The heat has returned, and it marks the beginning of spider season in Arkansas! Admittedly it isn’t the most charming time of year, but it’s actually good news– when the spiders are active, it means they’re solving pest issues just by going about their business. That said, we don’t blame you for wanting to see less of them. The good news is this: there are only two spiders in Arkansas that are a threat to humans. Of all the species that call the Natural State home, the most feared is the secretive Brown Recluse Spider. But don’t worry– these eight-legged Arkansans are more scared of us than we are of them.
Habitat
A Brown Recluse’s dream home is peaceful and far away from people. They prefer quiet spaces where they won’t be disturbed by human or animal activity. In the wild, the spiders prefer to inhabit fallen trees, living inside the rotting bark. When they move into environments with humans, they often gravitate towards areas that mimic their natural habitat: wood piles, sheds with wooden floors, piles of cardboard, and attics. These areas provide them with protection from predators like wolf spiders, birds, or praying mantises.
Behavior
Though they do spin webs, Brown Recluses are active hunters, meaning that they patrol a territory for prey rather than lying in wait for it to be trapped in their web. These spiders are more active at night, when their prey is more likely to be out and about. They have been recorded feeding on a large variety of insects including cockroaches, beetles, moths, ants, and even other spiders. Brown Recluse spiders don’t need much in the way of food, though. They can survive periods of long drought or food scarcity– as long as 6 months or more. They’ve adapted to survive the off season, as Brown Recluse spiders are very inactive from November to March. They “spring” back to activity when their prey returns in the springtime. They prioritize feeding in early spring to prepare for their breeding season between May and July. We can back this up– we received a stark increase in customer calls about Brown Recluse activity starting in May.
Bites
Brown Recluses are, well, reclusive! They do not enjoy contact with humans and will avoid us at all costs, preferring to stay out of sight. Unfortunately, it’s this antisocial behavior that often creates the most common circumstances for humans and spiders to meet. Because they prefer quiet areas, most Brown Recluse bites occur when people disturb rarely used areas of their homes or businesses. Most bites are reported when someone attempts to put on a piece of clothing or disturbs fabric that hasn’t been moved in a long period of time. Shoes, work gloves, or piled up fabric that’s been left for days are common hiding places for the spider. Brown Recluses are not aggressive, and only bite humans when they feel threatened. There’s good news, though! Brown Recluse fangs are not long enough to bite through most fabric, so even if you find yourself in close contact, it doesn’t mean you’ll be bitten.
Around 1,300-1,500 Brown Recluse bites are reported every year in the US, but it’s difficult to pin down an exact number. Don’t let that number scare you though, it’s estimated that almost 80% of reported Brown Recluse bites are misdiagnoses. It’s an easily forgivable mistake– people see a necrotic wound and jump to the nearest possible conclusion to secure a diagnosis. However, MRSA infections, skin cancer, and unrelated skin lesions can all look similar to a Brown Recluse bite. The good news is this: if it is a Brown Recluse bite, 90% of bites self-heal with no medical intervention. Only 10% may result in necrotic lesion, and barely 1% of bites trigger a bodily reaction that could be fatal.
If you suspect you are bitten, don’t panic! First, clean the wound with soap and water. Elevate the limb where the bite occurred. Place an ice pack on the bite area to reduce inflammation, ten minutes on, ten minutes off. If you can catch the spider without squishing it to beyond recognition, place it in a small clear container in case it needs to be identified by a professional later. Most bites don’t cause immediate pain, but will create redness in the area surrounding the bite, with burning or itchiness beginning a few hours after the bite occurred. Within the next week, the bite may turn into a blister that may take a month or more to heal fully.
If you develop a rash, fever, joint pain, nausea or vomiting, seek medical care. Only a very small percentage of bites cause a whole-body reaction, but these reactions are more common in young children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. There is no antivenom for Brown Recluse bites, but doctors can effectively treat spider bite victims to ensure that the side effects of the bite do not become severe or life-threatening.
Treatment
For most homes that have developed a Brown Recluse problem, multiple treatment plans are available. One tried-and-true strategy is to make your home uninhabitable for the spiders. Our recurring pest control program, the Home Defense, will kill off and drive away the Brown Recluse’s food sources. With no easily available prey, most spiders will naturally see themselves out. If the spiders stick around after a general pest control service or for homes that have reached infestation level, Natural State Pest Control offers a specialized treatment that neutralizes Brown Recluse infestations before they become severe. If you’re experiencing an ongoing Brown Recluse spider issue, contact our office for more information.