Brown Recluse Spider: Photos and Observations

DR. ABRAMS' NEW WEB SITE: http://www.sabramsmd.com/

Identification

This information is from personal observation of these spiders that I have found in my house and storage shed in Fannin County, Texas. The images are intended to help people learn to identify the brown recluse spider from a safe distance, and are copyright 1995 by David Lines. Most books and encyclopedias do not contain photos of the brown recluse, only drawings. The 'real thing' can be misidentified unless carefully compared with photos or a dead specimen. Notice that the abdominal color varies, as shown by the two photos.

The brown recluse is dangerous but clumsy. They can't climb glass. They often get curious about a glass container that is next to a surface they can cling to, venture down onto the smooth surface, then are trapped.

Natural Enemies

The brown recluse has a better-than-even chance of losing a street fight with a cricket, but I've seen one kill a brown cricket, possibly because they're smaller. I have tried confining these spiders with crickets, with mixed results. Sometimes they will simply show no interest in each other, sometimes crawling over one another looking for an exit.

I recently found a little spider eating a recluse. I like these little spiders! Click on the small photo for a closer look.
The Brown Recluse As Dinner For Another Spider

Effects of the Brown Recluse Bite

Individual's sensitivity varies, but if you have an unidentified bite that is reacting similar to the people in these photos, GET MEDICAL ATTENTION EARLY. These injuries are from three different people:
Recluse bite, 48 hours later
Recluse bite, 72 hours later
Recluse bite, 2 years later. Yes, the venom can apparently remain active that long in sensitive people.

The doctor who supplied these photos is researching a new method of treatment that has had promising preliminary results. If you have a recluse bite and would like to get help, and can travel to the Fort Worth, Texas area, send me an email note with your name and phone number and a brief description of your injury and I'll forward them.

Some references for medical information on high-voltage shock for the treatment of snake bite, brown-recluse spider bite, etc.:

  1. The Lancet, July 20, 1986
    Ronald H Guderian, Charles D. Mackenzie, Jeffrey F, Williams.
  2. The Lancet, December 6, 1986
    C. kroegel, K.H. Meyer Zum Bumschenfelde.
  3. The Journal of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, Vol:83, No. 1 January, 1990, pp 9-14
  4. The Journal of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, Vol:84, No. 6 June, 1991, pp 257-260
  5. The Journal of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, Vol:85, No. 7 July, 1992, pp 331-333
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