Where does the brown recluse spider live? Harmless in appearance and deadly - the brown recluse spider

Among spiders there are species that pose a considerable danger to humans. These include the recluse spider, whose bite causes severe necrotic skin lesions, in some cases resulting in death. The Latin name of this dangerous insect is Loxosceles reclusa. It lives in eastern North America, from where it often migrates to the south and southwest of the continent. In Europe, fortunately, the spider is not found.

The recluse spider has a wide distribution, which, in addition to its toxicity, makes meeting it dangerous for humans

Description of the insect

Outwardly, the recluse spider reminds everyone of the familiar harmless haymaker. It has a small body 5-7 mm long and long legs with a span of up to 15-20 mm. It is colored brown, dark yellow or gray. On the cephalothorax there is a pattern similar to a violin.

The hermit has some characteristics, distinguishing it from other spiders:

  • it has only three pairs of eyes, while other species have four;
  • there is no pattern on the abdomen and legs;
  • the body is covered with hairs;
  • the web is sticky, chaotic, without the usual radial structure.

The spider sits on a flat surface (stones, walls) with its limbs spread wide apart. Sensing danger, he takes a protective pose: the front legs are tucked in, the middle legs (pedipalps) are raised, the hind legs are spread out.

The arthropod received the name “hermit” thanks to solitary lifestyle. It does not spread webs between trees or on grass. During the day, the spider hides in inaccessible dry places: under stones, snags, in crevices, in the burrows of small animals, and only comes out to hunt at night.

This video explains the characteristics of the recluse spider:

It is not attached to its web and can move quite far from the nest. The brown recluse looks for other spiders and other insects, attacks them and injects poison, which instantly kills them. Spider venom is very toxic, its composition has not been fully studied.

Spiders make nests in hidden, hard-to-reach places. They spin cocoons and lay eggs in them. There are up to 40-50 eggs in one cocoon. The spider reliably guards the clutch and practically does not leave the nest until the offspring appear. As they grow, young spiders change their shell up to 8 times. The lifespan of hermits is 2−4 years, some individuals live up to 6 years.

Attack on people

Brown hermits like to settle in dry, warm, abandoned or little-visited rooms: summer houses, garages, sheds, attics, woodpiles. They sneak into them through cracks, open windows and doors. There, insects hide in secluded places: behind radiators, paintings, between furniture and walls, in old boxes.


 While in its habitat, carefully inspect the area around it to avoid unfortunate incidents

Brown recluse spider not aggressive. He attacks only if he senses danger: he was crushed, stepped on, invaded the nest or disturbed the clutch. Hermits often bite people while cleaning the premises. Spiders can crawl into your bed, clothes or shoes at night. There were many cases where people were bitten right in bed or in the morning when they were getting dressed or putting on their shoes. The areas most commonly affected by bites are the arms, neck and lower abdomen.

In the United States, spider attacks on people are not uncommon. About 7,000 people are bitten each year. Quite often they lead to death.

Several years ago, the media reported an invasion of recluse spiders on a house in Missouri. Almost 6,000 small arthropods attacked people. The inhabitants of the house had to urgently leave their home.

Danger of a poisonous bite

The brown spider has a transparent and viscous venom. Its bite feels like a needle prick. Very often it goes unnoticed. Consequences of a bite depend on how much poison has entered the human body. There are people for whom it has practically no effect - only a small red spot remains at the wound site, which heals quickly.


 Spider venom causes tissue necrosis; if left to chance, the likelihood of blood poisoning is extremely high

The majority, under the influence of the enzymes contained in the poison, develop a disease called loxoscelism. A person immediately or after 5-6 hours develops allergic reaction:

  • nausea;
  • sweating;
  • itching, chills, discomfort.

Then, in people who are hypersensitive to the poison, a pale spot appears at the site of the bite. It deepens, increases, and dry gray-blue spots appear around. In severe cases, a gangrenous wound opens at the site of the lesion, which heals very slowly. In especially severe cases, damage to internal organs occurs, followed by death. This usually happens to young children and the elderly.

