SPIDERS

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Class:  Arachnida

Order:  Araneae

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Spiders are easily recognized.  Spiders have eight (8) legs that separates them from insects that have (6) legs.  Spiders do not have any wings or antennae.

All spiders have a jaw like structure called “chelicerae”.  Located at the end of each structure is a hollow claw like fang.  Each fang has an opening in the end through which venom is injected.

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BLACK WIDOW:

The Black Widow, Latrodectus mactans fabricus, is the best known spider.  The widow is shiny black and has two reddish or yellowish triangles on the underside.  These triangles resemble the appearance of an “hourglass” marking.

The Black Widow spiders venom contains toxins that are neurotoxic, this means they are toxic to the nervous system.  The severity of a black widow’s bite depends on:

The location a person is bitten.

The amount of toxin that is injected.

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The temperature and the seasonal change in the potency of the venom.

The bite of a black widow produces a sharp pain similar to a needle puncture that disappears quickly.  After a variety of symptoms, convulsions and death may occur, especially if a person is sensitive and no treatment is received.

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BROWN RECLUSE:

The Brown Recluse, laxosceles reclusa, can also inflict a dangerous bite.

The initial pain from a bite is not intense like a bee sting.  However, within 8 to 12 hours the pain becomes very intense.  Ulcerous sores will form and heal very slowly causing a disfiguring scar.

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The body of a brown recluse is a dark brown and has a distinctive dark “fiddle or violin” shaped mark on the cephalothorax.

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The brown recluse is commonly found in structures around ceiling ductwork-registers and in cluttered areas like basements & closets.

Most bites occur when turning over in bed and disturbing the spider.

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Clothes that are not worn often are a good location to find the brown recluse, people are often bitten when they put these clothes on and disturb the spider.  These spiders are not aggressive unless disturbed. 

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If bitten, and the bite is in a sensitive location that produces anxiety, seek medical attention immediately.  Your doctor should be aware of an oxygen treatment to reduce or eliminate scarring.

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While many spiders exist in our daily environment, they are not life threatening.  Albeit, they may be life threatening to people who live in fear of spiders and insects and/or the elderly that may have weak hearts. 

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Lone Pine Exterminating can provide an initial treatment for spiders and pests, then provide a maintenance as often as once per year or semi-annually to prevent spiders & pest from using your home or business as a harboring site.