Can you help me identify this spider? (new house, centers) - City-Data Forum

leavingNY · 02-07-2008, 06:15 AM

Hi all -
We found this spider in our house today. It's the 4th one we found since we moved into our house 3 months ago. I just want to make sure it's not something that's going to bite the kids when they are sleeping or anything.

Thanks!

superk · 02-07-2008, 06:42 AM

Looks like a run-of-the-mill Brown Recluse Spider to me:

Brown recluse spider - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

anifani821 · 02-07-2008, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leavingNY

Hi all -
We found this spider in our house today. It's the 4th one we found since we moved into our house 3 months ago. I just want to make sure it's not something that's going to bite the kids when they are sleeping or anything.

Thanks!

I blew this up and tried to get a close look. Also, tried to estimate size. Brown recluses are small. Check out SuperK's link well as this article does describe the distinguishing differences b/n brown recluse spiders and other harmless spiders. At first glance, tho, it does look suspiciously like a brown recluse.

Yes, you have reason for concern. However, these spiders typically are quite shy and hide in dark areas, i.e. closets (shoes and boots!), laundry rooms, basements, cellars, garages, etc. Not so likely to be in the interior of your house, but I have encountered them in old, dark closets.

My recommendation is to call an exterminator and let him/her explore your property. They will know what is the best method of exterminating any spiders.

Meanwhile, shake out shoes and boots b/f putting them on. Also, I found one on a garden glove in my garage once, so since then, I never put on a garden glove w/o turning it inside out and checking it b/f putting it on.

leavingNY · 02-07-2008, 07:34 AM

Here's a better picture. I don't think it's a brown recluse. This one is a bit more mottled in coler. Sort of a black/brown coloring. It runs very fast across the ground. I have seen them outside in my driveway and grass.

It could be a wolf spider, but I'm not sure.

Good suggestion. I'll stop by the exterminator's office and see what he thinks it is.

anifani821 · 02-07-2008, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leavingNY

Here's a better picture. I don't think it's a brown recluse. This one is a bit more mottled in coler. Sort of a black/brown coloring. It runs very fast across the ground. I have seen them outside in my driveway and grass.

It could be a wolf spider, but I'm not sure.

Good suggestion. I'll stop by the exterminator's office and see what he thinks it is.

This picture in the glass - the proportion - makes the spider look too big to be a brown recluse. And not likely at all you would ever see a brown recluse scurrying outside!!!! If indeed, those are the same spiders you see outside . . . and based on the size of the one in the glass . . . I doubt this is a brown recluse. Brown recluses are truly shy and typically under an inch.

ydvu · 02-07-2008, 08:10 AM

It certainly doesn't look nice to me. I would definitely try to exterminate anything like that for the sake of kids.

leavingNY · 02-07-2008, 08:15 AM

Here's a link that has photos of exactly what it looks like. Scroll down the 5 photos dated "30 September, 2007"

Spiderzrule

Apparently their bite is poisonous but not lethal.

Needless to say, I have already called the exterminator and have him coming out on Tuesday.

Yuck!

SuperchargedSS · 02-07-2008, 04:50 PM

pest control FTW!

mm34b · 02-07-2008, 05:01 PM

I'd take it by your county's Cooperative Extension Office for identification assistance.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension: County Centers

ultraviolet* · 02-08-2008, 01:07 AM

Hard to see from the pic, but it looks like a wolf spider or a grass spider. I know there are some other threads here about them so you may want to do a forum search.

You can tell the difference between them and a brown recluse a couple of ways. First, like other people have said, the recluse is just that: a recluse. You don't generall see them scuttling around. You see them if you disturb where they're hiding or stick your extremities in dark places without looking first.

Second, the brown recluse has a fiddle-shaped marking on its back. It's pretty distinctive if you can get that close to it to look. Click here to see what that looks like, if you can stand icky spider pics.

Also, the recluse is not that fast. On the other hand, the wolf spider is FAST! I don't think I've ever seen any insect other than a cockroach move that fast. By nature of it's being, the wolf spider needs to be fast: it does not build a web to trap its prey. It hunts it down. Hence the name "wolf" spider.

Wolf spiders are actually good to have around because they eat some of the more bothersome insects like termites and cockroaches. I've found more than I want to in my new house so far, but I'm trying to come up with an active plan to just keep them out rather than exterminate them. (Also, I don't like to put a lot of chemicals around my family and pets...)

They bite, but usually only if provoked. I would get any spider bite checked out by a doctor of course. Hope that helps!