I was just bitten by a fairly large spider, How can I identify what kind of spider it is?

Question

I live in a very hot, dry city. I think the spider may have come into the house from the garage on my clothing. It is gray-brown with a distinctive pattern on its back. Its rather fat body is 1/2 inch long, not including its legs.

Answer 1

What do you mean by large??? An example might be a Brown Reccluse Spider about 3/16 wide, with a very long leg span. Found mainly in Central Midwestern states but slowly spreading towards the west.

The physical reaction to a brown recluse spider bite depends on the amount of venom injected and an individual's sensitivity to it. Some people are unaffected by a bite, whereas others experience immediate or delayed effects as the venom kills the tissues (necrosis) at the site of the bite. Many brown recluse bites cause just a little red mark that heals without event. The vast majority of brown recluse bites heal without severe scarring (http://spiders.ucr.edu/avoidbites.html).

Initially, the bite may feel like a pinprick or go unnoticed. Some may not be aware of the bite for 2 to 8 hours. Others feel a stinging sensation followed by intense pain. Infrequently, some victims experience general systemic reactions that may include restlessness, generalized itching, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or shock. A small white blister usually initially rises at the bite site surrounded by a swollen area. The affected area enlarges and becomes red, and the tissue is hard to the touch for some time. The lesion from a brown recluse spider bite is a dry, blue-gray or blue-white, irregular sinking patch with ragged edges and surrounding redness--termed the "red, white, and blue sign." The lesion usually is 1½ inches by 2¾ inches or smaller. Characteristics of a bite are further discussed at http://www.amednews.com/free/hlsa0805.

The bite of the brown recluse spider can result in a painful, deep wound that takes a long time to heal. Fatalities are extremely rare, but bites are most dangerous to young children, the elderly, and those in poor physical condition. When there is a severe reaction to the bite, the site can erupt into a "volcano lesion" (a hole in the flesh due to damaged, gangrenous tissue). The open wound may range from the size of an adult's thumbnail to the span of a hand. The dead tissue gradually sloughs away, exposing underlying tissues. The sunken, ulcerating sore may heal slowly up to 6 to 8 weeks. Full recovery may take several months and scarring may remain.

It is difficult for a physician to accurately diagnose a "brown recluse bite" based simply on wound characteristics. It is absolutely necessary to have the spider for a positive identification. Necrotic wounds can result from a variety of agents such as bacteria (Staphylococcus, "flesh-eating" Streptococcus, etc.), viruses, fungi, and arthropods (non-recluse spiders, centipedes, mites, ticks, wasps, bedbugs, kissing bugs, biting flies, etc.). Necrotic conditions also can be caused by vascular and lymphatic disorders, drug reactions, underlying diseases states, and a variety of other agents. An annotated list of conditions that could be mistaken for a brown recluse spider bite is available at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2002/08/05/hlsa0805.htm. Misdiagnosis of lesions as brown recluse bites can delay appropriate care.

Answer 2

If it has a Violin shape to it you've been bit by a Brown Recluse. A friend of mine was bitten 6 times in one sitting by one while she was sleeping. You can see that the spider finally ran out of poison towards the last couple bites.
Her skin still looks black in some of them after 3 months. She has many other problems internally now because of it so be VERY careful.
We ended up catching 3 of them total in her house, always on walls or on the ceiling of her kitchen (Near the garage.) Be careful and call a pest control service immediately.
After seeing what I've seen and how the flesh on her foot was literally eaten away to almost the bone. It turned black and there were huge black blisters. When the popped they oozed this black liquid... it was just nasty lol.

I hope you weren't bitten by one, that would be horrible.

Answer 3

It could be a brown recluse spider. I would keep looking where it bit you. If it starts looking like a bull's eye. I would get to the doctor right away because it has poison in it. I know several people who have made it through the bite, but it took a long time and there were several ailments while they were healing.

Answer 4

Do an internet or library search on spiders....most have pictures with them. If you start to have any weird symptoms from the bite then go to a doctor ASAP...it could possibly be poisonous. It is best if you have the spider with you...in a clear but closed container of some sort...live or dead.

Answer 5

Sounds like a brown recluse......do a search and see if it looks like the one who bit you. Brown recluse bites are not painful but can cause serious side effects as the bite progresses into a sore, then a blister, etc. It takes a long time to heal up and you may need antibiotics. They are not poisonous, however. Black Widows cause a painful bite and medical help should be sought immediately.....as they are poisonous. Good luck to you.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Wathc the bite! If you notice cellulitis and a black center forming, you better go to a doctor fast!! This means the bite has been infected with flesh eating bacteria that needs to be removed quickly. People have had limbs amputated because they neglected spider bites.

Answer 8

if you can find the spider, try to capture it, in a jar or something and take it with you to the doctor. the spider that you described also sounds like a wolf spider. they also have markings on their backs.

Answer 9

do a google search on spiders or go to your library and look in books on spiders.

Answer 10

look on the www for spiders in your area or call "Poison Control"