Specific recluse
Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Hi, I found this presumed reclusa spider in my house in Tucson, AZ. I know browns aren’t thought to be native here, but this is the fourth one I’ve found. This is the second one inside the house, and the other two were in the garage and back porch. Would this be a desert recluse, an arizona recluse, a brown recluse, or another species??
Thanks,
Clay
Tucson, Arizona
Recluse Spider
Hi Clay,
We too are unsure exactly which species of Recluse Spider in the genus Loxosceles you have photographed. Exact identification may take a spider expert and may require actual examination of the specimen. BugGuide posts a map with species distribution, and it seems Loxosceles apachea, Loxosceles arizonica, Loxosceles deserta, Loxosceles kaiba and Loxosceles sabina can all be found in Arizona, but there are no photographs identifying the differences between the species. Both Loxosceles apachea and Loxosceles arizonica have ranges near the Tucson area. BugGuide also indicates of the Loxosceles: “Brown spiders will not bite unless provoked. Little is known about the venom and bite of the lesser-known species of brown spiders. ‘Although there are suspected variations in virulence among the species, all Loxosceles spiders should be considered potentially capable of producing dermonecrosis to some extent.’ (Arachnids Submitted as Suspected Brown Recluse Spiders (Araneae: Sicariidae): Loxosceles Spiders Are Virtually Restricted to Their Known Distributions but Are Perceived to Exist Throughout the United States by Rick Vetter). Loxosceles venom is cytotoxic to humans. “
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Posted 28 November 2008
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possible false photo?
Dear Bug Man,
One more thing regarding your picture of the Brown Recluse spider bite. These pictures were also passed around in 2003 when I was in the Navy. It passed around our ship and everybody was frightened because there were reports of spider bites in my ship. I checked at this address :
http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/brownrecluse.asp
and it could be false photos. The last two pictures look computer rendered. thanks alot!
John
Hi John,
We post the images that people send to us. We are not fully convinced they are either genuine or a hoax.
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Posted 20 April 2006
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good site
I have a website, and put a link to yours on mine so that others can see what the spiders actually look like. Most persons including myself dont know the differences between the species. I got an education looking at the pictures you have. I hope you dont mind. I am a paramedic and I get to see the bites, and the pictures I have on my webpage are bites from different kinds of spiders in Pennsylvania. The persons in the pictures saw the spiders as they smacked them, and got bit. I figured it would be better to refer people to your site, since I only use pictures that I took myself.
David Macher
www.cprpgh.fanspace.com (spider bite page)
Hi David,
We are flattered that you posted a link to our humble site. We have put your letter at the top of our Spider Bite page. The public needs to be educated not to swat at spiders and biting or stinging insects, but to blow them off to avoid injury.
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Posted 11 July 2005
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These photos were received by me via e-mail to alert people to the danger of its bite. You may not be able to show the reaction on your website but you could alert everyone to be extremely cautious.
Jill Allford living in southwestern Missouri.
Thank you Jill,
We recently received the identical photos from another reader. The Brown Recluse bite causes the tissue around the bite to die leaving a horrible scar. We will build a new page devoted specifically to bites thanks to your letter.
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Posted 10 June 2004
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Dear Editor,
I got this email and the attachment says the person got bitten by this spider had this kind of severe wound. I’d like to ask if a spider bite can really cause this kind of wounds? The spider doesn’t look like a black widow or like kind.
Thanks.
NC .
And now the bite:
Day 5 and Day 6
Day 9 and Day 10
Dear Nora,
According to Hogue: The Brown Recluse or Violin Spider, Loxosceles species, has come to the public’s attention beginning in the late 1960’s as a possible spider menace. The venom of these spiders acts on the tissues locally, rather than on the nervous system in general like the Black Widow. This causes a troublesome sore, which may grow in size and be so s=resistant to healing that plastic surgery is indicated. Violin spiders build their small loose webs in dark recesses. Common habitats outdoors are wood piles, spaces in and under stones and wood debris loosely set on the ground. and piles of broken concrete. Indoors, they occupypacking crates,piles of old books and newspapers, and other accumulations of trash. They are rare in Los Angeles.
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Posted 12 April 2004
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