Spider in my daughters apartment- do you know what kind of spider it is (Orlando: cabinet, living in)

[coastal chic]

Most spiders are harmless. I have 2 wolf spiders in my house that I leave alone because they eat big bugs. Brown recluse spiders don't live this far south and it doesn't look like a black widow, so she should be ok.

[coastal chic]

Originally Posted by mary54mi

Does it look like this Brown recluse? Google Image Result for http://pestmall.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Spider-PestControl-2.jpg

The picture of the spider on this link is NOT a brown recluse.

You'd think a website like that would get it right.

[pinda]

Equalrights, I apologize. I thought you were being funny like so many are on the forum when this was serious to my daughter. I guess it is difficult to see. I tried to lighten the photo up and when I zoomed in it just got so blurry.

She did kill one and then decided to take a photo when she found another in her new apartment. I felt it was important to find out if it is dangerous like the flesh eating brown recluse or just a common house hold spider incase there is a nest or something.

Thank you for the replies and please don't stop answering my replies Mr. Equal. I really thought you were being funny. I just saw a big ole hairy thick tarantula in Dominican Republic at my step daughters wedding. This spider is the size of a penney or nickle.

[hiknapster]

Pinda, is your daughter down South or up in Wisconsin?

I like to keep spiders around, too, but if it is a recluse it is definitely bad news. When I first moved to Florida - specifically Orlando - I had a roommate that had just been bit by one of them. He ended up in the hospital and out of work for a very long time. Coming from up north I was astounded, never having heard of such a thing. They have them in TN, too, and I am still not in the habit of shaking out my shoes before putting them on. My husband has lived in The South for over 30 years and he doesn't do it, either. But we all should.

[Foxrivman1]

Pinda, tell your daughter or whoever is available that is capable, to take their shoe, newspaper, flyswatter, boot, or whatever and kill the spider, worrying about something like this is not worth your time and the possible safety risk involved due to the fact identifying the creature could take enough time for it to escape. Spiders are plentiful, the average acre of green foliage contains potentially 50 thousand spiders on average.
So, killing one is not going to put a dent in the population. It will however reduce the population by one more spider in your daughters home.

[jillbeachbound]

I don't think brown recluse spiders have that zigzag pattern on them.....I understand your concern about your daughter.....I have two myself and would be worried too. If she finds more, I would check to see if the apt complex routinely sprays for insects. One or two getting in is one thing.....more....I'd certainly want to stop that. Good Luck!

[pinda]

She moved to Jacksonville Florida. I put a post up there too but I know the great Fort Myers Posters would help out for sure. I am not so familiar with the Jacksonville Forum. Thanks for all the great advice. I hope the apartment management will take care of it for her. She was really scared. I tried to get my kids to like spiders because I am so terrified of them. Here I am not afraid of harmless snakes, lizards, 6 legged bugs etc... but spiders, oh my. In Wisconsin we didn't have to be worried about if the spiders were harmful I just hate all those legs. I actually haven't seen many spiders since I moved here. Soooooo many more in Wisconsin.

[TamRE]

Get a pest control company to come in and spray the interior. They ususally do a powder dusting for spiders. We had the large spiders that scurry across the walls and floors. My dog chases them down, catches them and takes them out the doggie door. She does this with any bugs or critters she finds in the house or lanai.

[changeyourthoughts]

Brown recluses DO live down here, I have had many of them, outside though, they are gross and distinct looking. I doubt this is one....but check for egg sacks around the apartment. Maybe try and take a better picture and get back to us? If its not a brown recluse or a brown widow you have no worries. A widow of course has a bulbous body with an orangish mark on the belly and brown recluses have weird legs that have a strange shape.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by pinda

She moved to Jacksonville Florida. I put a post up there too but I know the great Fort Myers Posters would help out for sure.

I don't think your question was a bother to anyone. I just wanted to make sure that she wasn't up in WI where there is less chance of a poisonous spider, I think. But in Jax, she does run that risk. I have daughters so I understand, for sure.