Nikki Fox defeats 'Spider Panic'

Make Your Own Spider Spray!

2008-05-21T23:41:00.000-07:00

Hey, I recently came acrros this recipe on the internet for making your own spider prevention spray and I thought I would share it with you straight away.
I haven't tested it myself yet but if anybody out there cares to try it for me and leave comments that would help everybody.
Here's the recipe...

Ingredients:
Peppermint, Lavender or any natural soap.
1 ounce of Neem Oil
1 to 5 drops of any Essential Plant Oils to 1 Quart of water - Catnip Oil, Citronella Oil, Lavender Oil, Cinnamon Oil, Peppermint Oil, Citrus Oil, Tea Tree Oil, or other essential oils.

Add 5 tablespoons of the soap per quart water. Add one ounce of the Neem oil to the water which you have added the soap and label it. Shake well and spray inside house where spiders are seen. Test for strength. May be done as often as needed. This is not a long term solution but will provide you immediate help. Oils may stain some fabrics or light coloured furnishings, test first.
Spray outside the house: Use the same formula to spray the foundation, eaves and soffits, and the areas around doors, windows and crawls space, or attic vents, or any area where you see spiders congregating. You can also use any citrus based cleaner like Citra Solv at 1 oz per quart water. Spray around the outside of the house or where spiders congregate.

Check out my exclusive website www.spiderpanic.com

Introducing me!

2007-08-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
I'm Nikki Fox and like most people, I have my phobias.
One of them was quite serious and was affecting my life badly.
SPIDERS!
I turned my fear around recently by using a fantastic tool nearly everyone has access to...
the internet.
Using just a laptop I have devoted the past year to finding out all I can about spiders.
This was mainly because I was terrified of them.
I would go into a complete panic whenever I saw one.
Spiders were taking much too big a place in my life.
Not now...
Now all is well because I most definitely have the better of them.
In fact, spiders do NOT come anywhere near me any more.
I am such an expert at spider prevention now, I am known as the 'Spider Saviour'.

Find out how I achieved this and copy my methods now at...
http://www.spiderpanic.com/
get yourself out of the trap

And here's the real question...
Who actually does love spiders anyway?
Not many, I'm sure!
So I have decided to share my success with you all.
The aim of this blog is to help people who are scared of spiders to control the fear and eliminate the presence of spiders in the same way I have done in my life.
Have a browse and let me know your thoughts...
There may be something I have missed and we can support each other.
Oh, and by the way...
I promise that I will not post any photos of spiders on this site. Ever!
Here's to a spider free life...

