Spiders. They have quite the reputation for being the scariest pest at the top of the pest list – barring the mosquito with its new virus scare. They are used in movies to create fearful moments where most viewers are peaking through their fingers to wait for the scene to be over. They are so notorious in Hollywood, they received their own movie aptly titled Arachnophobia, a word created for those who suffer extreme fear of spiders. More recently, they’ve made appearances in the second installment of the Harry Potter series, Chamber of Secrets, as well as The Hobbit. In both instances, the spiders are 10 feet tall, larger than life, and ready to devour any living thing in their path. Putting the Sci Fi and Fantasy interpretation aside, we do tend to view spiders as creepy, crawly dangers lurking in their webs just waiting to enter our homes and scare the living daylights out of us.
While most genres of spiders are an annoyance, their bite is not a kiss of death. However, there are some fears and beliefs that are not unfounded. Enter the black widow and brown recluse.
Black Widow Spiders
The name “black widow” has crawled its way into Hollywood characters, movies, and TV shows. The moniker is derived from the characteristics of the female black widow, known for her lethal treatment of her lovers. Black widow spiders are identified by the red hourglass shape on their undersides. The males aren’t much to worry about. If you’ve been bitten, it’s the female who’s done the job.
Signs
The bite may feel like a prick of a pin. There will most likely be redness and swelling around the bite. The symptoms can feel much worse.
Symptoms
Chills or feeling feverish
Cramping and stomach pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Brown Recluse Spiders
Brown recluses can be identified by the violin shape on their heads – not that you would want to get close enough to find out. Despite their reputation, they’re not aggressive in nature.
Signs
It’s hard to even notice the bite in the beginning, but it will sting soon after first contact. Symptoms are similar to a black widow’s bite, but a brown recluse bite – if left unchecked – can eat away at the skin.
Symptoms
Blistering
Nausea
Cramping and stomach pain
Swelling
Solutions for the black widow and brown recluse bite
If bitten and unaware of the origin of the bite, follow these steps:
Clean the bitten area
Place ice in a cloth and keep on the bite for 20 minutes on and off until swelling goes down
Wrap the area in clean bandages so it doesn’t come in contact with anything that might irritate it
Take IBUprofren/Motrin to relieve inflammation
These are just initial first contact things to do to help eliminate infection and symptoms. It’s important to seek medical attention and indicate to the medical professional where the bite is located, how long you’ve had it, and how you received it. If you think you may be having an allergic reaction, seek medical attention immediately. These bites are very rarely deadly, but they may cause serious symptoms.
Command Pest Control’s mission is to prevent this from ever happening in your home or business. If you’re interested in eliminating the chance of spiders in your area, have a chat with us and we’ll get you on the schedule!