Family: Sicariidae = Brown recluse spiders. Brown recluse spider: what it looks like and how it is dangerous to humans. In what part of the world can you expect an attack from this creature? In other words – where does the brown recluse spider live?

Class: Arachnida Lamarck, 1801 = Arachnida
Order: Araneae Clerck, 1757 = Spiders
n/order: Araneomorphae = Araneomorphic spiders
Family: Sicariidae = Brown recluse spiders
Genus: Sicarius Walckenaer, 1847 =
Genus: Loxosceles Heineken & Lowe, 1832 = Loxosceles

Family: Sicariidae = Brown recluse spiders

Read more: All about the life of spiders

TO small family Brown recluse spiders (Sicariidae) include about 130 species poisonous spiders belonging to two genera. The most poisonous members of the family are considered: brown recluse spider Loxosceles reclusa and the spider Sicarius hahni, whose venom is necrotic and they are dangerous to humans.

Representatives of the genus Loxosceles are found almost everywhere, with the exception of the extreme north of Asia and the north of North America, and representatives of the genus Sicarius inhabit South America, Galapagos Islands and the African continent.

Species: Loxosceles reclusa Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940 = Brown recluse spider

Brown spider-hermit (eng. Fiddleback Spider, Violin Spider) is one of the most poisonous representatives of the family of brown hermit spiders.

It is known for its venom, which causes tissue death (necrosis) at the site of the bite. The brown recluse spider is distributed from the midwestern United States to the Gulf of Mexico, although it is not found in California, where other species of the genus Loxosceles live. A closely related species, the red hermit spider, is found in the Hawaiian Islands. Most of the time they lead a secretive lifestyle, hiding in secluded places: in crevices under stones and among tree roots, in burrows of small animals and other natural voids.

natural origin

The brown recluse spider has a relatively small size - the male's body length in the leg span can reach 6-20 mm, females are slightly larger than males. The body of spiders on top can be brown, gray or dark yellow. On the top of the cephalothorax there is a pattern resembling a violin in shape, although this pattern is not

distinctive feature

of this species, since representatives of other families of arachnids can also have similar patterns.

Another feature of brown recluse spiders is the presence of not 4, but 3 pairs of eyes. The abdomen and legs are covered with short sensitive hairs. The legs of recluse spiders are long and thin, and when at rest they are widely spaced. By way of life, these are nocturnal spiders: they go out hunting in the dark. Males usually leave their web, going to explore distant surroundings, while females are not so willing to take this step. Therefore, females usually hunt near their “home”. The main prey of brown recluse spiders are insects and other spiders. In search of prey, it is precisely such night raids that hermit spiders accidentally find themselves in human dwellings.

In places hidden from human eyes, female brown recluse spiders store their clutch of eggs. The female lays eggs in special large sacs made of whitish cobwebs. Its diameter can sometimes reach 7.5 millimeters. The female places 30 to 50 eggs inside it. As spiderlings grow, they molt, changing their tight outfit for a new, looser one. During their growing period, they have to molt up to 5-8 times. The shed skin is quite hard and can be stored in the ground.

The consequences of a brown recluse spider bite always depend on the amount of poison that manages to enter the victim’s body. Therefore, there are cases when bites for the victim go almost unnoticed and without serious consequences. But if there was a lot of poison, then the consequences are the most unpleasant, and the bite of this spider leads to the disease loxoscelism. Its main symptom is extensive necrosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. In addition, the disease is accompanied by constant malaise, nausea, fever and other unpleasant sensations. The size of the developed ulcer can reach large sizes, up to 25 centimeters in diameter. And accordingly, after healing, ugly depressed scars remain at the site of such wounds. In severe cases, necrosis can affect tissues not only skin

, but also

internal organs

, although this happens very rarely. There have been cases of death in young children, elderly people and people with weakened bodies.

