What just bit me???

[Maximumbob54]

As in what kind of spider is this and do I need to worry that the bite is red, raised up, and it itches real bad???

EDIT: As much as I was freaking myself out by Googling "Brown Recluse" and looking at all the pictures, they assured me such was not the case. They are supposed to be super rare here in North Florida. The doctor said he has treated many bites but not a single brown recluse here.

Good, but I'm still putting in a request to have the place sprayed where I work...

And since I didn't add it the first time... (bad habit of forgetting to say thank you) THANK YOU to all who answered.

 

[cass]

Sir, I'd get to the hospital. To me, it looks like a brown recluse, but I'm no expert. Best let the Doctors figure it out - now, git goin!

 

[tom turner]

Go to "Google,"

Type in: brown recluse spider pictures

Then click on the Images section, and you'll see a bunch of photos of the spider AND its effects.

IMHO, it COULD be a brown recluse for sure, and when you see the damage it does to the meat . . . you'll be heading to the ER for sure . . . just to make sure you can get treated as fast as possible.

Be careful getting to the hospital and we'll be prayin' for ya!

Tom

 

[Maximumbob54]

I'm going to cruise by the Solantic walk in clinic on the way home. I kind of freaking out. My guess is I'm making something out of nothing. I keep trying to see if it's a huntsman or wolf spider. I don't know and some things just aren't worth the risk. Leg itch... Bad...

 

[35Rem]

How big was/is it? Looks like one of the big woods spiders from FL (They have to compete with the palmetto bugs, you know?). About 3 -4 inches across. The brown recluse is a little guy, in comparison.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_spider

Better safe than sorry, if you are still reading this...

 

[billdeserthills]

Take a couple of Benadryl, or put some Benadryl cream on the itchy area.

 

[straightshooter1]

It looks like the photos I found on Google to be a Southern House Spider. But, I'm sure no expert.

I know several folks bitten by Recluse Spiders and ALL of them said there was no pain, no itch, no apparent ill effects for quite a period of time. Then it all hit the fan and it was, they said, awful.

Bob

 

[novalty]

The wife and I found a couple of larger spider's in our house last year, and we were a little worried as a friend had been recently bitten by a brown recluse on both elbows and had let it go for several days--took a long time to heal and some not so fun treatment. We captured one of the spiders at our house and discovered it to be a wolf spider. The brown recluse has a violin shape in the coloring on the head.

This is a picture of a wolf spider like the one I captured in my house.

Wish the picture had a better shot of the head, but I don't think it is a brown recluse. Still would advise going to the clinic. Better safe then letting potential venom perform necrosis of the flesh.

 

[ColdBlueSteel]

Sir, I'd get to the hospital. To me, it looks like a brown recluse, but I'm no expert. Best let the Doctors figure it out - now, git goin!

Agreed, not trying to alarm you (anymore than you are)

It does seem to have the classic brown recluse shape and colors. Did you catch it?

Oh, and don't scratch!

 

[DeathGrip]

I'm glad I stayed home today.

Just don't get run over by a semi on the way to the clinic.

 

[gregintenn]

Take the spider with you when you go for treatment. I'd advise you go now.

 

[Rule3]

I doubt it is a recluse. They are much smaller. There are no recluse spiders native to Florida though some have been transported in from other States. Recluse spiders are 6-12 mm in size. That pic appears a lot bigger.

Can I have all your guns??

 

[fat tom]

Take NO chances! Don't "cruise" by the clinic. Go now. Even if it's a relatively harmless variety,expect the bite to dissolve SOME tissue. It will crystallize in a day or three,at which time you can just dig the stuff out and have a nice little hole. It'll eventually heal over and leave a scar the same size and shape as the hole. At least that's what happened to me each time I've been bitten. Oddly enough,the smallest spider left the biggest scar. No,I don't know what kind it was. I obliterated it with my thumb.
f.t.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Went. Paid. Got laughed at. Guess I deserved it. They cleaned it up with something that replaced the itch with a distinct stinking sensation. Then I was informed they are super RARE here. Pride knocked down a peg... Maybe needed it anyways...

 

[smith revolver cop]

Went. Paid. Got laughed at. Guess I deserved it. They cleaned it up with something that replaced the itch with a distinct stinking sensation. Then I was informed they are super RARE here. Pride knocked down a peg... Maybe needed it anyways...

I wouldn't laugh at you. I think this is definitely a case of better safe than sorry. Fortunately, I'm not very allergic to stings from bees and wasps, but I know they can kill some people. Never been bit by a spider, but unless I could be positive it was a wolf spider (lots of them where I live), I'd go to the hospital or doc-in-the-box.

 

[Indiana George]

No . . . you did NOT deserve to be laughed at.

Your concern was justified and understandable.

 

[sipowicz]

Take the spider with you when you go for treatment. I'd advise you go now.

Hiow do you know the spider is sick??

 

[Xfuzz]

Glad your ok....NOW, I'm as jumpy as a workin girl in church.

HATE spiders....

 

[35Rem]

No . . . you did NOT deserve to be laughed at.

Your concern was justified and understandable.

So, you're scared of spiders, too?

I kid, I kid. I hate the buggers. Especially the ones pictured. I moved from SW FL several years ago. These 4" spiders were as common as the palmetto bugs (also large multi-legged nasties). They are very fast and can make a fella hurt himself trying to get away from them!

We went for a visit a few weeks ago and as I'm laying in bed, starting to ease off into sleep, one runs across the ceiling and stops in the middle. Great... Daughter and wife freak. I get a shoe and take a blind swing at it any school girl would be proud of. I "think" he lived to see another day. I told everyone else he was dead... YUCK!

 

[35Rem]

Hiow do you know the spider is sick??

Sip, if you bit him, you wouldn't feel too good, either...