Ask the average Californian to list the spiders which scare him or her most, the list would probably look something like this;

Tarantula – kind of scary

Tarantulas are well known because some can be as big a single wide trailers and have legs as hairy as a middle-aged, gypsy can-can dancer. They also have fangs which makes them kind of like the Edward Cullens of the insect world. There are found in California. Are they scary? Sure, to some people. If you have a fear of spiders bigger is defiantly scarier and tarantulas are big. But if you know anything about spiders you would know that while they do have poison, they can’t kill you with a bite unless you’re highly allergic to it. For most people, tarantula bites are on par with a bee sting.

Black Widow – really scary

Swimming after eating, texting while driving and black widow spiders are a few of the things your mother will warn you about. They should, because the Black Widow spider is the most poisonous spider in North America and commonly found in California. The good news, only the female packs a poisonous punch. The bad news, can you tell the difference between the male and the female? People rarely die from a Black Widow bite but that does not make your mother a liar.

The Brown Recluse – get me out of here!

Ironically, the Brown Recluse isn’t even a native to California although it is believed that the occasional Brown Recluse spider may hitchhike into the state via a shipment of product from the Midwest. So why are Californians so afraid of the Brown Recluse when there are (virtually) none here and there are (virtually) no confirmed bites from a Loxosceles reclusabut anywhere in the state?

This is partially fueled by the internet. We have all seen the photos of the horrific wounds that can be caused by the Brown Recluse spider bite. They look like something out of a gory science fiction movie with really good special effects. They make the rounds in e-mail and sensationalized internet stories. Also, it seems that everyone in California knows someone or knows of someone who has supposedly been bitten by a Brown Recluse. These all turn out to be bites from other spiders, other insects or really nasty zits but it does make for interesting conversation.

So while the Brown Recluse may scare the pants off of us in California, clearly the myth is much bigger than the reality.

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The most effective and easy way to determine if you have brown recluse spiders is to lay down those nasty little glue strips. They are actually designed for mice, but these glue boards are highly effective at catching insects and spiders as well. They can easily be found at most any hardware store, and quite often can be found in the grocery store. The keys to success with these glue boards lies in where you place them.

Brown recluse spiders like to hide out in the most hidden areas of your home. Because they are very secretive, you need to place the traps in some of those low traffic areas. These areas include closets, under furniture, attics, garages and behind large appliances. Brown recluse spiders are thigmotactic. This means that they like to keep one side of their body against the wall. Knowing this, one should place the glue boards lengthwise against the wall. The spiders will climb across them and become stuck.

Once the spiders are attached to the glue board, then you can harmlessly inspect them with a magnifying glass to ensure that they are not Brown recluse spiders. If you find that they are brown recluse spiders, then you may consider contacting a professional to eradicate them from your home. This is far from an exact science, and will likely take a great deal of time. Still, a professional pest control expert can give you your best chance at getting rid of the brown recluse spiders.

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Sydney Funnel Web (Photo Credited To Wikipedia Commons User en:User:Tirin

5. Camel Spider The camel spider makes this list largely due to legend. Soldiers returning from Iraq have talked about finding spiders that are the size of a housecat. The truth is, the camel spider is not a spider at all. They are large, and they are scary looking. Most people think of them as spiders, so they make the list based on that alone.

4. Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula This spider is the biggest in the world. Goliath bird eaters can grow to the size of dinner plates, and they are known for that size. The truth is, the spider is scary to watch and look at. They are true miracles of the spider world.

3. Brown Recluse The brown recluse is famous and scary for one reason – their bite. When a brown recluse bites, their venom is necrotic. That is, the venom will begin to cause the skin and tissue to die in and around the wound. Horrific spider bites, amputations, and other dangerous outcomes for brown recluse bites have led to their inclusion on this list.

2. Black WidowThe black widow is the very definition of what a scary spider looks like. The signature hourglass on their abdomens is one of the iconic symbols of the spider world. This spider actually has a few different versions in the family, which include the southern and northern black widows, the brown widow, and the red widow. They all are creepy to most people but are actually quite shy and avoid biting when possible.

1. Sydney Funnel Web Spider Now this is one spider that has a very nasty disposition and the package to do some real damage. A Sydney funnel web spider can kill a healthy man without proper medical intervention, but what really scares people is the attitude of this spider. They are highly aggressive and will readily attack and bite you if you come near. The venom is among the most dangerous in the insect and spider world, and they have large fangs to deliver it with. The Sydney funnel web spider is my choice as the scariest spider in the world. How about you?