Help for the victim

If a bite is detected, a person must immediately provide first aid. The affected area is washed with soap and water, then ice wrapped in a clean cloth is applied to it for 10 minutes. This is done several times. The cold will prevent the poison from entering the bloodstream and spreading throughout the body. If an arm or leg is injured, a splint is placed on it.


 In the first minutes after a bite, it is extremely important to slow down the spread of poison throughout the victim’s body as much as possible.

For disinfection, the bite site is treated with antiseptic agents, and the victim is given antihistamines. He needs to be sent to a medical facility as quickly as possible. It is advisable to catch the spider, place it in a jar with a ground-in lid and give it to specialists for examination.

There is no antidote for the venom of the brown recluse spider. To treat a bite, antibiotics, agents to reduce inflammation, antimicrobial and antiallergic drugs, and heparin are used. In some cases, doctors suggest surgery to stop the poison from spreading throughout the body.

The severity of the consequences will be less, the sooner the victim receives medical assistance.

Precautionary measures

When going to an unfamiliar country, you need to inquire about its poisonous animals. In places where recluse spiders are found, there are the following rules:

  • bedding, clothing and shoes are inspected and shaken before use;
  • wear gloves when doing housework;
  • when carrying stones, firewood, timber, or when repairing the porch, be careful;
  • You should not walk barefoot in rooms where spiders may be found.


Insects love to hide in cracks, furniture and old boxes. The cracks need to be sealed, boxes should be removed from the living space, cabinets and bedside tables should be locked as tightly as possible. Since brown spiders enter the house through windows and doors, use protective nets and seal the cracks. In sheds and attics, various things are stored not in wooden boxes, but in plastic containers. Firewood and lumber are kept away from the house.

Residential areas need to be cleaned regularly. Under beds, sofas and cabinets are thoroughly vacuumed. Dust containers that may contain spiders and their eggs are thrown into trash containers. Insecticides are used for destruction. Places where poisonous creatures can live - under window sills, under baseboards, behind furniture - are sprayed with an aerosol or sprinkled with powder.

The poisonous bite of a recluse spider causes severe allergic diseases, often leading to necrosis and death.

Those affected need immediate medical attention. To prevent bites, it is important to prevent recluse spiders from settling in your home.

The brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa, in English - Fiddleback Spider, or Violin Spider) is the most poisonous member of the brown recluse spider family.

Its venom can cause necrosis (death of tissue) at the site of the bite.

Thus, in terms of the degree of poisonousness, it can be put on a par with such spiders as, Australian and even.

Features of the view

What they look like

Despite the species name, the body of Loxosceles reclusa is not always brown - it can be dark yellow or gray. The females of this insect are slightly larger than the males (the span of the legs is from 0.6 to 2 cm).

A striking feature of the family is dark pattern on the back, resembling a violin in outline(“the neck” is directed downwards). Although this pattern can also be found in closely related forms and even in other representatives of the arachnid genus, it is the brown recluse that is sometimes called the Violin Spider.

But where this poisonous animal really differs from its relatives is the number of eyes. Most spiders have 8 of them, but the recluse has 6: one pair in the center and two on the sides.

Typically, the Fiddleback Spider's legs are spread wide apart, but when danger approaches, it instantly takes a defensive position: it draws its front legs inward, raises its pedipalps (the second pair of legs), and extends its hind legs to jump.

Reproduction

Female brown recluse spiders lay their eggs in white sacs and store them in hidden places. Each such sac, about 7–7.5 mm in size, contains 40–50 eggs. Before reaching adulthood, numerous brown recluse cubs change their outfit to a more spacious one, shedding their chitinous cover at least 5–8 times.

Discarded spider skins have a rigid structure, remain in the ground for a long time and are often used for identification by arachnologists when studying this type of insect. The lifespan of Loxosceles reclusa is from 2 to 4 years.

What do they eat?

