Brown recluse capturing a beetle

By Aaron Horrell

The spider in this photo is a brown recluse. It lives naturally in the Southeast Missouri woods.

It spends most of its life hiding in dark places such as wood piles and under things left undisturbed for long periods of time.

Brown recluse spiders have found human houses provide ideal living quarters. Most houses will have brown recluse spiders living in them from time to time. These spiders are not aggressive toward humans and will bite only when pressed between skin and another object, such as clothing.

The spider in my photo has lost two legs on the near side. It should have four legs on each side of its body. Nonetheless, it moved with agility to catch the beetle.

If you or someone in your care is ever bitten by a poisonous spider, remain calm. Wash the bite area with cold, soapy water, bandage the area and call 911. Keep the wound cold, but be sure not to freeze the skin. Note that the victim may not have felt the bite happen.

Often the bite feels like being stuck by a small pin, but just as often, no bite pain is felt at all. The pain comes a bit later.

The bite site will swell, then become red, grow larger, and the skin will harden. Call 911 for assistance or go quickly to see a doctor.

Children are small, and a poisonous bite will be more serious for a child. Children also are more apt to put their hands in places, such as under a couch or inside an old boot, where a brown recluse may be.

Don't hesitate to call 911 or immediately get your child to a doctor if you suspect he or she has been bitten by a poisonous spider.