Electronic Spider Repellers

2007-08-04T02:26:00.000-07:00

There has been much debate over whether or not electronic pest repellers are successful in eliminating spiders from a building. So recently I have been testing one of the better ones out in my own home. I chose a repeller with 3 important functions that when combined, serve to really annoy our eight legged enemies and drive them from the house.
1) Ultrasonic waves.Much like a dog whistle almost all the pest repellers emit an ultrasonic sound that humans can't hear. If you were a spider this ultrasonic noise would be extremely uncomfortable, similar to putting your ear right up next to a loud police siren. The spiders react to the ultrasonic sounds the same way we would to the police siren or any other loud uncomfortable noise and flee far from the source of audio discomfort.
Although humans and pets aren't affected by the ultrasound, pests are startled, disorientated and absolutely do not enjoy the uncomfortable sounds the repeller delivers.
The better repellers use a variable pulse generator to vary the sound frequency continuously, so the spiders and other pests cannot get accustomed to the ultrasonic noise at all and are forced to vacate.
2) Electromagnetic waves. This is a relatively new technology for pest control and is a very powerful deterrent for our spider enemy. Electromagnetic pest control uses the wiring within the walls, turning your whole home or office into a giant pest repeller. Similar to making a telephone call, when you speak your voice travels through the phone lines at a certain frequency.
Electromagnetic pest control utilizes your wiring by simply sending a shifting signal through the wire, tuned to irritate the spiders central nervous system. This technology will not affect humans, pets or electronics and doesn't increase your wirings own electromagnetic energy it simply changes the frequency to target small pests like insects and rodents which easily pick up the changes in the electromagnetic frequencies. The signal is turned on and off every few seconds so the pests can't build up a tolerance.
Spiders communicate through vibrations. Electromagnetic vibrations from the repellers communicate to them, disturbing their receptors and making them feel they are in a hostile area, where they are not welcome as a result it drives them out. Also these electromagnetic waves confuse them, making it difficult or impossible for them to gather food, breed and build their webs, or communicate with each other.
Unlike traditional pest control (chemicals, poisons, gases etc.) electromagnetic repellers are completely safe for people, pets and electronics, however, if you have a rodent for a pet you shouldn't use electronic pest control, because you'll drive it crazy!
3) Ionic technology
This is one of the latest in electronic pest control technologies. Ionic technology has been used for years in air purification. The beneficial negative ions it creates act to destroy harmful airborne pollutants, including bacteria, dust mites and many other unseen pollutants.
Ions are every where in our atmosphere. Negative ions are beneficial ions that penetrate into walls and living areas cleaning the air where ever they travel. Negative ions are produced naturally by lightning before a storm. They are part of the reason things smell so fresh after it rains.
Spiders and other pests are sensitive to negative ions. Long before it starts pouring down with rain, spiders can sense a change in the atmosphere and they look for shelter. This new ionic pest control technology confuses them and they seek shelter far from the reach of the repeller.
A nice side effect of the ionic repeller is that it cleans the air in your house too.
Ionic pest control works in two ways. Firstly, the ions affect the spiders directly causing them to seek shelter elsewhere, and secondly, by helping clean the air of odors the spiders are less likely to be attracted to odors they associate with a food source as a result they will look for their food elsewhere.
So now you can easily see that a pest repeller that incorporates all three of the above technologies is a very effective defense against spiders in your home or place of work. I have seen a dramatic reduction in spider sightings in my house since I have been using one.

More info at http://www.spiderpanic.com/

Cool spider bashing game...

2007-07-29T01:53:00.000-07:00

I have discovered a pretty cool spider bashing game that you can play in moments of boredom or frustration on your computer or at work. It's just a basic shootem up game but I thought I would share it with you.
Check it out here...

www.titletownnet.com/hatespiders

Let me know your high scores - perhaps we can have a competition?

20 Facts About Spiders

2006-03-05T10:50:00.000-08:00

Ok, so you think you know about spiders?

Here’s 20 things about these creatures that you may not know…..

There are nearly 40,000 species of spiders worldwide and about 3,800 in the US.

Spiders rarely bite people and only do so as a means of defense.

Spiders range in size from small enough to balance comfortably on the tip of a pencil to almost 14 inches in diameter.

The average person will encounter some 50 different kinds of spiders in their lifetime. Of those, only about a dozen are capable of piercing the skin with their fangs.

Spiders generally live for 1 or 2 years. The longest living spiders recorded was aged 20 years

Spider silk is the strongest natural fiber known. It’s exuded as a liquid and hardens when the spider pulls it, thus aligning the molecular structure. It will stretch up to 1/3 of its original length without breaking.

Scientists are researching spider silk as a possible replacement for Kevlar, the material used in bulletproof vests.

It has been theorized that a spider web with strands the thickness of a pencil could stop a 747 in flight.

Spiders are the only creatures that can produce silk essentially from the time they emerge from the egg sac until the day they die.

Black widow silk was at one time used in military gun sights because of its strength and uniform thickness.

Bridge builders have been known to study spider webs because of the webs’ remarkable ability to absorb tension.

Virtually all spiders are venomous but only a few are what we refer to as “medically important.”

Components of spider venom show promise in medical research, including areas of Alzheimer’s and Lou Gehrig’s disease and even in preventing permanent brain damage in stroke victims.

There is no correlation between the size of the spider and the degree of venom potency.

Spiders cannot eat solid food. Everything they ingest must be liquefied.

Little Miss Muffet was a real person. Her name was Patience Muffet and she was the daughter of Thomas Muffet - a late 16th and early 17th century entomologist. His book "Insectorum Theatrum" contained the first illustration of an insect, collected in North America on Sir Walter Raleigh's second voyage. Muffet had a particular penchant for spiders and tolerated and even promoted them in his home. As was common at that time, he believed that spiders possessed medicinal qualities and that consuming them could cure a variety of ailments. Consequently, whenever poor Patience was ill, her father would mash spiders and spoon feed her the pulp. No wonder she was afraid of them!