Unlike other spiders, brown hermits do not weave clearly structured “lace” trapping nets, making do with simply randomly scattered threads. They feed exclusively on small insects that fall into placed traps, so obtaining food is not particularly difficult for hermits. It remains a mystery why nature needed to endow this insect with such a potent poison.

Where do they live?

Brown recluses range across the United States from the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico, from southeastern Nebraska through Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and southern Ohio, and from Texas through western Georgia and to northern Virginia. Contrary to popular belief, this spider has never been seen in California - only its relatives from the loxosceles family are found there, and in the Hawaiian Islands - the red loxosceles rufescens. In the 70s of the last century, Loxosceles reclusa was brought to Australia from the USA.

For most of its life, the brown recluse spider hides in secluded corners: among the roots of trees, under stones, in animal burrows. But due to the development by people of their permanent habitats, these spiders had to change their way of life. Little by little, they adapted and began to feel like full-fledged neighbors of people, settling in basements, garages, sheds, attics and toilets, as well as underground - in sewer pipes. Often, hermits get very close to a person: they penetrate apartments and houses, finding refuge in shoe boxes, under furniture, behind baseboards. They really like places where there is twilight and trees.

What is the threat to a person from meeting Loxosceles reclusa?

The recluse spider is not aggressive towards humans. These insects generally never attack a larger object than themselves, but bite only for self-defense. Most often, this poisonous insect affects people who are careless and disturb the spider in its “hole,” for example, in a bed, in a closet, in shoes or somewhere among old trash. The spider regards the intrusion as an attempt on its territory and attacks. As a rule, the arms, neck or lower abdomen are bitten.

What to do if you are bitten?

Immediately after the bite, it is necessary to quickly prevent the spread of the poison: treat the wound with an antiseptic, apply ice and immediately go to the hospital. If a limb is affected, it needs to be elevated. It is advisable to catch the spider, put it in a tightly closed container and present it to the doctor for identification.

Previously, doctors removed tissue damaged by the bite, but now treatment is carried out in more gentle ways: with the help of a course of hormone therapy and antibiotics.

If treated in a timely manner, antivenom serum is also used.

There are many other ways to treat bites with varying degrees of effectiveness: dapsone, antihistamines, nitroglycerin, vasodilators, heparin and even electric shock. None of these methods have been specifically studied to determine their effectiveness. In most cases, the consequences of brown recluse spider bites can be cured with traditional medications.

Consequences of a bite

The consequences of a bite directly depend on the amount of poison that the spider manages to release into the body of its victim. If the amount is small, a person may not even notice the bite, and there will be no unpleasant consequences.

It’s another matter if the hermit manages to do his “dirty deed.” The bite itself will not be very painful, similar to a weak needle prick, but after 2–8 hours the pain will increase. The venom of spider violin has a hemolytic effect and causes tissue destruction and necrosis, sometimes even penetrating into internal organs. For children, sick or elderly people, the bite can be fatal.

After a bite, a gangrene scab appears at the site of the lesion. The condition gets worse:

  • nausea,
  • fever,
  • malaise,
  • thrombocytopenia,
  • hemolysis.

The combination of these characteristics is known as loxoscelism.

When a large amount of poison enters the tissue, necrotic ulcers are formed, which grow to 20–25 cm in diameter, destroying soft tissue.

After healing, which usually lasts from 4 to 6 months, a depressed scar remains on the body.

  • inspect the bed before going to bed;
  • do not keep empty boxes and various rubbish under the bed;
  • regularly remove cobwebs;
  • seal cracks and cracks through which insects can enter the house.

    • Science knows only a few species of spiders whose venom can cause tissue necrosis. These include, in particular, Tegeraniaagrestis - the American wandering spider and Cheiracanthiumpunctorium - the pouch spider. But, unlike the brown recluse spider, they never cause such serious injuries to humans. This suggests that Loxosceles reclusa is extremely dangerous.

    American scientists from the Institute of Geology and Biodiversity are trying to develop a so-called method. ecological niche modeling, which will help predict the distribution of this insect species and improve the treatment of bites.

