Should I Be Scared Of Brown Recluse Spiders?

The sight of even just one brown recluse spider in your house can easily send you into a panic. Those emotions most likely come from decades of horror stories about brown recluse spider bites. So, are the stories true, and should I be afraid of brown recluse spiders?

It’s okay to be scared of brown recluse spiders, but you don’t need to live in fear of them. Only 10% of brown recluse spider bites cause dangerous necrotic wounds, so extreme reactions are uncommon. However, you should still declutter your home, reduce the indoor humidity, and place glue traps to kill and discourage brown recluse spiders.

You will continually find these spiders inside if your exterior walls and entry doors have gaps and cracks. That’s why you should install weatherstripping right away if you live in an area where spiders and other pests are active. Follow along as we explore why you shouldn’t live in fear of brown recluse spiders.

Should I Be Worried About Brown Recluse Spiders In My House?

It’s natural to be concerned about seeing these spiders in your house, but you don’t need to be terrified. Brown recluse spiders are venomous, and their venom can produce necrotic wounds, but only 10% of brown recluse spider bites cause serious wounds, so they are uncommon. However, the thought of it happening can scare anyone who lives in areas where brown recluse spiders are common.

The presence of brown recluse spiders typically points to other pest infestations. Spiders often come indoors in search of food and water, and they’ll stay if they find steady sources. In that case, you should get your pest problem under control to discourage brown recluse spiders from lingering.

Are All Brown Recluse Spider Bites Bad?

Not all brown recluse spider bites are bad, especially when treated quickly. The spiders don’t always inject venom when they bite people, as most bites are defensive and happen when they get trapped between someone’s clothing and skin. “Dry bites” without venom are relatively harmless. Many people who are injected with venom recover from the bite without any serious side effects. However, you’re still better off doing all you can to keep brown recluse spiders out of your house.

What To Do If You Get Bitten By A Brown Recluse Spider

Immediately wash the wound and lightly compress the wound with an ice pack to prevent painful swelling. Many people get bitten by brown recluse spiders and find the wound in the morning. In that case, treat the wound as soon as you notice it. Call a poison control service or contact your doctor if you suspect the bite came from a brown recluse spider.

Doctors can’t test for brown recluse spider bites, but they can often identify them by sight. If the bite has no venom, the recovery is quick. However, the presence of venom can cause an ulcer to form, which can be dangerous. Don’t hesitate to visit urgent care or an emergency room if you get bitten by a brown recluse spider. 

What Attracts Brown Recluse Spiders?

Exterior Debris/Foliage

Do you have dense thickets, weeds, wood piles, and shrubs up against your house? If so, brown recluse spiders may end up in your home. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep the space around your exterior walls as clean as possible. Doing so will also deter snakes, rodents, ticks, and other pests from entering your home. This is especially true if your exterior walls and entry doors have gaps and cracks. Seal these gaps and cracks to keep brown recluse spiders and other pests out of your house.

Moisture

These arachnids love humidity, especially in spaces with poor airflow. They can quickly sense humidity, and you may keep finding these spiders in your house if your home’s relative humidity exceeds 50%. Your best bet is to run a dehumidifier and set it to maintain 30%-40% indoor humidity. Not only will this deter brown recluse spiders and their prey, but it will also help prevent mold and mildew. It’s also important to seal pipe leaks, which often attract spiders, silverfish, gnats, and other pests.

Food

Brown recluse spiders won’t stay in a location for too long unless they know there arefood sources. Even if you don’t see any insects, the consistent presence of brown recluse spiders should tell you they’re there. Many insects head indoors during the summer to avoid the heat and find water. This also happens during the fall, when bugs try to escape the plummeting temperatures.

Brown recluse spiders do the same thing, and they take advantage of the fleeing insects at the same time. However, they will continually eat every pest they can year-round. Your best option is to place glue traps in common hiding spots, like beneath furniture. You can also hire a pest control company to spray for brown recluse spiders, but you must be careful if you have pets. 

Clutter

The word “recluse” tells you a lot about what you need to know regarding thesespiders. They love to hide in cluttered spaces, both outdoors and indoors. They are quite shy when exposed, so they prefer lingering in piles of clothes, junk drawers, and closets. You could live in a house with many brown recluse spiders for years and only see a few of them per year. Decluttering is the most important step in getting rid of brown recluse spiders, but you must be careful when doing so.

They are defensive biters, and may do so if you accidentally grab one while cleaning the house. That’s why you should wear gloves and keep a flashlight handy when decluttering. Carefully poke around and inspect the area before removing a pile of clutter to ensure you don’t get bitten. It’s also important to tap your shoes and shake your clothes before putting them on.

Should You Kill Brown Recluse Spiders?

You can and should kill brown recluse spiders in your house if doing so makes you feel more comfortable. Their bites aren’t as dangerous as many people think, but peace of mind is always worthwhile. However, you shouldn’t kill them with your bare foot or hand, as they may bite you. Instead, squish brown recluse spiders with a shoe, fly swatter, or any blunt object you can easily reach.

Or, set up glue traps in common hiding spots, like closets and the spaces beneath your furniture. Many pest control experts recommend keeping glue traps in place even after trapping brown recluse spiders. They say that this encourages other ones to enter the glue trap.

Do Bug Bombs Work On Brown Recluse Spiders?

Some bug bombs work on brown recluse spiders, but only when formulated to do so. The problem is that some bug bombs don’t produce a targeted dusting effect, which is what works best for brown recluse spiders because they hide in deep, discreet locations.

Simple airborne mist doesn’t always reach crevices and discreet locations, so it’s often ineffective. Residual sprays are also effective for brown recluse spiders, but the results don’t come as quickly. With residual sprays, brown recluse spiders will die within hours, or even days, of exposure.

Summing It Up

Brown recluse spider bites are dangerous, but that doesn’t mean you have to live in fear of them. Luckily, 90% of the bites don’t result in serious injuries, and necrotic wounds are rare. However, you should still visit the emergency room or your local urgent care to be safe if you are bitten by a brown recluse spider.

Related Guides:

• How To Get Rid Of Spiders In Your Basement
• Wolf Spider Vs Brown Recluse: What Are The Major Differences?