Prevention of spider bites for people living in the habitat of brown recluse spiders comes down to the need to follow a few simple rules: 1) keep the house in order, 2) carefully check clothes and shoes before putting them on, 3) clean regularly, removing cobwebs from far corners, 4) sealing all cracks and cracks through which spiders can enter the house, etc.

June 25, 2016

About 400 million years have passed since the first spider appeared on planet Earth. At the moment there are already more than forty thousand species. Spiders are not insects, they are a separate class and a separate order - arachnids.
In the Spiders order and in the Arachnida class there is a family of poisonous creatures - recluse spiders. They pose a great danger to humans, since their bite is invisible, and the poison is very toxic. The brown (or brown) recluse spider is considered the most poisonous of this family. If your place of residence is where this harmful creature lives, you need to be able to recognize it. Brown recluse spider One of this family is the brown spider, or brown spider (hermit), its photo is presented below.

This poisonous creature of nature cannot be considered one of the friendliest individuals, but, nevertheless, it is distinguished by its activity and moderately annoying character. Perhaps the brown recluse spider would have remained an unremarkable arthropod to this day, but the strange property of its venom attracted the attention of scientists to it. Professor Binford explains that these spiders have been using their venom for about 120 million years.

Habitats of the eight-legged “monster”

This type of spider is found in the midwestern United States, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. They have not yet reached California, but representatives of the Looseness genus live in those places. The red hermit spider is found in Hawaii (see photo below). He is a relative of the eight-legged "monster".

Global warming may cause this arachnid species to move further north. So getting to know its representatives in detail will come in handy. Currently, Georgia, the Mediterranean and South part Russia.

Spiders love to hide in the roots of trees, in animal burrows, and in general wherever there are shady places. Over time, the recluse spider can increasingly be found in the garage, basement, toilet and attic, as well as in sewer hatches. Hermits began to behave like full-fledged neighbors of people, settling in apartments and houses.

Appearance of a little hermit

The brown spider is small in size. When the legs are spread out, the length of its body is 6-20 mm. This deadly spider-it is not always possible to notice the hermit because he is very small. Females are larger in size than males.

The body is predominantly brown, sometimes gray and dark yellow individuals can be found. The brown recluse spider is also called the fiddle spider. This was facilitated by the fact that the pattern located on the head and chest is very reminiscent of this musical instrument.

A distinctive feature of this species is the presence of 6 eyes instead of 8. Small sensitive hairs are visible on the abdominal part and paws. The legs of the recluse spider are quite long and thin. When he is in a calm state, his paws are widely spaced.

Lifestyle

According to their lifestyle, brown recluse spiders are nocturnal predators. They hunt for food in the dark. Males emerge from their webs and go on night raids to explore distant territories. Females do not do this very willingly; they usually prefer to hunt near their home. For the rest of the day, small nocturnal hunters sit in a secluded place.

The food for the brown recluse spider is everything that falls into traps, the role of which is played by the web. The prey is mainly small insects and other spiders. It is not at all difficult for hermits to obtain food; it does not require much work. Scientists face unsolved mystery about why nature endowed this insect with potent poison. The eight-legged “monsters” live calmly and don’t bother anyone unnecessarily.

Reproduction

A female brown recluse spider, choosing a secluded place away from prying eyes, begins to lay eggs in white cocoon bags. Each such cocoon, woven by the female from the web personally, contains 40-50 eggs. The size of the pouch is about 7.5 mm in diameter.

Numerous brown recluse spider babies are born and molt many times before they mature. They change their outfit 5-8 times. These creatures endure such a procedure painfully; it is unpleasant for them. It is possible that this is why hermits show anger and bite painfully.

The discarded spider outfit is quite tough; it can be stored in the ground for a long time. Experienced specialists use it for identification when studying insects of this species. Under natural conditions, the brown recluse spider can live 2-4 years.