The simple act of a spider spinning a web in the mouth of a cave has been credited with saving the lives of the primary figures in three major world religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. In many countries, there are tales of a hero or special individual who escaped his pursuers because a spider had built a web across the entrance to his hiding place. For example, David doubted God's wisdom in having created such a useless creature that does nothing but spin a web and has no value. Yet when he was pursued by Saul and took refuge in a cave, God sent a spider to weave its web across the mouth of the cave. Saul and his men did not enter the cave because they felt that no one could have entered without disturbing the web. Similar tales are told of Mohammed when he fled Mecca to escape from the Coreishites and of Jesus being hidden in a cave to escape Herrod's men who searched for him.

Aristotle advocated swallowing a spider every day as a means of staying healthy.

Contrary to popular belief, the female Black Widow spider seldom devours the male after mating.

Spiderlings (young spiders) can travel great distancing by “ballooning” - the process of floating on the breeze using a strand of silk.

For my free specialist spider control advice visit www.spiderpanic.com

10 Myths About Spiders

2006-01-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

Myth 1: The daddy-longlegs has the world's most powerful venom, but fortunately its jaws (fangs) are so small that it can't bite you.

Fact: That is a full-fledged Urban Legend, with no basis in fact whatever. This legend is so widespread that many people believe it who should really know better, including some teachers and TV documentary producers.

Three different unrelated groups are called "daddy-longlegs." Harvestmen have no venom of any kind. None at all! Same with crane flies. Pholcid spiders have venom (like almost all spiders) but there's nothing special about it; in fact, a recent study showed that pholcid venom is unusually weak in its effect on insects.

Myth 2: Spiders are insects.

Fact: Actually, not everyone believes this. Around half of my callers did learn in school that spiders are not insects, but I find it rather appalling that the percentage is not higher. And how often, in mass media, we read or hear a phrase like "spiders prey on other insects!" Anyway, spiders belong to the Class Arachnida, insects to the Class Insecta. Arachnids are as distant from insects, as birds are from fish. It really is not a trivial distinction!

Myth 3: All spiders make webs.

Fact: Technically, a web is not just anything a spider makes out of silk; it is a silk structure made to catch prey. Only about half of the known spider species catch prey by means of webs. Others actively hunt for prey (including members of the wolf spider, jumping spider, ground spider, sac spider, lynx spider, and other spider families), or sit and wait for prey to come to them (trap door spiders, crab spiders, and others).

Myth 4: You can always tell a spider because it has eight legs.

Fact: Not exactly. Scorpions, harvestmen, ticks, and in fact all arachnids - not just spiders - have four pairs of legs. Insects have three pairs. Also, notice that I said "four pairs" instead of "eight." The number of leg pairs (one pair per leg-bearing segment) is more significant than individual legs, which can be lost.

Myth 5: Most spiders could not bite humans because their fangs are too small.

Fact: That may actually be true of a few of the smallest spiders, and of groups like crab spiders that have small fangs. However, there are well-documented human bite cases from spiders as small as 3 millimeters long. (The bites caused no ill effects, of course!)

It's not that spiders can't bite, but that they don't bite except very rarely. And on those rare occasions, the bite almost always has only trivial effects on the human, who after all weighs from one to several million times as much as the spider!

Myth 6: Spiders are easy to identify.

Fact: No such luck! Laypersons often assume that there are only a few spider species around, and all they'd need to identify them would be a few pictures. In reality, the world holds over 50,000 species of spiders classified into over 100 families. In your local area, there are likely at least 30 families and a few hundred species.

Even identifying a spider to family is no trivial task; all the many published keys to spider families are so organized that a beginner will go wrong about half the time. At species level, one needs an expensive microscope, a library of hundreds of separate books, monographs and articles, and a few years of experience to understand the many microscopic details that identify a spider, their similarities, differences, and variation.

