I got called out to an out of control burn in a cow pasture,which to me is kind of an oxymoron "controlled burn" .But anyway while fighting the fire,something bit me on the leg.Well,my daughter had warned me about chiggers and how when they bite,they burrow under your skin and set up quarters,so I burned the bite with a cigarette!Hurt like heck,but the thought of something living under my skin gives me the hee bee gee bees!Then one of the guys at the station says to use fingernail polish on it.And another guy says to dig into the area until it bleeds and the put rubbing alcohol on it.Man that has got to hurt more than the cigarette burn .So,who better to ask than you guys and gals,what do you use for insect bites.Oh yeah,one other thing,the Chief told me to keep an eye on it for a couple of days to make sure it was not a brown recluse spider bite.Well,how the heck Do I tell if it is?All it looks like is a cigarette burn now.But at least it does not itch anymore!

 

<CENTER>RECLUSE SPIDER AKA HOBO SPIDER</CENTER><CENTER></CENTER><CENTER>The recluse spiders, genus Loxosceles, belong to a unique family of arachnids known as the Sicariidae, or six-eyed sicariid spiders. The sicariids have six (rather than the typical eight) eyes, arranged in a horseshoe pattern in three clusters of two eyes each. The family consists not only of the recluse spiders, but also of the six-eyed crab spiders, genus Sicarius, of Central and South America, and South Africa. Recluse spiders were the first spider group to be recognized as a causative agent of the disease state now known as necrotic arachnidism, and this condition, when caused by a recluse spider, is properly termed loxoscelism. Loxoscelism was first recognized in 1872 when Chilean physicians linked a peculiar skin lesion known as the "gangrenous spot of Chile" to bites by the Chilean recluse spider, Loxosceles laeta. The brown recluse, L. reclusa, became the first U.S. spider associated with necrotic arachnidism in 1957, when it was linked to severe bites in the midwest. All recluse spiders, as well as the six-eyed crab spiders, are now considered venomous to humans. </CENTER>

At least 56 species of recluse spiders have been described, 54 from the Americas, one from the Mediterranean region, and one from South Africa: Many of these species have only recently been recognized, and thus, most people are not familiar with them. In natural habitats recluse spiders live beneath rocks and fallen debris: In areas inhabited by humans, they take up residence inside houses and other buildings, and may be found in attics, barns, cellars and storm shelters; They can often be found hiding in the folds of clothing, shoes, or underneath boxes in storage rooms. Most species have a mild temperment, and bite only when accidentally pressed against skin, but others, such as the Chilean recluse, are less even tempered.

In the United States there are eleven indigenous (native) species of recluse spider, and two species introduced from other countries. The most noted of these is the brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa (photograph), the latin name of which translates "slant-legged recluse". The brown recluse is found in the midwest and parts of the south; it ranges (see map ) from southern Wisconsin east to Ohio, and south to extreme northern Florida and central Texas. The adult brown recluse has a body length of 10-12 mm. This species is also frequently called the "fiddleback" or "violin" spider, due the violin-like marking on the dorsal cephalothorax. The apparent presence of a violin-like marking on the cephalothorax or elsewhere is not sufficient to identify a spider as belonging to the recluse group. Many other spiders have markings which somewhat resemble "violins".

The other ten recluse species which are indigenous to the United States look very much like reclusa and can be positively distinguished only by an expert. Other U.S. indigenous and introduced recluse spiders are:

• The Apache recluse, Loxosceles apachea: Ranges from southeastern Arizona, through southern New Mexico, to extreme western Texas.
• The Arizona recluse, Loxosceles arizonica: Found in central and southern Arizona, and southeastern California.
• The Baja recluse, Loxosceles palma: Found in southern California, and northern Baja, Mexico.
• The Big Bend recluse, Loxosceles blanda: Western Texas.
• The Chilean recluse, Loxosceles laeta: Introduced from South America, colonies exist in southern California. A large (25 mm) spider, with a particularly severe bite.
• The desert recluse, Loxosceles deserta: A pale colored species which ranges from south-central to southern California, east to south-central Arizona, and north to southern Nevada and the Saint George, Utah area.
• The Grand Canyon recluse, Loxosceles kaiba: Grand Canyon area, Arizona.
• Martha's recluse, Loxosceles martha: Southern California.
• The Mediterranean recluse, Loxosceles rufescens: An introduced species from the Mediterranean region, which has been found in various cities across the U.S. Its bite is not regarded as being as severe as some of the other spiders of this genus.
• Russell's recluse, Loxosceles russelli: Found in the Death Valley area of southern California.
• The Texas recluse, Loxosceles devia: Southern Texas.
• The Tucson recluse, Loxosceles sabina: The Tucson area of southern Arizona.

Recluse spider bites can produce the same type of local effects as those described for the hobo spider in Hobo Spider Poisoning, [THERE'S A WONDERFUL PICTURE ON THAT LINK- FL55] with the development of a slow healing necrotic lesion. The systemic effects of brown recluse spider bite (which occur in a small percentage of cases) differ somewhat from those of the hobo; chills, fever, nausea, muscle pain, and other flu-like symptoms can develop. In severe cases convulsions may occur, as well as abnormalites in the clotting ability of the blood. Hemolysis, or damage to red blood cell walls resulting in leakage of the red, oxygen carrying protein hemoglobin occurs in some cases; this can result in the death of the victim when the discarded red blood cell casts are filtered through the kidneys, causing renal failure. Bites by the recluse spiders should (for the moment) be treated in the same fashion as has been outlined for the hobo spider. Management of the local lesion, and the use of corticosteroids in systemic poisoning, are the key elements in treatment of bites by recluse spiders. Systemic poisoning from the various members of the genus Loxosceles may vary from species to species. Little is known about the venom and bite of the lesser known species of recluse spiders.

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The physical reaction to a brown recluse spider bite depends on the amount of venom injected and an individual's sensitivity to it. Some people are unaffected by a bite, whereas others experience immediate or delayed effects as the venom kills the tissues (necrosis) at the site of the bite. Many brown recluse bites cause just a little red mark that heals without event. The vast majority of brown recluse bites heal without severe scarring (http://spiders.ucr.edu/avoidbites.html).

Initially, the bite may feel like a pinprick or go unnoticed. Some may not be aware of the bite for 2 to 8 hours. Others feel a stinging sensation followed by intense pain. Infrequently, some victims experience general systemic reactions that may include restlessness, generalized itching, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or shock. A small white blister usually initially rises at the bite site surrounded by a swollen area. The affected area enlarges and becomes red, and the tissue is hard to the touch for some time. The lesion from a brown recluse spider bite is a dry, blue-gray or blue-white, irregular sinking patch with ragged edges and surrounding redness--termed the "red, white, and blue sign." The lesion usually is 1½ inches by 2¾ inches or smaller. Characteristics of a bite are further discussed at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2002/08/05/hlsa0805.htm.

The bite of the brown recluse spider can result in a painful, deep wound that takes a long time to heal. Fatalities are extremely rare, but bites are most dangerous to young children, the elderly, and those in poor physical condition. When there is a severe reaction to the bite, the site can erupt into a "volcano lesion" (a hole in the flesh due to damaged, gangrenous tissue). The open wound may range from the size of an adult's thumbnail to the span of a hand. The dead tissue gradually sloughs away, exposing underlying tissues. The sunken, ulcerating sore may heal slowly up to 6 to 8 weeks. Full recovery may take several months and scarring may remain.