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Pictures of Brown Recluse Spider Bites

What you should do when a brown recluse spider bites you:

1.  Do go to the emergency room or doctor.  Brown recluse spider bites are serious because the venom is necrotic.  That is, it eats away at and kills tissue under the skin.  These bites can lead to serious complications up to and including amputation.  Worst case scenarios may even include death.

2.  Do apply ice to a brown recluse spider bite.  This will help with swelling and pain, and should be done on the way to the doctor.

3.  Do wash the bite site with soap and cool water.  This will help the brown recluse spider bite site resist infection.

4.  Do elevate the limb above the heart.  Venom travels through the blood stream, and you want to keep the bite site above your heart.

5. Do take acetamenophene for any pain you experience from the brown recluse spider bite.

6.  Do remain calm after being bitten by a brown recluse spider.  The venom travels faster if you are excited or active.

What you should not do if bitten by a brown recluse spider:

1.  Do not risk retrieving the spider unless you can safely do so.  You do not want to risk another bite.  Try to identify the brown recluse.  You can read about brown recluse spider identification here.

2.  Do not ever add heat to the bite site.  Heat will cause the tissue to break down quicker with a brown recluse spider bite.

3.  Do not suck, cut, or attempt to remove the venom from a brown recluse spider bite.  This can cause further damage as well as an added risk of spreading the venom.

4.  Do not medicate the brown recluse bite site with creams, or medicines of any kind.  Some of these can cause major problems with a brown recluse spider bite.

When you arrive at the doctors, you may receive any number of treatments for your brown recluse spider bite.  These can include tetanus shots, allergy meds, pain medications, and even antibiotics.  These depend on the site, as well as your reaction to the brown recluse spider bite.

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Eight Legged Freaks – Giant spiders that take over the world is not a new concept. It has been done before. The thing about Eight Legged Freaks, however, is that they got species specific here. Trapdoor spiders, tarantulas, black widows, and even the popular jumping spider all made the cinematic cut. Granted they were all extra large and extra juiced up – still they scared people half to death. The first time you see the trap door spider flash from under the ground and drag someone under you will jump. I assure you.

Arachnaphobia – This movie was actually one that surprised me. The movie was much better than I figured it would be. Made quite a few years back, this movie does a great job of giving you the willies. The spiders are largely realistic, and there are a number of scenes where they crawl where they should not. Note the shower scene where the spider explores a girls cleavage. Not a very comfortable scene at all but deliciously spooky!

And then there are the movies that just use the real tarantula largely. Two of the best among these are the old classics Tarantulas – Deadly Cargo and Kingdom of the Spiders. These old flicks depended on the real deal to get there scares across. Tarantulas are genuinely creepy and perfect for a spider movie. They are largely docile spiders that will not usually bite unless they are threatened. This means that you can realistically use them in movies without much risk. Put a tarantula crawling up someone’s leg or arm and you have a great start to a spider movie.

I do believe that spider movies are far from worn out. The genre is need of a brand new movie, and I hope that someone puts one out soon. They are just too fun to leave on the cutting room floor. What was your favorite spider movie of all time?

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The brown recluse spider has a number of distinctive features that can help identify it.  The first thing to know about the brown recluse spider is the formation of the eyes. The brown recluse actually has only six eyes instead of the spider norm of eight.  They are situated on the head in sets of two.

The brown recluse also has a violen shaped marking on the head, and the neck of the violin stretches towards the abdomen.  This marking is clearer on some than others, and they are not the only species of spider to have such markings.

The brown recluse spider is fairly small, with the total body width of about a quarter fully grown. (this is including the legs)  The brown recluse also can vary wildly in color, from a light yellowish color to to a dark brown.  Some are even reddish in tint.  It depends on the age, location, and particular group of recluses.  They are a variation of brown in most cases.

The brown recluse is just what their name implies – reclusive.  They hide away in dark, dry places which leads them to contact with humans that leave clothing in open storage, or after climbing into a shoe.

While this dangerous spider is certainly a serious problem in some areas, the vast majority of brown recluses are never seen by human eyes.  If you leave them alone, then chances are you will never get  bitten.  It is important to shake out anything that has been left sitting for a long time.  This is true both for the brown recluse, and the other dangerous spider well known in the United States – the black widow.

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