Recluse spider bite - danger to humans

For people, the most terrible animals, oddly enough, are poisonous spiders. They can quietly approach their prey and deliver a “stab in the back.” It is clear that there is no one who wants to be in her place! Among the most dangerous arthropods in the world are hermit spiders. The venom of these animals is a slow-acting one, its manifestation can only be noticed several hours after the bite. At first, the person feels a slight tingling or burning sensation. Then everything will depend on how much poison has entered the body. If you get a lot of it, after 5-6 hours the bite site will begin to swell and a blister will appear. The following signs appear:

Malfunctions of the heart.
. Intestinal problems (disorder).
. Annoying cough and runny nose.

Often tissue necrosis develops after a spider bite. It is facilitated by the presence of many enzymes in the venom. Necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue delays the healing process for three long years. It is possible that a bite can lead to the death of the victim, which is often observed in young children and the elderly.

Precautionary measures

Although this poisonous creature is not aggressive, if you disturb it, you cannot expect mercy: if it bites, it will bite! It is better to avoid such a situation in time and protect yourself from deadly poison. To do this, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

Clean the house thoroughly, removing cobwebs in a timely manner.
. Avoid the formation of cracks in the walls; if they appear, immediately cover or plug them.
. Before you put on any items, you need to inspect them carefully.
. Before going to bed, it is also necessary to inspect the sleeping area.
. There should be no trash or boxes under the bed, and the bed itself must not be placed close to the wall.

If you adhere to the above rules, it is quite possible to avoid an attack by a dangerous creature that can bring big trouble.

Need help for a brown spider bite

When a brown spider bites you, you should immediately do everything possible to stop the spread of the venom. You can put ice on the bite site. Be sure to treat the wound with one of the antiseptics and, of course, seek medical help.

Previously, during treatment, the damaged area of skin was surgically removed. Currently, therapy is carried out with antibiotics. If a person applies on time, serum is administered.

One of the smallest, and one of the most poisonous, perhaps this is how one can briefly describe the brown recluse spider, which is often called the lone spider. If you meet this baby at the wrong time and in the wrong place, you can pay a huge price for it, because its bite is incredibly dangerous for humans.

Where does he live?

From the midwestern United States all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, and its relative, the red recluse spider, is often found in Hawaii. They are located in cracks under stones, in small holes under tree roots, and other places where there are crevices, weaving there a soft bed of cobwebs. The brown spider really likes it where there is a tree and twilight. It can increasingly be found in basements, sheds, manholes, and adapts perfectly to environment, changed by man.

What does it look like?

Incredibly tiny - the size of the spider, including the span of its legs, can be only 5-25 millimeters!

Females, as often happens, are larger than males. For greater camouflage, nature has awarded them not only a small size, but also suitable color- brown, gray, dark yellow, making the spider impossible to notice immediately. On the cephalothorax you can see a pattern that is somewhat similar to a violin.

However, this is not a distinctive sign of this type of spider; its other brethren also have such marks. Brown lonely spiders have 6 eyes, that is, only 3 pairs, and not 4, as is customary for most spiders.

The life and adventures of a little spider

The brown recluse spider hunts mainly at night. Males willingly leave their “home” and can wander anywhere in search of prey, including flesh and human habitation. Females leave their homes reluctantly; they prefer to hunt close to the house, sometimes without moving even a dozen meters.

The lifespan of these spiders is on average 2-4 years. Your eggs, like sacs white, the female stores it in very carefully selected, hidden places. Babies molt up to 10 times as they grow up.

Brown spider and man

The brown spider is incredibly dangerous for humans. Due to the fact that a spider can wander into a person’s house, climb into clothes scattered on the floor or even into a bed, or sit in the carpet, the likelihood of an unpleasant encounter increases significantly.

And the brown spider's tiny size makes it difficult to detect. The brown spider never attacks first; it does so only in self-defense. It bites people if they, without noticing it, sit on it, or begin to deliberately disturb it. You should never pick up a spider; it is better to give it the opportunity to hide unhindered, because curiosity can be very expensive.

The venom of the brown spider has a slightly different effect than that of or. However, it is extremely toxic and dangerous.

Gangrenous ecthyma.

