Brown Recluse Spiders in Enid Homes

If you've lived in Oklahoma long, you've heard brown recluse stories. Most spiders in your house are harmless, but this one is worth knowing. OSU Extension describes its bite as able to cause a blister within hours, with tissue damage in bad cases that can take six to eight weeks to heal.

The good news is it isn't aggressive. Bites happen when the spider gets pressed against skin, usually in clothing, shoes or bedding it crawled into.

Spotting One

OSU's description: light tan to dark brown, about half an inch long, with long thin legs covered in short dark hairs. Six eyes in three pairs set in a half circle at the front of the head. A dark violin shape behind the eyes, with the neck of the violin pointing toward the abdomen.

Plenty of brown spiders get mistaken for recluses. If you're not sure, catch one in a jar and show it to the tech.

Where They Hide

OSU's list is long, and it's mostly the quiet parts of the house:

• Closets, especially clothes and shoes that don't get worn
• Bathrooms and bedrooms, under furniture
• Basements, cellars and attics
• Storage boxes and stacks of paper
• Behind pictures and baseboards

Cutting Down the Hiding Spots

OSU suggests cleaning closets, cellars and other undisturbed areas often, sealing the house with screens, weatherstripping and caulk, and washing down eaves with a hose. Swap cardboard boxes for sealed plastic bins, keep clothes off the floor, and pull the bed a few inches from the wall with the bedding off the floor.

Even then, OSU calls the brown recluse extremely difficult to control and suggests hiring a pest control firm, noting that it often takes more than one treatment. Spider control covers what the provider does.

If You're Bitten

See a doctor right away, and bring the spider if you can catch it. OSU notes there's no specific antivenom for brown recluse bites, so early care matters.

See also: Spider Control, Cockroach Control