Beware of Spiders

How many times do you leave your shoes outside on the steps of your RV or home? If you do, beware of a possible danger lurking in the cozy darkness down by the toes—a brown recluse spider!

Just the other day a friend e-mailed us with some graphic photos of what can happen when bitten. It’s not a pretty sight.

Cappy and I spend the winters in Surprise, Arizona. We have a “Vacation Villa” that’s nestled in a shady grove of trees at Happy Trails RV Resort. Cappy is an avid gardener, so she’s out there puttering in the flowerbeds just about everyday. Before getting this e-mail, she used to kick off her clogs on the front porch so she wouldn’t track dirt through the house.

Never did she think about checking her shoes for any spiders, but one night when stepping outside to walk the dog, Cappy opened the door and let out a scream, “Oh my goodness, it’s a spider—a big one and it looks like a brown recluse!”

She didn’t bother to investigate further. Instead, she grabbed her clogs and tossed them in the kitchen sink for a good scrubbing. Now, those shoes are stationed inside the house, and when she ventures outside, especially at night, she stomps her feet and makes a racket so any creepy-crawly bug can scurry out of the way. This is especially important in the storage shed, where it’s dark and dry. Reaching for something up on a shelf or in a cupboard could surely startle a spider into biting someone, so it’s best to let them know you’re approaching their territory.

Best Left Alone
We both believe that spiders are good for the environment, doing their duty by getting rid of all sorts of pesky insects. They’re not there to bother us either, but instead prefer a happy existence without interference from humans, the family pet or other curious mammals. Only two species can do any damage if they bite: the familiar black widow female and the brown recluse spider.

We’re all aware of the shiny black appearance of the black widow with the characteristic red hourglass marking underneath her belly, but how many know much about the brown recluse?

They occur in the central and southern regions of the country, but that doesn’t mean they won’t pop up in other areas, especially when transported across state lines in the trunk of cars, in motorhomes and rental trucks. They’re able to survive long periods of time without food or water. Indoors, they like to hide away in boxes, among the folds in papers, clothing and linens. Outside, they can be found under rocks, logs, stacks of firewood, or loose bark in relatively dry areas. Like other spiders, they spin a web.

They are brown in color with a very distinctive violin-shaped dark marking on its cephalothorax (head and midregion). That’s why they’re also called the violin spider. Individuals can reach about three-eighths of an inch long, not including their fairly long eight legs.

Their bite causes a long-lasting sore that involves tissue deterioration, and for some people, a severe reaction may occur that could become life-threatening. If you or someone is bitten by a brown recluse spider, it’s best to call your doctor immediately, or if you’re traveling away from home, get to an emergency room. Like bee stings, spider bites can cause allergic reactions, so things could be more serious for some. If at all possible, try to nab the spider by killing it or trapping it in a jar. This will help the doctor in treating the wound.

First Aid
With any kind of insect bite, I usually recommend applying ice to the affected area—ice cubes in a Baggie, a package of frozen vegetables or one of the handy blue ice packs you can buy at the store. Just pop them into the freezer—great for all sorts of uses. Ice dulls the pain and soothes the area. As I said before, if you suspect a bite from either the brown recluse or black widow, seek medical help immediately. For all other nuisance bites like ants, apply a medicated spray to the area. Watch for fever. Taking aspirin or Tylenol will help, too. Keep a lookout for any unusual reactions that could possibly occur. Some folks are prone to different reactions. Itching is the most common thing with ant bites, so try not to scratch and spread the irritation.

Even though Cappy escaped the spider’s wrath, she did end up with nasty bites from tiny ants in the garden that attacked her ankles. She found relief by applying a nice gel made from tea tree oil that she keeps chilled in the refrigerator.

Summertime usually brings on a bite or two, so just be aware of your surroundings and think first before reaching for a box up on that shelf in the garage or attic or while moving a bunch of logs outside. Make some noise first. We can all live in harmony if we just give nature a chance by letting those spiders know we’re there.

Be safe!