" although, mine didn't do much but swell up pretty good and hurt for a week or so.

[xrtoronto]

how big are those spiders?

[Estes]

Originally posted by xrtoronto
how big are those spiders?

Pretty small, probably roughly about the size of a quarter.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by xrtoronto
how big are those spiders?

Adult brown recluse spiders have a leg span about the size of a quarter. Their body is about 3/8 inches long and about 3/16 inches wide.

[capt. apathy]

we have hobo spiders in this part of the country.  just as nasty as the brown recluse.  they also call them 'agressive house spiders'.  only spider I ever saw that will actually run at you from 4-5 feet away.

[WMLute]

Daughter was bitten by a brown recluse when she was young (6-7ish) and because she was so small (prob. 50lbs or under) the poison didn't stay at the bite, but spread throughout her body via. her lymphatic system.  

Quick trip to the hospital, and couple doc visits and she was just fine.  We left a week later to go on a vacation.

Day 2 of said vacation the bite area got infected, and due to the damage done by the recluse a massive infection spread throughout her body.  We got to spend 4-5 days in the St. Louis Jewish Hospital (kudos to them, top-notch place) and eventually she was ok.

So the bite isn't what did it, it was the infection that spread due to the damage the poison causes.

To this day I shake out my shoes and clothes before I put 'em on.  Nasty little buggers.  

(Official member of the "kill the brown recluse with extreme prejudice club)

[dmf]

Say what you want about urban legands and such, and how a brown recluse bite may or may not kill you, but when I was growing up there was a kid that got bit by one in an old pickup that sat out in a field, his parents thought it was just a bug bite, and after 5 days the kids leg looked like it was going to rot off, say what you want but thinking about that spider gives me the creeps.

[Hoarach]

We have brown recluse spiders up here in CT and their bites can cause you to amputate your whole leg or arm and if dont get it amputated it will kill you.  Ive seen these spiders though big and fast.

[Scatcat]

They usually end up in closets and attics and such.  They like to hang out in cardboard boxes also.  I saw a lady once who got a bite from a "fiddle back" after pulling down some blankets from a closet.  The spider fell on to her shoulder and bit her.  She developed a necrotic spot about size of baseball.  It healed okay eventually.  I always check my shoes and clothing before putting it on cause I live in the Texas/Oklahoma area.

Funny thing is some people think placing an electric current over the bite site will disable the toxin.  I've even heard of people shocking themselves with a stun gun or even a car battery gizmo.  No studies to show this works.

[Estes]

Originally posted by Scatcat
They usually end up in closets and attics and such.  They like to hang out in cardboard boxes also.  I saw a lady once who got a bite from a "fiddle back" after pulling down some blankets from a closet.  The spider fell on to her shoulder and bit her.  She developed a necrotic spot about size of baseball.  It healed okay eventually.  I always check my shoes and clothing before putting it on cause I live in the Texas/Oklahoma area.

Funny thing is some people think placing an electric current over the bite site will disable the toxin.  I've even heard of people shocking themselves with a stun gun or even a car battery gizmo.  No studies to show this works.

I've heard about the stun gun thing before. It was on the news a long time ago. This lady who was bit on the arm or something, shocked herself with it daily for treatment.

[Slash27]

Originally posted by WMLute

(Official member of the "kill the brown recluse with extreme prejudice club)

 I have many,many scalps.