Black widows and brown recluses are the two most deadly spiders in Oklahoma. If you see these types of dangerous spiders on the inside or outside of your home, call a professional for pest control in Bartlesville, OK as soon as possible.
Brown recluse
A brown recluse spider is also known as the fiddleback spider, or simply as the brown spider. Its color ranges from light tan to dark brown, and it has a soft body that grows to be about half an inch long and delicate legs covered with short hairs. It’s easily identified by its three pairs of eyes sitting in a semi-circle on the front of its head, a fiddle-shaped marking behind the eyes and its long legs. The neck of the fiddle marking points towards the spider’s abdomen.
This type of spider tends to be more active at night, which is when it searches for food. It rests during the day in quiet spaces where it won’t be disturbed, such as in closets, basements, crawlspaces and under furniture, as well as inside shoes, clothes, storage boxes and stacks of newspapers and behind picture frames. Outside, they live in piles of rocks, bark, sheds, barns and garages.
This spider is not naturally aggressive. Bites typically occur when a person physically touches the spider. Everyone reacts differently—some individuals have an immediate painful reaction, while others may take a while to figure out they’ve been bitten. A common reaction is a stinging sensation followed by intense pain. Pus-filled blisters form after about eight hours, and the area around the bite reddens and swells. Bites can also cause restlessness, fever and sleep issues, so seek medical attention as soon as possible after a bite. Healing can take six to eight weeks.
Black widow
Another type of deadly spider is the female black widow. It is a little bigger than the brown recluse, has a glossy black body and legs, is round in shape and does not have hairy legs. It has eight eyes that are arranged in two rows. With its legs extended, the female black widow is about 1 1/2 inches in length, while males are about an inch long. The quickest way to tell if the spider is female is by the reddish hourglass-shaped spot on her abdomen.
Female black widows hang belly-up and rarely leave the web. They are found under eaves and low shrubs and in dark places like woodpiles, crates, utility housings, mail boxes and abandoned piping.
A black widow’s bite injects a neurotoxic venom into the victim. The bite feels like a pinprick, followed by pain that spreads from the bite to the arms, legs, back, chest and abdomen. After a few hours a victim experiences symptoms such as chills, vomiting, difficulty breathing, sweating, cramps, spasms and partial paralysis. When caught early, the mortality rate from a widow bite is 1 percent or less. Recovery time is typically one to five days.
If you discover venomous spiders in or around your property, call Excellence Pest Control in Bartlesville, OK right away!