Have you ever heard the phrase “things are not always as they appear”? A family in Michigan learned this firsthand in mid April of 2017 when they discovered two innocent looking spiders in their garage that were later positively identified as brown recluse spiders, a potentially dangerous spider not typically found in cooler climates. The bite of a brown recluse can cause symptoms ranging from mild irritation at the site of the bite to flesh eating necrosis and even death. The Davidson, Michigan family is baffled by the appearance of the spiders and has no idea how they ended up in residing in their garage. An entomologist from Michigan State University confirmed the species of spiders as Loxosceles reclusa (Brown Recluse). The brown recluse is often found in the warmer climates of the southern states ranging from Tennessee to Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Georgia. Finding a brown recluse spider in a cool climate is rare but even more extraordinary is the evidence that suggests the spiders survived winter in an unheated garage. The family also reported that there was no history of recent travel or deliveries to the home arriving from out of state. And just before the publishing of this blog in mid May of 2017, a 24 year old woman was bit by a spider that is believed to be a brown recluse due to the severity of her symptoms ranging from a quarter sized blistering wound and inflammation of the lymphatic system.
History of Brown Recluse Spider Reports in Michigan
In addition to these two recent cases, Michigan actually has a history of brown recluse spiders found in the area. In 2011, three separate cases of brown recluse spiders where reported in Lansing, Hillsdale and Flint while an additional three cases occurred in Tecumseh in 2015, Ann Arbor in 2016. The Tecumseh spiders were reported to be sharing a home with two adults, three children, and two dogs. The owner of the property believes the spiders hitched a ride with some new kitchen cabinets that the previous owner of the property installed. Although experts in the field agree that this is a reasonable explanation, the million dollar question remains “Where did the other spiders come from?”
Could Spiders Be Reproducing & Spreading Throughout the Midwest?
From a research perspective, entomologists are busying working on a theory involving the spiders breeding and spreading throughout the Midwest. Although entomologists agree that the possibility of the spiders breeding in Michigan is rare; it is not out of the realms of possibility. Researchers are also quick to add that there are species of dangerous spiders already established in Michigan and the surrounding areas including the Northern Widow. Doctors in the Michigan area report that more injures occur when individuals are exposed to wasp or bee stings than spider bites.
Identification of the Brown Recluse Spider & Spiders that Look Alike
The most widely-known feature of the brown recluse spider is the violin shaped markings on the top of its torso giving the spider the informal nickname of fiddle back or violin spider. The violin marking can vary according to the age of the spider, with a mature spider displaying a dark violin shape. According to entomologists, the violin markings can be easily mistaken often leading homeowners to panic. To positively identify a brown recluse you need to get close enough to look at the eyes … although we don’t recommend it. The brown recluse has six eyes of equal size arranged in rows of three as opposed to other species of spiders which have eight eyes arranged in rows of four. Other characteristics include a brown abdomen covered in fine hair with a velvety looking texture and long thin legs. Cellar spiders commonly found in Michigan have a dark spot that looks a bit like a violin. Though cellar spiders are harmless, brown recluse are anything but. For your own safety, you should leave the positive identification of spiders to your experienced Knock’Em Out Pest Control professional.
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For more information regarding spider identification, control, and removal contact the knowledgeable experts at Knock’Em Out Pest Control today.