    Spiders (arachnids) are silent killers that, if attacked, cause the instant death of their victim. Patient and calculating arachnids (all spiders belong to this class) weave trapping, killing webs from invisible sticky threads. Up to 30 thousand species of spiders are known. They live next to humans - in houses, forests, fields, and ponds. And, of course, a spider bite is not uncommon, especially if a person is in the habitat of spiders.

    All spiders are poisonous. Venom glands are located on two head appendages - chelicerae. They need poison to kill and digest their prey. The main prey is insects. Some tropical spiders have a web with a diameter of 2 m and can even interrupt the flight of a small bird. They feed on frogs, mice, small birds, fish and even their own brothers - cannibalism among spiders is quite common. Most spiders are not capable of causing significant harm to humans. Although the venom is strong, its small amount and poorly developed injection mechanism limit the number of species dangerous to humans. The only dangerous ones for people are those that can pierce the skin. The most common species include karakurt (black widow), tarantula, scorpion, hermit spider, cross spider, tarantula spider, and house spider.

    spider bite the next day

    Most spider bites have common characteristics, such as a small blister in the middle, swelling and swelling surrounding the bite site, and a large circle of redness. On the outer side of the bite site the redness is paler. It's important to note that a spider can only bite once, so if you have multiple bites, it's likely that it was someone else who bit someone other than a spider, or that multiple spiders bit you at once. A typical spider bite goes away within a few days and, in most cases, does not require special attention.
    However, if the bite site looks different - a large bubble appears, bright redness quickly spreading to the sides, blue discoloration of large areas of the skin - these are serious signs that you need to react to immediately and contact a medical facility immediately.
    In the photo you can see the differences - what a bite from a safe spider looks like and a bite that is dangerous to health.

    What to do if bitten by a spider

    1. First of all, don't panic! Although all spiders look scary, there are only about 12 species whose bite has a serious impact on people or animals. The two most dangerous are the black widow spider and brown recluses.
    2. Check the wound. After a bite, pay attention to the site of the bite - whether there is redness, swelling and burning pain. There may be abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, fever, dizziness. The most dangerous reactions are difficulty breathing and shock. If there is anything more than just a bite mark, slight redness and pain, you need to call an ambulance or see a doctor.
    3. Spider identification - if possible and safe. Some spider bites require serious treatment, including antitoxins. If you are unable to identify the spider, this will be helpful in determining appropriate treatment. It will help a lot if you can catch the spider in a jar or box (just remember to be safe). Or at least take a photo of it and show the photo to the doctor.

    First aid for a spider bite

    1. To reduce blood flow in the affected area, it is necessary to secure the arm or leg with a belt or scarf - as if there was a fracture. This will prevent the poison from quickly spreading into the blood and spreading throughout the body.
    2. Wash the bite with soap and water. Regardless of whether the spider is harmless or poisonous, it should be washed thoroughly as soon as possible. Even an ordinary spider can cause an infection in the wound when bitten.
    3. Apply a cold compress or ice to the bite site.
    4. Drink plenty of fluids - this will ensure that the poison is quickly eliminated through the kidneys.
    5. Take a pain reliever - for example, analgin or ibuprofen.
    6. And also an antihistamine that will reduce allergic symptoms - itching, burning, rash.

    If you suspect you have been bitten by a poisonous spider, you can apply a tight bandage above the bite if it is on an arm or leg, making sure you do not completely cut off the circulation.

    The goal is to slow the spread of the venom, not stop blood flow to the extremities. If the bite is on another part of the body, apply ice and get to a medical facility immediately. Hospitalization is required for most of these types of bites.

    Recluse spider bite

    One of the four spiders whose bite poses a danger to humans is the recluse spider. The brown recluse is generally not aggressive and generally bites people as a defense mechanism, usually when a person's leg or arm accidentally gets too close.

    The brown recluse has a clear fiddle pattern on its back in the midsection of its body - pictured.

