I got it.
This is a brown recluse we found - you guessed it - in our house! Sorry the picture is not more clear - it was crawling across the floor and I was trying to get a picture, all the while concerned that it might suddenly jump up on me!
Do you see the little violin on his back? The base of the violin is at the base of his neck, while the neck of the violin is pointing toward the abdomen.
Some interesting facts about the brown recluse are:
A native of the US, brown recluse spiders are predominately found in the central midwestern states south toward the Gulf of Mexico. However, they travel well in packed boxes, so they can be found anywhere.
They love to reside in homes. All they need is one inch of space. Unlike most spiders, its web is not for catching prey, but only for laying eggs.
For food, the brown recluse travels at night, searching for its favorite prey - dead insects.
They have three pair of eyes!
I have known people that have been bitten by a brown recluse, and one woman almost lost her entire leg due to its bite. If you get bit, please get medical attention immediately. You can click HERE if you would like more information.
The next time a brown recluse spider comes along, I'll be able to spot that violin on its back. Have you ever seen a brown recluse?
Black widow and recluse spider? I would have run out of the house by then! hahahha..
ReplyDeleteOh, my goodness!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd be freaking! Scary business for sure. Can't believe you got this picture.
ReplyDeleteI'm shaking with terror as I read this. Seriously. We have lots of spiders around here, too--and they seem to make their way in the house more when the weather is mild (not too hot). Maybe that's because the windows are open. I've probably seen brown recluses because I've seen a lot of spiders that look like that one. I need to look for the violin. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteYuck, but thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'm seriously wigged out! That is scary. Thanks for the id - good to know...they are found here in Austin too.
ReplyDeleteNope, I've never seen one. You're garden looks so lush and whimsical in your header.
ReplyDeleteI can't say I've seen one but then if I see a spider that size in my house I do not study it for long. I look for the shoe to take care of it with a whack! Spider bites are nothing to ignore as two in my family have found out in the past.
ReplyDeleteYipes, but thanks for showing how to ID the varmint.
ReplyDeleteMalar - Yes, we are lucky enough to have both! haha My husband was telling me to hurry and take the picture - he didn't want the spider to run away before we killed it!
ReplyDeleteToni - It's a little disturbing that it was in the house! I hope he was the only one, and didn't have babies!
PlantPostings - Kill it first, then look for the violin!
Sherry - haha You're welcome.
Cat - It was a good lesson for me, too. I'd been warned to be on the lookout for them, but didn't know until we found this one exactly what to look for! I hope you never find one.
GirlSprout - Thank you. I'm glad I started blogging - now I have some nice pictures of the garden.
Marcia - That doesn't sound good - sorry your family members got bitten. Just one more reason I always, always keep shoes and gloves on when gardening. Finding this in the house was a bit worrisome, though.
GWGT - Of course, you have to be quite close to see that little violin! But if someone gets bit, it's best to know if it was a brown recluse or not.
I've heard of this violin spider before but have never before seen one. Thank goodness. I don't mind spiders but the possibility of a deadly bite is very scary.
ReplyDeleteThese are very dangerous spiders. They killed a girl last year who was bitten by one when covered with a blanket that was taken out of storage. I think you captured a wonderful picture of it and I hope you find no more!
ReplyDeleteOMG OMG OMG OMG! The Willies!
ReplyDeleteOk, I am calm now. Thank you so much for the explanation of the violin, I totally see it now. And I have seen that spider but was not certain. I smashed it just in case... My apologizes to the spider lovers out there, but one can not be too careful...
Marguerite - I agree. This is one scary spider!
ReplyDeleteTina - You are so right - these are very dangerous spiders. I've been eyeballing every corner, nook and cranny since finding this one! I hope I don't find anymore either.
Tufa Girl - haha - did you jump up on the bed? :) I'm glad you smashed yours. No spider lover would want you to save this spider, surely!
I'm very glad we don't have these spiders over here!
ReplyDeleteAack! Those make black widows look like sweet little old ladies. I've never seen a brown recluse and hope to keep it that way. What a brave blogger you are, to think first of taking a photo!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have seen one....don't want to either....hopefully I won't. It is good to know how to ID one...thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh, creepy...creepy...crawlie......! I'm so glad you found it before he found anyone else. Thank you for the picture and the information, I don't know if we have them up here in Wisconsin much, but I'm sure, as you said, they travel well. There was a lady who visited my garden last year who had just come home from the ER and had this huge, for lack of a better word, 'hole' in the calf of her leg. It looked awful! She said the doctor told her it was a spider bite. I'm wondering if it was the Brown Recluse? And good advice on the gloves and shoes for gardening, you just never know what is lurking in the garden either! I'd have whompered it with a steel toed workshoe, too!
ReplyDeleteJanet - I hope you never do!
ReplyDeleteStacy - I am much more scared of these than black widows. For one thing, black widows are much easier to spot. haha - The things we bloggers do!
Sage Butterfly - I hope you don't ever have to see one. But, yes, it's good to know how to identify one just in case. Much, much better to know if you get bit by one rather than just waiting until the bite gets worse.
Karen - Scary that something so small can make big holes in our bodies! But that's exactly what this spider does, so perhaps it was a brown recluse that bit her. I know lots of gardeners that garden in flip flops with no gloves. I can't imagine imagine it. I would wear full body armor if it wasn't so hot! lol My husband hates to kill any living thing, but as soon as I took the picture, this spider got squashed!
Thank you for the info, it was fun to read. Nothing can make me like spiders... I love the header of your blog, what an amazing garden. I love your vibrant flowers, and the statue and the kitty.
ReplyDeleteMasha - As long as they stay outside, I don't mind most spiders. We do try to kill the black widows, and the brown recluses, though - especially if they get inside!!! Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen one except on the internet. I hope I don't ever come in close contact with one. Just looking at your photo makes me think I have spiders on me! I am very cautious when digging through boxes and sock drawers. I always check under the covers before I get in my bed at night.
ReplyDeleteI just checked to make sure your picture didn't resemble the one I took of my local spider. But he was on a well made web and was definitely not a recluse in name or habit.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the next time you see a spider that needs to be eliminated, try using hairspray on him first. My daughter who hates spiders always keeps hairspray on hand to make sure her enemy won't get away.
Cottage Dome - You are smart to be cautious. There are so many different types of spiders, some benign, but some quite dangerous.
ReplyDeleteCarol - What a great tip! I'm going to remember that! And I'm glad your local spider isn't a recluse.
Wow, Holley, thank you for the telling photo. I'm grateful that we don't have them here but you never know when I might bring one home on, say, my bananas. :) We've got the Domestic House Spider which can also bite but isn't too serious. They can get really big though. In my opinion the only good spider is a dead spider. Unless it's outside of course. Even then it had better stay clear of me.
ReplyDeleteGrace - With our world economy, so many bugs that were not native to certain regions end up traveling the world, so really these days you never know! Yes, I too defend my territory and if they're inside, they're goners.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes. These are known as fiddlebacks in Arkansas where I used to live. That is too freaky. I very rarely have any kind of dream that is close to a nightmare, but just last night I dreamed I was bitten by a spider. Yuck.
ReplyDeleteStoBloggers - Fiddleback - yes, I've heard that term. What a terrible dream! I would be shaking the bed covers out well if I had a dream like that!
ReplyDelete