that is not a brown recluse in the first picture, it's one of the wolf spiders and they rarely bite and aren't dangerous in the USA. a brown recluse bite is never fatal either and what you described sounds like probably a spider bite but nothing to worry about. all spiders have venom and a big crab spider can leave an itchy, swollen, red bite.
brown recluse bites usually start off as a painful, red, barely swollen (if at all) bite that will slough (kind of like a scab coming off) over and over and ever time, the area gets bigger and can be really bad. they'll usually only give you antibiotics and tell you to keep it clean, usually don't give you anti-inflammatories, usually no pain meds (shouldn't hurt bad after a little while, looks much worse) and they usually leave huge scars.
a lot of folks have a brown recluse population in their house. thing is, they're not out to get you, they aren't great climbers, they have only 6 eyes so they aren't as quick to get out of your way and usually stick close to the walls at night and prefer dark places. you may see them cross a room later in the evening and they usually come into contact with humans then. if you'll just shake your shoes every time and if you have any coats hanging up or anything for a long time, just shake them a bit. nearly all bites come from when they are in something (bed, shoe, clothing) and you just mash them when you put it on or get in it and they defend themselves.
they aren't aggressive and you should be able to pick it up and remove it. they're really cool spiders.
wolf spiders are outdoors, terrestrial spiders and if they are in your home, they don't mean to be. they can get large and look scary, but are harmless, although some people have shown a necrotic reaction to them in europe, but it seems to be more about the people's immune system than the spiders, kind of like how some are affected by poison ivy and some aren't. the poison isn't the problem, it's that the immune system THINKS it's a problem and reacts, causing the welts, etc.
a big brown recluse is about the size of a quarter (leg spread) and they're fragile looking although in the southeast USA, the abdomen seems to get larger and make them look bigger.
they usually have brownish legs with grayish bodies. a LOT of spiders have a "violin" shape on them though, and if you look hard enough, you'll find it nearly every time. it's very clear and basically the only markings on a brown recluse. they aren't spotted, striped, etc. just the violin shape on the thorax, brown legs and gray body.
that's what they usually look like.
brown recluse bites usually start off as a painful, red, barely swollen (if at all) bite that will slough (kind of like a scab coming off) over and over and ever time, the area gets bigger and can be really bad. they'll usually only give you antibiotics and tell you to keep it clean, usually don't give you anti-inflammatories, usually no pain meds (shouldn't hurt bad after a little while, looks much worse) and they usually leave huge scars.
a lot of folks have a brown recluse population in their house. thing is, they're not out to get you, they aren't great climbers, they have only 6 eyes so they aren't as quick to get out of your way and usually stick close to the walls at night and prefer dark places. you may see them cross a room later in the evening and they usually come into contact with humans then. if you'll just shake your shoes every time and if you have any coats hanging up or anything for a long time, just shake them a bit. nearly all bites come from when they are in something (bed, shoe, clothing) and you just mash them when you put it on or get in it and they defend themselves.
they aren't aggressive and you should be able to pick it up and remove it. they're really cool spiders.
wolf spiders are outdoors, terrestrial spiders and if they are in your home, they don't mean to be. they can get large and look scary, but are harmless, although some people have shown a necrotic reaction to them in europe, but it seems to be more about the people's immune system than the spiders, kind of like how some are affected by poison ivy and some aren't. the poison isn't the problem, it's that the immune system THINKS it's a problem and reacts, causing the welts, etc.
a big brown recluse is about the size of a quarter (leg spread) and they're fragile looking although in the southeast USA, the abdomen seems to get larger and make them look bigger.
they usually have brownish legs with grayish bodies. a LOT of spiders have a "violin" shape on them though, and if you look hard enough, you'll find it nearly every time. it's very clear and basically the only markings on a brown recluse. they aren't spotted, striped, etc. just the violin shape on the thorax, brown legs and gray body.
that's what they usually look like.
Comment