Myth 7: A deadly exotic spider has been found lurking under toilet seats in airports and airplanes.

Fact: This urban legend began in August, 1999 as a deliberate Internet hoax, disguised as a news story. The original version refers to a spider allegedly called Arachnius gluteus, or South American Blush Spider. Nothing mentioned in the story is genuine; there is no such spider, no such airport, no such medical association, no such doctor, no such restaurant, and no such aeronautics board.

In October, 2002 a new version of the same hoax surfaced. This one mentions a real species, the south Asian jumping spider Telamonia dimidiata, but it is still a hoax. A jumping spider is one of the least likely to be found in such a situation; they are sun-lovers, and none are more than mildly toxic to humans.

Myth 8: Tarantulas are dangerous or deadly to humans.

Fact: Outside of southern Europe (where the name is used for a wolf spider, famous in medieval superstition as the alleged cause of "tarantella" dancing), the word tarantula is most often used for the very large, furry spiders of the family Theraphosidae.

Hollywood is squarely to blame for these spiders' toxic-to-humans reputation. Tarantulas are large, photogenic and easily handled, and therefore have been very widely used in horror and action-adventure movies. When some "venomous" creature is needed to menace James Bond or Indiana Jones, to invade a small town in enormous numbers, or to grow to gigantic size and prowl the Arizona desert for human prey, the special-effects team calls out the tarantulas!

In reality, the venom of these largest-of-all-spiders generally has very low toxicity to humans.

Myth 9: Spiders can lay their eggs under human skin in wounds created by their bites.

Fact: In a surprisingly widespread urban legend, a nameless woman is bitten by a spider (usually on her cheek) while on vacation. She later develops a swelling, from which, in due course, baby spiders emerge! Somehow or other, the venom must have transformed into eggs. Spiders, need I say, do not find the human body a suitable site for egg laying, and no actual case anything like this can be found anywhere in scientific or medical literature.

Myth 10: Some spiders are deadly.

Fact: There is no spider species anywhere that can properly be called "deadly." Obviously, a few people have died from spider venom, but I know of no species anywhere on earth capable of causing death in humans in as much as 10% of cases, even if untreated. If the person bitten obtains medical aid, death from genuine spider bite ("mystery bites" falsely blamed on spiders don't count) is almost unknown in North America and a decided rarity worldwide. "Deadly" spiders that can incapacitate you in minutes? Only in the movies!

With thanks to Impact Lab from the DaVinci Institute for this research

For my free specialist spider control advice visit www.spiderpanic.com

General Spider Info

2005-12-23T06:35:00.000-08:00

Now let’s get one thing straight. I don’t like spiders. I don’t want them anywhere near me or my home. But I still want to know more about them so I can cope with day to day life with the prospect of seeing one at any moment! So here’s a few interesting facts about my arch enemies…

Spiders in general have a very bad reputation. Though most spiders are venomous and considered predators, of the thousands of species found worldwide, few are actually considered a health threat. In fact, spiders are actually helpful in controlling other pests in the home or garden since they feed on other insects and spiders. So if you CAN cope with them, then good for you - they may serve you well!

And contrary to popular belief, spiders rarely bite humans. There, I’ve said it!
So they are not that dangerous, honestly, but I just don’t like them because they look horrible and they have far too many hairy legs… I can just about cope with two from my boyfriend!

Anyway....
One of the most common misconceptions about spiders is that they are insects. Spiders are arachnids and are actually closely related to mites, ticks and scorpions. Spiders have two body parts (cephalothorax and abdomen), eight legs and usually six to eight eyes (which are arranged into 2 rows of four or three) while insects are classified by having three body parts (head, thorax and abdomen), six legs, and generally two compound eyes or up to three single eyes.

The average life span of a spider is usually one to two years, but some can live five years and up to 20 years.

Spiders lay eggs within a silken egg sac that is often ball-shaped and either hidden in a web, fixed to a surface, or carried by the female. Spiders may produce several egg sacs, each containing up to several hundred eggs. A spider grows by shedding its skin (molting), usually four to twelve times before maturity. In many species, the mature male often wanders about in search of a mate. Some species of spiders may live for years, but most spiders only survive for one season.