    The venom of the recluse spider contains powerful cytotoxins and hemolytic enzymes that destroy red blood cells. Although the sting is not usually painful at first, there is a burning sensation similar to a bee sting for the first few minutes after the sting.
    A small white blister may also appear at the site of the bite.

    Additional symptoms usually develop two to eight hours after a recluse spider bite. Sometimes it takes up to 12 hours until symptoms of the bite develop. Signs:

    • severe pain at the site of the bite
    • severe itching
    • nausea
    • vomit
    • fever
    • muscle pain

    Local symptoms

    Initially, you may see slight signs of redness at the site of the spider bite.

    In most cases, the skin at the site of the bite then hardens and scar tissue may take several days to form. More severe local reactions also occur and can cause blistering, discoloration of the skin, and necrosis of the skin area.

    Treatment

    Because The reaction to a recluse spider bite can be sudden and severe; it is necessary to contact a specialist to prescribe treatment. A visit to the doctor should not be delayed until symptoms appear; see a doctor as soon as possible.
    If possible, the spider should be caught and brought to a doctor or emergency room for evaluation.

    There are no known antivenoms for brown recluse bites, so your doctor may prescribe pain relievers, antihistamines to relieve itching, or recommend icing the bite to reduce pain and swelling.

    Cross spider bite

    The cross is a small creature harmless to humans that lives quietly, hunting insects that fall into their nets. The sharp poisonous fangs of the spider are primarily a tool for hunting and serve to protect it from other spiders. The victim, falling into the trap, is quickly paralyzed by the poison, and then the spider devours it.
    The cross spider looks quite harmless - it is distinguished by its characteristic cross pattern on its back. The color varies from green to gray, depending on the habitat. The cross is very common - it lives almost everywhere.

    A human bite can only be accidental. Their teeth are not able to damage hard skin, but thinner areas of the body are not a problem. Most often, this situation can arise while walking in the forest, picking mushrooms or traveling. Cross plants grow quickly and can reach impressive sizes in late summer.

    They stretch webs of web between the trees at the height of a human face. An inattentive mushroom picker falls into the network being laid and completely destroys it. Then the insect, willy-nilly, tries to escape or hides under clothing. At the moment, we can accidentally crush the insect and then the spider bites.

    Sometimes such situations occur during sleep. Spiders are nocturnal creatures and often move around in search of good hunting spots. A sleeping person, feeling a slight tingling sensation on his body, instinctively trying to scratch himself, crushes it, exposing himself to a bite. Erythema or swelling may occur on the body in the area of ​​the spider bite. Usually these symptoms go away on their own.

    The poison of the cross does not cause any harm to humans. However, people with allergies or sensitive to spider toxins should consult a doctor.

    Tarantula bite

    The bite of a tarantula (Lycosa, Theraphosidae) does not pose a danger to humans, but may be accompanied by pain and swelling. After being bitten, the animal performs a defensive maneuver, while shedding hairs from its abdomen. Small hairs getting into the eyes and skin cause pain and urticarial rash. A type of tarantula is the tarantula spider.

    Tarantula spider bite

    There are 400 species of tarantulas of different colors. From cobalt blue to gray or dark brown, sometimes black. The tarantula reaches sizes from 9-10 to 17-23 cm, although its body is no more than 10 cm. The rest is on the legs.
    Tarantulas live a very long time - from 25 to 40 years, but this depends on the gender of the spider. He is one of the most terrible spiders (outwardly) - his weight is 80 grams! The tarantula spider does not spin a web like other spiders, but pursues prey with its long legs and paralyzes it with venom. It feeds on small insects - grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, and even small lizards.

    Incredibly, the spider has eight eyes - two in front and two each on the left, right side and back! They usually dig holes in the ground and build a house there.

    Tarantulas are poisonous, but most types of venom are not strong enough to seriously harm anyone.

