identification of potentially dangerous spiders of kansas

8/13/2019 Identification of Potentially Dangerous Spiders of Kansas

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Identification of Potentially Dangerous Spiders of Kansas – Chao “Jimmy” Wu Introduction

Spiders have caused fear, anxiety and hate within our society for centuries. Whether it is the negative

connotation given to us by the media, their hairy legs and bodies, or the simple disillusionment of their

capabilities, these arthropods have created much unintended blame and worry within our lives. However,

not all spiders are bad. In fact, speaking from a general view, no spider is bad. All spiders play an

ecological role in controlling pest populations, as well as controlling populations of other spiders. At theend of the day, these arachnids can cause fear, but no spider will bite a person just because it can. While

many spiders can give an uncomfortable bite, most spiders are actually quite harmless to people. We

should take care to ensure these “friends” of ours’ survive, prosper, and continue on for the sake of our

own survival; f or, without spiders, we may not live at all! Within Kansas, there are two basic “varieties”

of spiders that can actually harm us. Four species total can cause a medically significant bite within our

range. Here I will show you how to identify whether a spider you found is actually of worry or not. Keep

in mind that ALL spiders serve an important service and should not be killed just for the irrational

justification that “it is just a spider.”

Potentially Dangerous Dual

Two varieties of spider within our range can cause medically significant bites. One is the black widow,

which actually consists of three species: Northern, Southern and Western black widow ( Latrodectusvariolus, L. mactans and L. hesperus). The other is the infamous brown recluse spider ( Loxoscelesreclusa). Both of these spiders can potentially harm young children and thus CAN be a fair excuse toremove them. Likewise, both of these species can be found in and around homes, so it is important to beon the lookout! However, even these guys have an important role in the food “webs” – no pun intended!

BLACK WIDOW BROWN RECLUSE

Black widow females are usually the ones that areseen within and around homes. They are fairly easyto identify though sometimes they are mixed up

with cobweb house spiders. Just note that adultfemales have 9-13mm bodies, large abdomens, anda shiny, jet-black tone. Also, some individuals have

Arrow Pointed to Violin Mark… Brown recluse spiders are MUCH harder to

identify for the amateur. They are often confusedwith wolf spiders, grass spiders and even some

common house spiders. The main thing to look foris the violin mark on the carapace (back) of the

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Identification of Potentially Dangerous Spiders of Kansas – Chao “Jimmy” Wu

Spider bite treatmentLearning to identify these two spiders can reduce many worries if you are indeed bitten by a spider (You

can know whether you need to seek medical help). If you are unsure though, it may be a good idea tocapture the spider and bring it to a doctor for medical treatment (Do note that many doctors oftenmisdiagnose bites from brown recluse). However, ensure that when and if you do decide to capture the

spider that it does not become mutilated and smashed to the point where no one can identify it anymore.Also, be careful as to not get bitten again if you decide to pursue the spider. If you do see a black widow,

brown recluse, or any spider, don’t panic!!! They are not there to ruin your life despite what you mightobdurately think. For a good home remedy, mix equal parts of 70% isopropyl alcohol with baking sodaand apply it to the bite. Be sure to also wash the bite to prevent any chance of infection. Repeat theremedy every half hour or so.

Home treatment to prevent spiders

Prevention is the best way to avoid having any spider issues. The best way is to seal off any cracks in thesiding, doors, or windows where spiders can enter. Likewise, keeping the moisture and “junk” levels lowin basements and crawl spaces can also be beneficial. If you do see a spider, take a broom, a cup, and anotecard or similar objects and push the spider into the cup. Next, slide the cardboard underneath and youcan release the spider outside. Finally, it can be a wise idea to keep some glue traps near where children

are staying (make sure to ensure that the CHILDREN can’t get it) as a second line of defense. Keepingthe house clean in general will lower the amount of pests like crickets and roaches. This will thus in turn,lower the amount of spiders entering your home in search of a meal!

Final Word

It would be exceptionally hard to rid the HUMAN population of arachnophobia, as well as the general

dislike of spiders. However, with the understanding of which species are the ones capable of hurting us, I

hope people can get a better respect for these incredible creatures. It is important to keep in mind that

even the scariest of spiders (and most dangerous) still have a key role in the health of our planet. These

extraordinary creatures have created one of the strongest materials, silk, without polluting the planet like

what we have done with our technologies. They have survived for hundreds of millions of years and will

continue to survive on. They have eaten their yearly fill of flies, cockroaches, and pest. Finally, they have

kept our own planet’s vast numbers of animals in check. Now; however, many species of spider are

threatened by humans, what humans do, and what humans destroy. It is time to better understand and

protect our precious little helpers, before we are left with a world filled to the very brim with REAL

pests…

Contact Information and Helpful Links

Question about insects and arachnids? Feel free to E-mail, message, or directly ask me!

E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.youtube.com/user/mantisman630

Bugguide page (great to ask for identification): http://www.bugguide.net

My Bugguide page: http://bugguide.net/user/view/64364

Picture Citations

a red striping/dotting on their back along with the

famous red hourglass at the bottom of theabdomen. Though individuals vary, these picturesshould help a bit with identification.

spider, the thin, stilt-like legs. They are 8-9mm in

body length as adults. As their name suggests, brown recluse are fairly “reclusive” and will not beseen easily. Do take care when working in garages

and unfinished basements for, unlike widows, theseguys don’t stay in a web.

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identification of potentially dangerous spiders of kansas

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