All spiders produce silk, which is secreted as a liquid through the spinnerets and hardens on air contact. Spiders use silk for a variety of purposes, such as making egg sacs, capturing prey, holding prey, making shelters or retreats, and transferring sperm during mating. Also, spiderlings extrude silk threads that enable them to be transported by air currents, a process called “ballooning.”

Spiders are predators that typically feed on living prey. They produce venom that is poisonous to their normal prey of insects, mites, and other small arthropods. Venom is injected through the hollow fangs to immobilize the prey and begin the digestion process. Spiders can only ingest liquids, so they either inject or regurgitate digestive fluids into the prey. They then suck in the digested liquid food.

Spiders use a variety of tactics to capture prey. Some species are web builders that use webbing to ensnare their prey. Others are active hunters that actively search for their prey. Passive hunters are spiders that lay in wait for their prey rather than searching for it.

Although spiders are often unpopular, the venom of most species is not very toxic to humans, usually resulting in no more than a slight swelling, inflammation, or itching sensation. Most spiders’ fangs are too small or weak to puncture human skin. Spiders usually will not attempt to bite unless accidentally trapped against the skin or grasped, although some species actively guard their egg sacs or young. So be more careful if you see a spider near eggs.

Two spiders that are actually dangerous and can be a health risk are the brown recluse and black widow spider. These are fairly common in the USA so if you live there then make sure you stay away from these! I have collected specific facts on these two nasties in another post on this blog. Look those up if you want to know more.

For my free specialist spider control advice visit www.spiderpanic.com

Hedge balls as a deterrent?

2005-12-09T01:52:00.000-08:00

Osage Hedge Balls (aka Hedge Apples or Horse Apples)

There has been much speculation about the use of Osage hedge balls as a means of deterring spiders. They seem to have a great effect when placed in your home at eliminating the eight-legged creatures. As far as I can research at the moment, you can only buy these in the US although it is true that the Osage hedge actually originated in the UK so maybe there is an untapped source there somewhere. If I find one, you will be the first to know!

Below are some facts about hedge balls I have collected for you …

Where do hedge balls come from?
Hedge balls are the fruit of the Osage Orange Tree (Maclura pomifera).

Are they edible?
No - but they are not poisonous. Squirrels love to eat the seeds of the hedge ball.

What was the Osage Orange Tree used for?
In the 1800's, they were planted as a living fence - or hedge - along the boundaries of farms. The hedges were pruned to promote bushy growth. The criteria for a good hedge made with the Osage Orange Tree was, "Horse high, bull strong and hog tight." By the invention of barbed wire in the 1880's, the hedge became obsolete.

Is the wood of the tree used for anything?
Yes. It was and still is used for fence posts. The wood is so strong and dense that it will neither rot nor succumb to the attacks of termites or to insects for decades. The Native Americans used the strong yet limber branches for the construction of their bows.

How do I use these hedge balls?
People place them in cupboards, around basement windows, on garage floors and around the inside and outside of the house.

Do I need to place these "balls" inside a dish or something?
Some people have reported that they have never had a problem with them leaving any residue as they age and dry. Others "play it safe" and place them in a bowl, on a piece of foil or plastic. Some balls could possibly ooze a sticky substance.

What is the life span of these hedgeballs?
This all depends on the conditions they are placed in. If they are kept from freezing and extreme heat, they could last 1 to two months. Although some can develop spots at an early stage, Hedgeapples should only be discarded once most of the green has disappeared.

Can you tell me if hedge balls are toxic to pets?
Hedge balls are not toxic. They are similar to orange peels. Although, many cattle have died from hedge balls because they get lodge in their throats and they suffocate. Your cat or dog will turn there nose away from hedge balls.

Do hedge balls have an offensive odor to the human nose?
No. They have no odor, sometimes a slight orange peel smell. In fact after their period of usefulness, they will turn black and still not smell.

I just saw a "Hedge Ball" for the first time today in a grocery store. They sell them to repel insects. I looked at the internet to find out what they are, and it states for insects and decorations. Besides these 2 uses, why are they grown? What is their original purpose? They are not edible I assume! Do animals eat them?
The trees were not planted for the fruit. They were planted for wind breaks or for posts. No trees that I know were planted for the fruit. Hedge balls are not edible for taste reasons only, they are listed as not toxic on publish toxin lists. However, cattle eat them and sometimes choke and die from them.