    A tarantula bite can be compared to a wasp or bee sting. In most cases, this is harmless, although a person who has an allergy may react like a bee sting.
    Recently, some people have started keeping the tarantula spider as a pet. A human bite can happen due to negligence when a spider tries to escape from a terrarium.
    First aid for a tarantula bite is no different from other bites - you should consult a doctor if you have an allergy or signs of wound infection.

    Karakurt bite

    Karakurt (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) is a poisonous spider that lives in Moldova, Crimea, and Central Asia. Females that have a pair of tubular poisonous glands located on the upper jaw are dangerous to humans. The poisonous segment (chelicerum) ends in a movable sharp claw with an opening for the duct of the poisonous gland. The female has a spherical, dense black abdomen with reddish spots. The length of the karakurt is about 10 mm.

    Symptoms of poisoning with karakurt poison

    After a bite, a small, quickly disappearing spot is formed. After 10-20 minutes, severe pain develops at the site of the lesion, which spreads to the abdomen, lower back, and chest. Severe mental agitation, headache, dizziness, suffocation, nausea, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, cyanosis, tachycardia, arrhythmia are observed. Severe drooling may begin. Possible respiratory arrest.

    Black widow bite

    The black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) of the genus Latrodectus lives in the United States. The females of this species are very large: the paw span reaches 5 cm, and the body length is 1.5 cm. There is a red hourglass pattern on the black back.

    Males are smaller, with a white mark on the back, the small size of the venomous apparatus and mild aggressiveness make them practically harmless to humans. When disturbed, they fall to the ground, fold their paws and pretend to be dead. Female black widows are venomous from the moment they are born. If they are guarding laid eggs or feel threatened, they prefer to attack. Spiders use their venom to paralyze prey, from which they then suck the hemolymph.

    The period of post-copulatory passivity of the female allows the male to escape from his partner if she is not very hungry. If the female is hungry, then after mating she eats the “wife”, which is why she is called a “widow”.

    Karakurt venom is a protein with a molecular weight of 130,000. Under the influence of the poison, ion channels are formed in the presynaptic membranes of nerve cells through which Ca 2++ ions enter the cell. Under the influence of the toxin, exocytosis of synaptic vesicles is facilitated and the release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), norepinephrine, and acetylcholine is enhanced.

    Changes in intracellular homeostasis and an increase in the content of biologically active substances in the blood affect the functional state of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

    In case of poisoning with karakurt poison, clinical manifestations develop within 30 minutes. The victim usually feels the sting and describes it as a "puncture". In the area of ​​the spider bite, severe pain is noted, erythema and increased local sweating gradually increase.

    Karakurt bite degree

    When bitten by a black widow, there are three degrees of severity of the disease.

    • I degree; moderate pain at the site of the bite, no general clinical manifestations of intoxication, all laboratory parameters are normal.
    • II degree: muscle pain in the bitten limb. Pain spreading to the abdomen when a leg is bitten or to the chest when an arm is bitten. Profuse sweating at the site of the bite. Vital signs are normal.
    • III degree: generalized muscle pain in the back, chest, abdomen. Strong mental agitation. Headache, dizziness, suffocation, nausea, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, cyanosis, arterial hypertension, tachycardia, arrhythmia. General profuse sweating. Severe drooling. Possible respiratory arrest. Blood tests show increased levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK), leukocytosis, and proteinuria. In the absence of treatment, the maximum severity of symptoms lasts for 12 hours, the duration of intoxication is 48-72 hours.

    in the photo on the left - the bite at the beginning, on the right - on the 3rd day

    Muscle spasms and muscle tension in the anterior abdominal wall sometimes cause misdiagnosis of peritonitis and unnecessary laparoscopy.

    Scorpion sting

    The scorpion spider (Centruroides sculpturatus) is a poisonous spider widely distributed in the world. In Russia it lives in southern latitudes. A structural feature of the scorpion, unlike other arthropods, is the presence of pedipalps with claws; at the end of the abdomen there is a curved sharp sting where the duct of the poisonous glands opens. The most dangerous is the black scorpion, its size is 50-100 mm.

