Found This Little Guy in my Garage (Spider Warning)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the discovery of a spider in a garage, with participants speculating about its identity, particularly whether it is a brown recluse spider. The conversation includes personal anecdotes about spider encounters, concerns about potential dangers, and varying opinions on the behavior and characteristics of the spider species mentioned.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant humorously suggests the spider might play fetch or ride on their shoulder like a pet.
  • Another participant notes that the spider appears to be missing a leg, which prompts further discussion about its condition.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about whether Missouri is within the range of brown recluse spiders, with one stating they believe it is.
  • There is mention of misidentifications between the brown recluse and a related species, the Mediterranean recluse, complicating the identification process.
  • A participant shares a personal experience of being bitten by a brown recluse, describing the painful aftermath and expressing regret about not having killed the spider.
  • Several participants reference information from Wikipedia regarding the behavior of brown recluse spiders, noting they are not aggressive but that fatalities have been reported.
  • One participant discusses the context of bites occurring when pressure is applied, such as when putting on clothing or gloves.
  • There is a mention of individual sensitivity to arachnid bites varying among people.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of certainty about the spider's identity and the risks associated with brown recluse spiders. Some agree on the potential dangers, while others remain uncertain or skeptical about the spider's classification and behavior.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the spider's identification and the implications of its presence in the garage. The discussion includes anecdotal evidence and personal experiences that may not be universally applicable.

Drakkith
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Just found this little guy in a box in my garage.
Think he'll play fetch with me?

20200613_160837.jpg
 
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How little? Maybe he'd enjoy riding around on your shoulder for a while, kind of like a pet parrot...
 
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Looks like the right side is missing a leg
 
berkeman said:
How little? Maybe he'd enjoy riding around on your shoulder for a while, kind of like a pet parrot...

His body was about as long as my thumbnail, his legs... substantially larger.
I'd try to teach him to speak, but he's safe and sound out in the bushes across the street now.

kolleamm said:
Looks like the right side is missing a leg

So it is! I didn't even notice.
 
berkeman said:
How little?
As long as Drakkith is still in the states and not Downunder ...
 
fresh_42 said:
As long as Drakkith is still in the states and not downunder ...

I'm in Missouri now. Just moved here from Florida on the 1st of June.
 
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Is Missouri within the range of brown recluse spiders?
1592087829047.png


Odd; the article mentions missing legs.

Movement at virtually any speed is an evenly paced gait with legs extended. When missing a leg or two it appears to favor this same gait, although (presumably when a leg has been injured) it may move and stand at rest with one leg slightly withdrawn.

After more reading probably not?
Many misidentifications and erroneous geographic records stem from the similarity between L. reclusa and a related introduced species, the Mediterranean recluse (Loxosceles rufescens), which is found worldwide, including numerous sightings throughout the United States; the two species are superficially almost indistinguishable, and misidentifications are common, making it difficult to distinguish which reports of recluses refer to which species.

My old house in Southern Nevada was infested with black widows, actually a beneficial species not unlike 'lady bugs' but with a nasty reputation. Also saw brown spiders like above but probably the introduced recluse.
 
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Klystron said:
Is Missouri within the range of brown recluse spiders?

Yes, I believe the area I live in is in their range.

What's odd is I've never seen a brown recluse before. I found the little guy in a box I was moving and something in me said "Brown Recluse", so I dug him out and captured him in a Tupperware container just to check. Turns out it was a brown recluse after all.
 
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  • #10
@Greg Bernhardt @Evo
We need to have a talk about our Staff Retirement Package. I'm sure there was a "No Arachnids in my Home" clause in there somewhere.
 
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Drakkith said:
@Greg Bernhardt @Evo
We need to have a talk about our Staff Retirement Package. I'm sure there was a "No Arachnids in my Home" clause in there somewhere.
AAARGH! I was bitten by a brown recluse once, I still have a small crater where the bite was, took months to heal and had to walk around with a bag of ice tied to my leg for weeks due to the HORRIFIC pain, when they say flesh eating venom, they're not kidding!
 
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  • #12
Evo said:
AAARGH! I was bitten by a brown recluse once, I still have a small crater where the bite was, took months to heal and had to walk around with a bag of ice tied to my leg for weeks due to the HORRIFIC pain, when they say flesh eating venom, they're not kidding!

Ahhh! I should have burned it with fire instead of letting it go!
Well, no, I don't think I could have done that. I'll just have to keep an eye out for them in the garage and house when moving things around and opening boxes and such.
 
  • #13
Wiki says they are nasty but not aggressive. But they also say that fatalities have been reported.
 
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  • #14
fresh_42 said:
Wiki says they are nasty but not aggressive. But they also say that fatalities have been reported.

Yes, I was reading the wiki just now. Apparently most bites occur when putting on clothing, gloves, and shoes, as they either can't bite, or don't bite unless pressure is applied to them.
 
  • #15
Drakkith said:
unless pressure is applied to them
Ah, yes; winter at Ft. Leonard Wood, AIT; thought the sores would get me out of KP, but the 1st Sgt. put me to work cleaning the grease pit---damn.
 
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  • #16
fresh_42 said:
Wiki says they are nasty but not aggressive. But they also say that fatalities have been reported.
I understand sensitivity to insect stings and arachnid bites varies by individual even within families.
 

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