Necrotizing cabbage soup and vasculitis. Necrotizing fasciitis.

Pyoderma gangrenosum.

Polyarteritis nodosa.

Treatment

For effective treatment For most bites, only supportive measures are sufficient.

Mild localized reactions are treated by applying ice, cold, wet compresses, keeping the bite site elevated, and prescribing mild analgesics. Cold limits sphingomyelinase D. Necrotic skin areas require routine local measures to treat wounds and ulcers. Surgical debridement is usually not necessary.

■ Antibiotics and tetanus toxoid are prescribed according to indications.

To prevent severe necrosis, dapsone is prescribed at a dose of 50-100 mg/day orally.

■ Data on the use of systemic steroids are conflicting.

Nuances

A sufficiently high degree of suspicion for a bite is required to make an appropriate diagnosis.

■ Brown recluse spider bites can cause a severe dermal necrosis reaction that can be mistaken for other systemic diseases.

The characteristic dark violin-shaped marking is located on the back of the spider. The wide base of the “violin” is located closer to the head, and the neck of the “violin” points in the direction of the abdomen.

The brown recluse spider is considered one of the most poisonous spiders in the world. Scientists classify it as an arthropod arachnid of the spider order, family Sicariidae. The genus this spider belongs to is called Loxosceles.

Poisonous spiders are the most dangerous animals for us. They sneak up unnoticed and can strike what is called “in the back.” Who would want to become a victim of this eight-legged creature? There are probably few people willing!

If a person does happen to be bitten by this insidious creature, then tissue necrosis occurs at the site of the bite, which is deadly!

What does this little eight-legged monster look like?

This hermit spider is small in size. If he straightens his paws, then their span is from 6 to 20 millimeters. It is not always possible to even notice this deadly spider right away. Females are larger in size than males.

Body color is predominantly Brown color. But there are also yellow and gray representatives of this species. On the upper part of the cephalothorax the recluse spider has something resembling a violin.

A distinctive feature of this species is the presence of only 6 eyes, instead of 8. The abdominal part and paws are covered with small hairs.

In what part of the world can we expect this creature to attack? In other words, where does the brown recluse spider live?

The territories of his residence are considered to be: the midwestern United States. Further, the range goes south – to the Gulf of Mexico. But the state of California was not included in the list of its “homes,” although representatives of arachnids similar to the brown spider live there.

Lifestyle of a recluse spider

Brown recluse spiders are nocturnal predators. Like most spiders, they weave spider webs that catch their prey.

Almost the rest of the day, except at night, they sit out in secluded places - among the roots, under stones, in rodent burrows. But sometimes they become close “neighbors” of people, which is a very dangerous circumstance for the latter.

What does the insidious spider eat?

All living things that fall into his web and become food for him. Basically, its prey is insects, as well as other spiders.

Reproduction of poisonous hermits

In secluded places, away from prying eyes, the female brown recluse spider lays eggs. The eggs are located in a whitish sac, “woven” personally by the female from a web, the size of which can reach 7.5 millimeters in diameter. During one mating season, 30 to 50 eggs are laid.

Once born, young individuals undergo many molts before reaching adulthood. Each molt for a spider is a very unpleasant and even painful condition. Maybe that's why some spiders are so angry and bite so painfully?

IN natural environment Brown recluse spiders live up to two to four years.

A week later…

How to protect yourself from a recluse spider bite?

In fact, these eight-legged creatures are not aggressive at all; they themselves rarely attack without reason. But if you disturb a spider... for example, when it got into the laundry and you started cleaning... you shouldn’t expect mercy - it will bite!

Immediately after a brown spider bite, tissue necrosis occurs, that is, tissue death. Typically an adult healthy person with a strong immune system, nothing threatens you except an unpleasant wound, of course, if you consult a doctor in time. But small children and elderly people, as well as sick people, are less fortunate. Their body is not able to resist the toxins contained in the spider's venom as easily. Therefore, there have been cases of death.