    Scorpion venom binds to sodium channels in cell membranes, causing neurons to re-activate. This is accompanied by a prolongation of the neuronal action potential at the synapses of the autonomic nervous system, which leads to an increase in the blood levels of catecholamines, renin and aldosterone.

    Symptoms of poisoning from a scorpion sting

    The bite causes severe pain, which quickly spreads along the nerve trunks. The victim screams in pain, severe weakness develops, cramps of individual muscle groups occur, blood pressure rises, and the body becomes covered in cold, sticky sweat. A urticarial rash appears in the bite area. In severe cases, motor agitation develops, arterial hypertension turns into hypotension, tachyarrhythmia, ventricular extrasystoles, vomiting, profuse sweating, priapism, and salivation occur.

    Increasing visual impairment, ptosis, involuntary contractions of the tongue muscles are noted, and speech becomes slurred. Within 2-3 hours after the poison is introduced into the body, breathing is impaired and pulmonary edema develops. Death occurs due to the phenomena of increasing acute cardiovascular and respiratory failure.

    When assessing the degree of toxicity of arthropod venom, the following was noted:

    Spider bite treatment

    To reduce the spread of venom from the bite site throughout the body, immobilization of the limb is indicated. The pain is relieved by performing a novocaine blockade, and painkillers are administered: non-narcotic and narcotic analgesics. Cold is applied to the bite area.

    Hormones, antihistamines are administered: blockers of H1 receptors (promethazine (diprazine), chloropyramine (suprastin), etc. and H2 receptors (cimetidine, ranitidine (acylok), etc., vitamins. When excited, benzodiazepines are prescribed. If a karakurt is bitten, an anti-karakurt drug is administered subcutaneously serum. In severe cases, horse immunoglobulin (IgG) is administered. Antitoxin (from horse serum) prevents the venom from binding to presynaptic membranes and remains effective even 46 hours after the bite.

    When a scorpion stings, calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors are prescribed. Propranolol (anaprilin) ​​effectively and quickly stops tachyarrhythmia, but does not improve hemodynamic parameters. In case of respiratory depression, oxygen is supplied; in case of acute respiratory failure, artificial pulmonary ventilation (ALV) is performed.

    About four hundred million years have passed since the first spiders appeared on our planet. Today there are more than forty thousand species of arachnids. Arachnids are a separate class. Hermit spiders are poisonous creatures that pose a huge danger to people. This is explained by the fact that the bite of a recluse spider is invisible, however the poison is very toxic.

    This type of spider is most often found in the eastern part of America. The brown recluse spider is the most dangerous and poisonous of the entire family; it is also sometimes called brown.

    Appearance and lifestyle of a hermit

    The limb span of this species ranges from six to twenty millimeters, with females slightly larger. The body of spiders is colored gray, dark yellow and brown tones. It is often very difficult to notice the hermit due to its small size. Brown recluse spiders have a pattern on their thorax and head that closely resembles a violin in appearance.

    This species is different in that, unlike most spiders, it has six eyes rather than eight. The eyes are organized as follows: one pair of medial and two pairs of lateral. There are no color patterns on the limbs and abdomen. The abdomen is covered with short hairs. At the joints of the legs the color is slightly lighter. In hermit spiders, if they are at rest, their legs are always spaced wide apart. Alarmed spiders take the following position, which is protective: they draw their front legs inward, raise the second pair of limbs, stretching out their hind legs to jerk.

    Brown recluses are nocturnal. During the day, they hide under snags and stones, in burrows of small animals, and also in crevices. At night, the males leave their web, going in search of food over long distances. Females usually hunt reluctantly, close to their habitat, preferring to be close to their nets. The poison that the hermit injects has necrotoxic and hemolotic effects. The recluse spider eats everything that falls into its web, most often other spiders and small insects. It is not difficult for hermits to get food for themselves; it does not pose much difficulty for them.

