[error99]

So what state do you live in?
These things are not a problem down here where I am.

[stlnative]

I live in Illinois - they mainly live in the midwest, but have been found in new areas throughout the USA due to people moving from the midwest to other places.

[Betteboop]

We have them in NJ and PA.

[Hildy]

My cousin was bitten by one here in San Diego...I swear. It was the first time I'd ever even heard of the damn thing.

[Hildy]

My cousin was bitten by one here in San Diego...I swear. It was the first time I'd ever even heard of the damn thing.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I was bitten in 93 while digging up some plants in a low area. Are you on antibiotics and have you had a tetanus shot? That was the treatment I received here locally.

The largest infestation I have seen here was in my dad's lakehouse. It is a very rustic house -- old wood paneling -- wood floors, brick fireplace -- rough wood everywhere, even the kitchen cabinets. The spiders were in the sinks, on the window sills, in the bathtubs, in all the bedrooms, everywhere. It had been raining for at least a couple of weeks, and they were moving to drier areas.

I sprayed and sprayed, and set off insect bombs the next day. That was about 6 years ago, and still, every time we stay out there, I still find at least one. Usually near a drain in one of the bathtubs.

[daylate-dollarshort]

"These things are not a problem down here where I am."

I wouldn't count on that.

I notice that you live in Georgia. My brother lives in Gwinnett County (Berkeley Lake) and he discovered them in his home and a storabe shed in his backyard.

The University of GA has a current program to discover their range throughout the state. They acknowlege the spiders presence they just don't know how many and the distribution.

There was a popular notion that the Brown Recluse was only flound in the Panhandle area of our state (Florida) but that is absolutely untrue. Three years ago, a fellow about two miles from here was bitten on the leg by one and died despite treatment.

My wife was bitten by a Brown Recluse on her right thigh. The ulcerating infection spread quickly to some orthopedic hardware in her knee. She had to undergo surgery to remove the hardware followed by two and a half months of IV antibitics. She is fine.

It should be noted that these spiders are found worldwide, most commonly in the tropics, with some species reaching temperate latitudes. Here in Florida we are blessed with three varieties of the buggers, all very poisonous:

Loxosceles reclusa, the brown recluse
Loxosceles rufescens, the Mediterranean recluse
Loxosceles laeta, the Chilean recluse

I would be very surprised indeed if you have some where you are.

[Twinkie]

A good non-poisonous thing to use in addition to the bug
bomb is diatomaceous earth. You have to not get that on
your hands and in your eyes, though. I sprinkle it on
window sills and outside door thresholds all the way
across and about an inch wide area. Anything that crawls
in through the window or across the threshold will have to
crawl through the diatomaceous earth and it causes them to
quickly dry up. I find all sorts of dead bugs on my window
sills where they try to crawl in. If kids or pets play on
the floors, just work it in the carpet so they won't get
into it.

[I'm ALL Right!]

Okay, I'm from Tulsa, and we have these every year in our home...but let me tell you--after the past couple of days of storms, this is the last thing I need to think about! (kidding) Can I get past the tornadoes before I have to think about the poisonous spiders, please? Thanks. ;)

[BOBWADE]

ping

[RipSawyer]

"So what state do you live in?
These things are not a problem down here where I am."

Actually, in Georgia you probably have the same situation as here in South Carolina, not only do you have to be concerned with the recluse but the black widow also. I don't know which is worse but from all I can learn it is a close race.