THE TRUTH ABOUT BROWN RECLUSE SPIDERS IN AIKEN

Do you know that the brown recluse spider is one of the most misunderstood spiders? Not only are other brown spiders mistaken for brown recluse spiders, doctors misdiagnose necrotic wounds as brown recluse spider bites all the time. So, what is the truth? Are brown recluse spiders dangerous? Should you be concerned about them when you find them in your Aiken home? Here's the bottom line.

Do brown recluse spiders bite?

Yes. They definitely bite. But they're reclusive spiders. If you don't bother them, they won't bother you. Bites usually occur when a brown recluse spider is brought into contact with the skin, such as when someone puts a shirt on, uses a towel that was on the floor, slips a foot into a boot, or slides into bed. If you shake items before you wear them, and check your bed before you get into it, you can dramatically reduce your chances of being bitten by a brown recluse.

Is the venom of a brown recluse necrotic?

Yes. A wound from a brown recluse spider can lead to necrosis. This can cause a disfiguring wound if the necrosis occurs in a sensitive location. But the vast majority of brown recluse bites result in no more than a little, ulcerous wound with a red rash. It is, however, wise to see your physician if you believe you've been bitten by a recluse spider. They can monitor the wound for necrotic spread.

Do brown recluse infest homes by the thousands?

Yes. These spiders do quite well in homes, and infestations have been found to be in the thousands. But there are documented cases of families having thousands of brown recluse spiders in their home without any recorded bites.

Can brown recluse climb on you at night while you're sleeping?

Yes. They certainly can if you let them. If a recluse explores your bedroom while you're sleeping, it can crawl up bed skirts or blankets and get into bed with you. But this is rare. If they sense you at all, they'll steer clear of your bed. They don't want to be around you. You can also deter brown recluses from getting into your bed by moving it away from the wall, removing the skirt, and making sure the blankets don't touch the floor.

Do we have brown recluse spiders in Aiken?

Yes. And it is possible to have these spiders get into your home. They can come in from the outside or they can be carried into your home hidden inside boxes or furniture. But so can other brown spiders, and this may lead you to think you have a brown recluse infestation. Brown recluse are actually quite easy to differentiate from other spiders. They are mostly hairless, tan in color, and they have a dark brown violin marking on their back. The stem (or neck) of the violin marking points down the length of the body. Brown recluse spiders are also small spiders. They don't get much larger than a quarter (that's with their legs stretched out). 

Is it difficult to get rid of brown recluse spiders?

Yes. It is hard to get rid of any spiders that have gotten into your home. Spiders hide inside wall voids and other spaces that you can't get into. Getting control of them requires ongoing treatments and careful monitoring. This is best done by a qualified pest professional. The products some homeowners use to get rid of brown recluse spiders are far more dangerous than the spiders themselves. We strongly recommend that you seek professional assistance.

Should I be afraid of brown recluse spiders?

No. If you take precautions and seek the assistance of a licensed pest professional, your infestation can be resolved without any incidence. If you live in Aiken or the surrounding region, we can help you with this. Our pest management professionals know how to monitoring for spider activity and apply eco-friendly treatments to remove spiders from your home. We can also inspect your property from conditions that are conducive to brown recluse spider activity, to prevent future infestations from occurring.

Reach out to us. While brown recluse spiders aren't nearly as scary as you might think, you should definitely keep them out of your home if you can.