It is difficult for a physician to accurately diagnose a "brown recluse bite" based simply on wound characteristics. It is absolutely necessary to have the spider for a positive identification. Necrotic wounds can result from a variety of agents such as bacteria (Staphylococcus, "flesh-eating" Streptococcus, etc.), viruses, fungi, and arthropods (non-recluse spiders, centipedes, mites, ticks, wasps, bedbugs, kissing bugs, biting flies, etc.). Necrotic conditions also can be caused by vascular and lymphatic disorders, drug reactions, underlying diseases states, and a variety of other agents. An annotated list of conditions that could be mistaken for a brown recluse spider bite is available at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2002/08/05/hlsa0805.htm. Misdiagnosis of lesions as brown recluse bites can delay appropriate care.

First Aid

If bitten, remain calm, and immediately seek medical attention (contact your physician, hospital and/or poison control center). Apply an ice pack directly to the bite area to relieve swelling and pain. Collect the spider (even a mangled specimen has diagnostic value), if possible, for positive identification by a spider expert. A plastic bag, small jar, or pill vial is useful and no preservative is necessary, but rubbing alcohol helps to preserve the spider.

An effective commercial antivenin is not available. The surgical removal of tissue was once standard procedure, but now this is thought to slow down wound healing. Some physicians administer high doses of cortisone-type hormones to combat hemolysis and other systemic complications. Treatment with oral dapsone (an antibiotic used mainly for leprosy) has been suggested to reduce the degree of tissue damage. However, an effective therapy has not yet been found in controlled studies.


And the locations of the spiders seem to be hazy according to the info provided in the above. I live in NW Montana and we have reports of Brown Recluse up here all the time. Our health dept put a wrning in the local newspaper about them due to bites being reported. With the amount of people moving here from all over the states, it's no doubt that a spider or four has been transplanted ... thus I agree with the nick name of "HOBO- Spider". -Dick

 

WHOA!I sure hope it was a chigger!Thanks for the info Fordlover55,I think I will be keeping a real good eye on it now!

 

I hope you realize I added more while you were reading the first post. Heh heh ... sleep well.
Also added a comment in the first post..in bold.. follow that link and check the image.

 

Maybe it was one of these Texan ants...you're not used to them...lol, j/k.

I would just put alcohol on it. Keep an eye on it, see if it goes away.

 

I have already had an experience with ants.Fire ants.My little girl is 13 and she was out petting the neighbors dog.Well,the dog knocked her down,right on top of a fire ant pile.Poor kid,she freaked and came in the house screaming.She must have had a hundred of them on her.She got tossed clothes and all right into the shower.She stripped off her clothes in about 1.5 seconds.Now the poor kid looks like she has the measles!

 

Heh, those Fireants will get you...quick! I've had MANY unpleasant times when I'm standing right on one of their anthills... I'm spraying my legs down with a waterhose in about 2 seconds!

When I was 13, I used to watch them devour grasshoppers (which I deliberately removed their legs ). Oh, man I was evil, lol

 

if it's a chigger it'll look like a misquito bite sept itch about 7 times worse, and you usually don't just get one at a time. but take a bath with a cup of bleach in the water, if you don't touch it it'll be gone in a few days. the fingernail polish and cigarette are for tics, and vasiline works better for those, it'll suffocate it and it can still escape instead of die in your skin.

i've been bit by a brown recluse, you don't notice it when it first bites you, and they don't always erode your arm or whatever. luckily the one that bit me just itched for a while and went away. a buddy and I were cleaning out a shed and killed several dozen of them. some bigger than a quarter.

if you leave it alone it'll prolly go away and you'll have nuthin' but a burn mark left.

 

Welcome to TEXAS King. We got every kinda bitin' stingn' creepy crawler there is here. You probably got a fire ant bite. Their starting to come back out now that the weather is getting warmer. As I was told by a Forest service guy a long time ago, the best thing for fire ant bites is full strength bleach. As long as you don't scratch the site of the bite, dab the bleach on it and it will not itch or burn and will go away faster. I've had many and so have my kids when they were younger playing outside and it really works. I think the bleach kills the venom.