Brown recluse aren’t nearly as bad as people think though. They are very passive, reclusive (heh) spiders and only bite people in exeptional circumstances, like getting trapped against the skin by clothing. But when you can see the spider, it’s really not that different than handling any other spider.
I’m definitely not a good benchmark for spider tolerance, though and I won’t condemn people for killing medically significant spiders in their homes. But they are still pretty cool, overall benefitial, spiders and shouldn’t be killed (and certainly not fucked) if it can be avoided.
All spiders are cool just because they’re spiders. Brown recluses are scary ones though. Had a friend almost lose her pinky finger after one bit her. I just leave them alone if I see them. Thankfully, I’ve never encountered one inside my home.
Had a friend almost lose her pinky finger after one bit her.
Disclaimer: I’m not trying to undermine your or your friend’s story or imply anything, if you don’t want to engage further, I totally understand.
But: As a hobby arachnologist, I’ve heard these kinds of stories soooo many times. However when you look the scientific literature, there a bunch of studies that show a systematic pattern of misdiagnosed spider bites … and and astonishing lack of studies covering actual, confirmed spider bites and their medical impacts.
I’m not sure what exactly you mean by “almost lose her pinky”, but she probably didn’t? A local doctor probably gave her some antibiotika (which is for bacteria and does fuck all against venom) and that was it.
My friend had some kind of necrosis on her pinky that left it super disfigured. I have no idea what they gave her for it, but she told me she got bit by a brown recluse. We were also 14, so she could have been lying to seem cool? I do know that her finger was gross as hell.
Yeah, this is usually how these stories go. It was a long time ago, the spider wasn’t collected, word of mouth can change the story overtime. Maybe a spider was involved and is just to be remembered as part of the story now. Who knows.
Do you live in an area that has them in high numbers?
They might be reclusive nesters, but they’re a hunting spider and they constantly roam around looking for food. They’ll roam around your bathrooms, blankets, clothes, and they’re fast AF boii.
Important things are keeping your bed away from the walls, checking the blanket and pillow before you get in bed, and checking clothes and shoes before you put them on, since like you said, they can bite if trapped between something and your skin.
Do you live in an area that has them in high numbers?
Sadly not, never got to have any of those. I had black widows, but we had to buy them.
Important things are keeping your bed away from the walls, checking the blanket and pillow before you get in bed, and checking clothes and shoes before you put them on, since like you said, they can bite if trapped between something and your skin.
Yup. But if you do that (even half-assed), there is a pretty good chance you’ll never ever get bitten.
Brown recluse aren’t nearly as bad as people think though. They are very passive, reclusive (heh) spiders and only bite people in exeptional circumstances, like getting trapped against the skin by clothing. But when you can see the spider, it’s really not that different than handling any other spider.
I’m definitely not a good benchmark for spider tolerance, though and I won’t condemn people for killing medically significant spiders in their homes. But they are still pretty cool, overall benefitial, spiders and shouldn’t be killed (and certainly not fucked) if it can be avoided.
tagging @LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.world because you also replied to this.
All spiders are cool just because they’re spiders. Brown recluses are scary ones though. Had a friend almost lose her pinky finger after one bit her. I just leave them alone if I see them. Thankfully, I’ve never encountered one inside my home.
Disclaimer: I’m not trying to undermine your or your friend’s story or imply anything, if you don’t want to engage further, I totally understand.
But: As a hobby arachnologist, I’ve heard these kinds of stories soooo many times. However when you look the scientific literature, there a bunch of studies that show a systematic pattern of misdiagnosed spider bites … and and astonishing lack of studies covering actual, confirmed spider bites and their medical impacts.
I’m not sure what exactly you mean by “almost lose her pinky”, but she probably didn’t? A local doctor probably gave her some antibiotika (which is for bacteria and does fuck all against venom) and that was it.
I know 2 people that received recluse bites. One almost died and the other ended up with a big chunk of flesh taken out of their leg.
Those sound like serious medical cases. I hope the spiders involvment was well documented, because that’s extremly rare.
Nope, doctors usually say “teehee, brown recluse never bite anybody!”
That is actually good to hear.
My friend had some kind of necrosis on her pinky that left it super disfigured. I have no idea what they gave her for it, but she told me she got bit by a brown recluse. We were also 14, so she could have been lying to seem cool? I do know that her finger was gross as hell.
Yeah, this is usually how these stories go. It was a long time ago, the spider wasn’t collected, word of mouth can change the story overtime. Maybe a spider was involved and is just to be remembered as part of the story now. Who knows.
🤷♀️
Do you live in an area that has them in high numbers?
They might be reclusive nesters, but they’re a hunting spider and they constantly roam around looking for food. They’ll roam around your bathrooms, blankets, clothes, and they’re fast AF boii.
Important things are keeping your bed away from the walls, checking the blanket and pillow before you get in bed, and checking clothes and shoes before you put them on, since like you said, they can bite if trapped between something and your skin.
Sadly not, never got to have any of those. I had black widows, but we had to buy them.
Yup. But if you do that (even half-assed), there is a pretty good chance you’ll never ever get bitten.