I am not sure what this apple is. Do you know if this the same thing that we call horse apples in Texas?
They sure are. It seems Texas and Arkansas like to call them horse apples. In Kansas horse apples are the things you see smashed in the street after a parade!

Is it legal to ship hedge balls, which contain seeds, to states that do not have native osage orange populations? Does this violate State or Federal Laws regarding the introduction of non-native species?
I do not know officially the answer to your question. I know that Osage Orange (hedgeapple trees) are native to United States and were planted across the nation for fences and wind breaks in the 1800's and early 1900's. It is inconceivable that they could ship anywhere in US where they were not introduced before. If you know of anything different, please let me know.

How is the supply of hedge balls during winter months?
Hedge balls are naturally available in the US until mid November. There have been experiments this year on preservation of hedge balls using refrigeration, vacuum bags and CO2 storage methods. So far the results are looking good. Go to the US websites listed below and check with them.

When is the best time to pick hedge balls in northern Missouri?
The easiest time is to pick them from the ground after the first good frost. Some say those are the best hedge balls. My feeling is they will work to repel insects after they lose their spore styles (around 4 inches in dia, mid-July in Kansas). The survey indicates equal success with hedgeapples July through November.

If you pick them off the ground or without the stem, will it affect their bug-repellant properties? Also, what sort of container should I put them in to put them in our home?
Put them in a plastic container or on a plastic plate I leave the stems on (July thru Sept.) because the leakage stains the hedge balls. A black spot develops where the stem is pull away from. The immediate effectiveness is enhanced by slicing or coring the hedge ball. They will last much longer if they are left untouched. However, some people claim they do not do as much good. My opinion is have two and do both methods. Picking them off the ground means they are almost ready to let their juice seep out. These juices that collect at the bottom of the tray are very effective when allowed to evaporate into the surrounding air. Remember, hedge balls repel, they don't kill like raid. You will see insects move around until they find a hospitable location. Hopefully this is outside!

Thanks to the websites www.osagehedgeballs.com and www.hedgeapple.com
for the information displayed on this post. You can order your apples from these sites in the US.

For help on spider control please visit my specialist website www.spiderpanic.com

Dangerous Spiders !!!

2005-12-05T06:52:00.000-08:00

Here are some facts on the big bad boys…

Brown Recluse
DESCRIPTION
The brown recluse spider (Loxosceles spp.) is a poisonous spider that is light brown in color. The adult body varies from 1/3- to 1/2inch in length, with the arrangement of the legs producing a larger overall size of 1 inch diameter or greater. The body is yellow to dark brown, has a violin-shaped marking on the thorax (mid-section) and is sometimes called a fiddleback spider due to the unique markings. While most spiders have 8 eyes, the brown recluse has 6 (3 pairs). The brown recluse spider received its name because of its color and reclusive behavior. Recluse spiders are often colored tan, but can be dark brown to almost white in appearance.These spiders make an irregular and sticky web that is used for shelter rather than for trapping insects.

BIOLOGY
There are seven species of brown recluse spider that are a health concern in the United States. The spider has been widely reported in the southern, western, and mid western United States, and is a particularly serious pest in Oklahoma, Missouri, and surrounding states.

It is usually found indoors, particularly in bathrooms, bedrooms, closets, garages, basements, and cellars. In homes with forced hot-air heating and air conditioning and often above-ceiling ductwork, brown recluse spiders are commonly found harboring in or around the ductwork or registers. They may also be present in attic areas or other locations above the ceiling. They are also commonly found in cluttered closets or basements, and in outbuildings where miscellaneous items are stored. The web is not elaborate and is best described as an off white to gray, nondescript type of webbing. The spider is not aggressive and usually retreats to cover when disturbed.

