Spiders
- More than 3,000 species found in North America
- Most poisonous species are the Black Widow and Brown Recluse
- Predators who paralyze or kill their prey with venom
- Feed mainly on insects
- Most are nocturnal
- Bites may occur when cleaning neglected areas or putting on seldom-worn clothes.
Poisonous Spiders
The widow spiders are large with mature females measuring 1 1/2 inches with legs extended. Most people are familiar with the Southern Black Widow (Lactrodectus Mactans), a glossy black spider with a complete red hourglass marking on the underside of its abdomen. The Northern Black Widow (Lactrodectus variolus) has the same general appearance as the Southern Black Widow except that it has a broken hourglass on its underside and row or red spots running down the top side of its abdomen. The smaller male widow spiders can be distinguished from the females by the swollen (knob like) palpal organs projecting from the front of the head. The widow spiders have eight eyes cluster on the front of the head. Male black widows and immature and other widow spiders (red and brown widows ) pose little health threat and will not be discussed.
The Black widow requires about four months from egg to maturity. The females require 6 9 molts. Egg laying is restricted to the warm months. The females produce several egg sacs (containing hundreds of eggs) during their 1-2 year life span.
The Female black widow usually spins a silken web in protected places such as under stones, house steps, decks, etc. The spider is rarely found inside houses. The widow spider is most apt to bite when her eggs are threatened. The black widow bite produces a sharp pain that may persist for hours. Local muscular cramps may develop. The pain may become severe and spread to the abdomen and be accompanied by weakness and tremor. Spasmodic breathing, a feeble pulse, cold clammy skin and delirium may be noted. Intravenous injection of 10% calcium gluconate to relieve the muscle spasms has proven effective. A black widow antiserum is available and effective in treatment.
Recluse Spiders
The recluse (Loxosceles reclusa) was confirmed in South Carolina in 1976 at Goose Creek, Since that time, the spiders have been found at Liberty, S.C. (14 in one house) and on the campus of Clemson University and other areas of the state. The brown recluse is a small, light brown to yellow, quite harmless appearing spider. Its slim body is about 3/8″ long with long legs which extend it length to more than one inch. The primary key to identification are the three pairs of eyes. the “fiddle” or violin outline on the back is not a dependable character since many brown spiders have similar markings. The male brown recluse is similar in appearance to the female except it has a smaller abdomen and large knob like palpi on the front of the head.
The Brown recluse is a relatively long lived spider sometimes living for two years. Mating usually oocurs in June and July. One mating is sufficient for the female to produce several egg masses. An egg mass ( which is surrounded by a silken case) may contain 40 or more spider lings. A single female may produce from 30 – 300 offspring in one season. The young spider lings molt (shed their skin) several times as they grow to maturity. Mortality of the spider lings is quite high during molting.
The brown recluse is a shy spider and searches for its insect prey primarily at night. During the day it rests in closets, boxes, under furniture, in attics under insulation, and in ceiling light fixtures. People typically are bitten accidentally while putting on clothes in which the spider is hiding or rolling on to them while in bed.
The bite of the brown recluse usually produces a necrotic (death of tissue) condition followed by deep scaring of tissue. Lesions are slow healing and often require skin grafts. The bite may also produce a systemic reaction causing the destruction of red blood cells resulting in kidney failure and death.