Spiders and Scorpions

The female black widow spider, which is responsible for bites, is a glossy black with a red or orange hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen. Legs extended, an adult is about 1 1/2" long. The female spider is found with her web and egg sacs in protected places; underneath stones and logs, in long grass, brush piles, barns, garages, latrines, and other shadowy spots. She avoids bright places and generally only bites if disturbed. Bites most often occur when the web is disturbed or when the spider is accidentally trapped against parts of the victim's body.

The bite of the black widow is serious. It may cause immediate redness and sharp pain the bitten area, sweating, nausea and/or vomiting, stomach pain and cramps, severe muscle pain and spasms, and shock. Breathing may become difficult, and convulsions may occur.

The victim must get to a physician or emergency room as soon as possible. If medical help is not immediately available, follow these steps to slow the venom's flow:

1. Have the person lie still with the bitten area at rest and lower than the heart.
2. Tie a strip of cloth, a belt, or a watchband around the bitten arm or leg (not the head, neck, or torso) 2-4" above the bite (or between the heart and the bite). If a joint is in the way, place the strip higher. The strip should be snug but loose enough that you can feel a pulse farther out on the limb. You should be able to fit a finger underneath the strip. Check it from time to time and loosen it if necessary.
3. If swelling reaches the band, tie anther strip another 2-4" higher up and then remove the first constricting band.
4. Apply ice packed in a cloth or a cold compress to the bite. Do not apply ice directly to the skin.
5. Treat for shock. Watch for difficulty in breathing and give rescue breathing if required.
6. Seek medical attention at once.

Frequent cleaning to remove spiders and their webs from buildings and outside areas will lower the risk of accidental bites. Use a hose to routinely wash down potential spider hiding places, such as under steps and around windows and doors, to discourage the black widow spider from building her web in these places. When working in spider-infested places, wear gloves and a long-sleeved shirt.

The brown recluse spider is a medium-sized spider, yellow-tan to dark brown in color. It can be recognized by the fiddle-shaped mark on its back. These timid spiders often live in little-used storage areas indoors, such as cellars and closets. Outdoors they can be found in protected areas under rocks and loose tree bark. They normally try to escape when threatened. Most bites happen when the spider is trapped, such as when the victim puts on seldom-worn clothes, steps on a wandering spider at night, or comes upon one while rummaging through a closet.

The bite of the brown recluse spider is not immediately painful. The victim might not even feel it. Within 2-8 hours, however, there may be mild to severe pain with redness at the bitten area. The area becomes swollen and tender, and a blister usually forms. An open sore or ulcer is likely to develop, and in some cases, victims suffer or fever, chills, nausea and/or vomiting, joint pain, and a faint rash.

First aid is the same as the black widow's bite(see above). The victim should see a physician without delay.

To reduce the chances of being bitten by a recluse spider, shake out clothing and bedding before use; throw out piles of papers and unused boxes; clean out hiding spots beneath and behind furniture; and thoroughly clean living and storage areas to remove spiders, webs, and egg cases.

Common scorpion stings are usually not as dangerous as bee stings. They could be painful, but generally cause no lasting (ill) effects. There are 2 dangerous scorpions, however, that live in the desert border country of Arizona, New Mexico, and California. The stings of these are rare, but serious.

The sting of a common striped scorpion is not usually serious, but it often causes severe, sharp pain along with swelling and discoloration.

To relieve itching and pain, apply ice packs or a cold compress. An over-the-counter antihistamine can also be given. If the victim has a history of allergic reactions to insect and arachnid stings or shows signs of illness, seek medical help at once.

In case of a sting by one of the more venomous desert scorpions, tie a snug constricting band above the sting site (between the heart and the bite) and loosen it briefly every 10-15 minutes. Treat for shock and get the victim to a physician.

Reduce the risk of a scorpion sting by clearing away mounds of boards, rocks, and debris. Shake out and inspect clothes and shoes before putting them on; scorpions are most active at night. To avoid meeting up with one, turn on lights when moving about after dark.