Most bites occur when a person crushes the spider while putting on old clothes that have been hanging in a garage, or by rolling on the spider while asleep in bed.Though active throughout the year, they often go unnoticed because of their reclusive habits. Adults may be found in dark, secluded indoor places that are dry, cluttered, undisturbed and contain a supply of insects for food. They are most commonly found behind baseboards, under tables and chairs, in the basement, crawlspace, attic, infesting cedar shake roofs, and in garages and sheds. Another common hiding place for a brown recluse is in garments that are left hanging undisturbed for some time and in the linens of beds that have been unoccupied for a long while. Bites often occur when the spider is trapped in shoes or clothing, rolled on while in bed, and encountered when cleaning storage areas.

The brown recluses venom is a cytotoxin that attacks the cells of flesh and produces necrosis or dead tissue in humans. Though fatalities from the venom are very rare, the reaction to the venom depends on the amount of and individual sensitivity to the toxin. The initial pain associated with the bite is not intense, and is generally less troublesome than a bee sting.The reaction may not occur until an hour or more after the bite. The bitten area will first develop a small, white blister and enlarge to the size of a silver dollar as the venom attacks and kills the tissue in the affected area. Eventually, the affected tissue will die and leave a sunken, ulcerated sore. The healing process is slow, generally six to eight weeks. If bitten, call a physician or go to the emergency room immediately. If possible, exterminate the spider and take it along for identification purposes. Though no antitoxin is available, prompt medical treatment can prevent severe reaction and minimize the extent of damaged tissue and eventual scarring.

SOLUTION
To avoid getting bitten by the brown recluse, shake out unworn or stored shoes and clothes before wearing, check bed linens of unoccupied beds and wear leather gloves when working around potential habitats. Use caution around spider webs in basements and crawlspaces. If a brown recluse is encountered, contact a pest control professional.

Black Widow
DESCRIPTION
The female black widow spider (Latrodectus spp.) is a poisonous spider that has a somewhat round, shiny black abdomen with red markings that resemble an hourglass on the underside. The size of the body is approximately 1/2 inch wide and 1 1/2 to 1 3/8 inches long. Despite common opinion, the female rarely kills the male after mating.

BIOLOGY
Five different species of the black widow spider are prevalent in North America. They generally live under rocks and under fallen trees outside the home. In and around the house they are often found in firewood piles, basements and crawlspaces. They are also found in secluded places, such as garages and sheds. They feed on insects and other spiders that are trapped in their web.

The widow's web is an irregular mass of fibers with a small central area to which the spider retreats while waiting until its prey becomes ensnared. These webs are frequently constructed underneath boards, stones, or the seats of outdoor privies. They are also found along foundation slabs, behind shrubs and especially where brick or wood siding extends close to ground level. This spider does not usually enter residences. They are usually not aggressive spiders, but if handled or accidentally touched, they may bite.

Widow spider venom contains toxins that are neurotoxic (affects the nervous system). The black widow’s venom is a neurotoxin that attacks the nervous system and may cause pain and serious illness in humans. Though the bite is not often felt, pain will develop immediately. The severity of a person's reaction to the bite depends on the area of the body where the bite occurs; the person's size and general sensitivity; the amount of venom injected; depth of bite; seasonal changes (in venom potency); and temperature. The bite produces a sharp pain similar to a needle puncture. The pain usually disappears rapidly. Local muscular cramps are felt 15 minutes to several hours after the bite, spreading and becoming more severe as time passes. The venom then grows weak, tremors develop, and the abdominal muscles show a board-like rigidity. Respiration becomes spasmodic and the patient is restless and anxious. During this period, a feeble pulse, cold skin, labored breathing and speech, light stupor, and delirium may be noted. Convulsions and death may result with some victims, especially if the person is sensitive to the venom and no treatment is received. An anti-venom specific for the black or brown widow is readily available to most physicians. Antitoxin is available to combat the neurotoxin. If bitten, call a physician or go to an emergency room immediately. If possible, exterminate the spider and take it along for identification purposes. Bites are rarely fatal when promptly treated, however, small children are at greater risk.

SOLUTION
To avoid getting bitten by the black widow, wear leather gloves when working around potential habitats. Use caution around spider webs in basements and crawl spaces. If a black widow is encountered, contact a pest control professional.

For my free specialist spider control advice please visit www.spiderpanic.com