    Reproduction and distribution

    Females of brown recluse spiders choose secluded, quiet places where they lay eggs in white sacs similar to cocoons. The female makes each cocoon independently from the web. One cocoon contains forty and sometimes fifty eggs. The sacs are about seven to eight millimeters in diameter. The numerous cubs that are born undergo many molts before they reach adulthood. Their outfit changes from five to eight times. This procedure is unpleasant and painful for spiders. There is an opinion that this is what provokes the anger of hermits, as a result of which the spiders begin to bite painfully.

    The outfit that spiders shed is quite tough and can be stored in the ground for a long time. Scientists studying this type of insect use the found outfits for identification purposes. Brown recluse spiders live on average two to four years in their natural environment. This kind lives in the USA, starting from the southern side of the Midwest and ending in the Gulf of Mexico. The range extends from southeastern Nebraska, through southern Indiana, Iowa and Illinois, and ends in southwestern Ohio. In the south, spiders are distributed from central Texas to northern Virginia and western Georgia. Despite rumors, brown recluse spiders are not native to California.

    Danger to people, first aid and precautions

    Spiders that are poisonous pose the greatest danger to humans. They sneak up and strike. Brown hermits are on a par with the most dangerous arthropods in the world. The venom of these spiders has a delayed effect, often its effect is noticed several hours after the bite was made. A person begins to experience a slight burning or tingling sensation. Further development depends on the amount of poison that enters the human body. If there is a lot of poison, then after five to six hours a blister appears at the site of the bite and it swells.

    Signs of a recluse spider bite:

    • the heart begins to malfunction;
    • intestinal upset appears;
    • a runny nose and cough appear.

    Tissue necrosis at the site of the bite is often observed, this is due to the enzymes contained in the venom. If necrosis has begun, recovery may take three years. Deaths occur in children and the elderly.

    Hermits rarely attack people; they are non-aggressive by nature. They bite when there is an attempt on their territory or life. The vast majority of people bitten were careless and unobservant when cleaning up. Most often this happens when they get into bed or under clothes. It happens that a hermit bites a person in his bed or when he puts on clothes or shoes where this type of arachnid is hiding. The lower abdomen, neck and arms are mainly affected. The following precautions must be followed:

    When bitten by a brown recluse Everything must be done to prevent the poison from spreading further. It is recommended to apply ice to the area where the bite was made. The wound must be immediately treated with an antiseptic, and then immediately consult a doctor. Previously, to eliminate the consequences of a bite, through surgery the area of ​​skin where it was made was removed. Now doctors prescribe antibiotics to victims and administer a special serum if they seek help in a timely manner.

    Insecticides

    There are now many means by which you can control spiders. There are products that are intended for use at home, and there are those whose use requires a license. If you find a recluse spider in your home, it is advisable to use the services of professionals.

    Ongoing research has shown that pyrethroids that have been developed recently (for example, cypermethrin, cyfluthrin, etc.) may be effective against brown recluses. Powders that need to be wetted and microencapsulated formulas that have a slow release can provide long-lasting activity, most often they are used for emulsion type sprays. When treating with insecticides, it must be remembered that the chemical must cover the maximum number of spiders, as well as their webs.

    Aerosols are applied on the outside of the house(windows, cornices and boards as well), along the entire perimeter, corners, baseboards and other places where recluse spiders could theoretically settle. Powders are used for hard-to-reach places, such as cracks. There are aerosols that only cause recluses to stay near treated surfaces, such as pyrethrin.

    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.
    These creatures are distinguished by their toxic poison. After an insect bite, complete tissue necrosis occurs in this area. The “lucky” ones who are lucky enough to have such a neighbor as the brown spider (recluse) are residents of the eastern part of the United States.

    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 the southern part of Russia are considered favorable habitats for the recluse spider.

    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 recluse spider is not always easy to spot because it is so 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. 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 an unsolved mystery as to why nature endowed this insect with a potent poison. The eight-legged “monsters” live calmly and don’t bother anyone unnecessarily.

    Reproduction

    The female brown recluse spider, having chosen a secluded place away from prying eyes, begins laying 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 spiders that are born have many molts 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 the 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.



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