Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!wuarchive!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!psuvax1!husc6!cmcl2!lanl!nmsu!opus!rpeter From: rpeter@nmsu.edu (Peter Herman x5495) Newsgroups: sci.bio Subject: Re: Brown Recluse Spiders Message-ID: Date: 10 Sep 90 13:39:16 GMT References: <1075.26E7DC9A@ofa123.fidonet.org> Sender: news@NMSU.Edu Distribution: sci.bio Organization: NMSU Computer Science Lines: 43 In-reply-to: Mary.Lane@ofa123.fidonet.org's message of 7 Sep 90 17:43:06 GMT Mary.Lane@ofa123.fidonet.org writes >Does anyone know something that would kill the Brown Recluse? I don't have >roaches; I have those mean, fast, big spiders, and I don't know where they're ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ 1 2 3 >coming from. Are you sure (no flame intended) that what you have are Brown Recluse spiders? In my experience (7 years living outside of Columbia, Missouri, AKA Brown Recluse Nirvana) none of the underscored descriptors really fits the Brown Recluse well. 1)The consequences of a bite are pretty mean, however, the spiders themselves are fairly ... well reclusive. They often have to be stepped on or otherwise pressured into biting. Most people get bitten by not shaking out stored clothing or shoes. You put them on, squish the spider and it bites. 2) Most spiders can really move if disturbed, however the Brown Recluse spends much more time sitting than running. 3)As spiders go the BR is pretty normal size, rarely larger around than a quarter (diameter, including legs). The best diagnosis of BRs is the body markings, which are rather violin like in shape. It sounds like what you have are some sort of wolf spiders. They are a bit larger than BRs, VERY fast (they are "hunting" spiders which don't spin webs), and are aggressive in their movements. They are brown/grey in color as a rule. They often eat roaches, ants, and other household pests. If you can catch one (dead or alive) your county agricultural agent can get it identified so that you know what you are dealing with. Even urban counties have a county agent. We pay for them with our taxes, however few of us know that they exist never mind use their services. If you have wolf spiders, I'd just leave them be (integrated pest management, and all that). If you want to be rid of them, good strong bug spray around the baseboards should do it. If they really are BRs, you need to concentrate on spraying the closets, garage, basement and other dark, usually undisturbed places. Good luck! ***************************************************************** rpeter@nmsu.edu Peter Herman, Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM USA, 88005. Phone 505-646-4532. *****************************************************************