Warm Tennessee Weather Makes Brown Recluse Spiders Happy

I love perfect growing season weather! It means that when harvest time comes, I can visit the farmers market and get fresh veggies and fruits that are local gems. I am happy when the growing season weather seems to be perfect and maybe even stays a little longer than usual because that just might mean we have more local fruits and vegetables. Brown recluse spiders feel the same way about warm weather. No, they aren’t looking forward to yummy Tennessee grown tomatoes or snap beans, but they know that warmer weather brings more of the food that they love, other insects!

Brown recluse spiders, like most other spiders, prefer a diet of flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and other insects. They have a paralyzing bite that stops their prey almost immediately. These nocturnal hunters are actually more of a scavenger than an actual web sitting spider. They are most commonly found roaming around at night in search of insects that are already deceased.

Brown recluse spiders are one of the most feared spiders in Tennessee. These spiders, though, hardly live up to that scary reputation. Just like their name suggests, these arachnids prefer to be reclusive and will hide away in dark and warm places during the daytime. Doing their hunting at night allows them to stay reclusive. Some of the most common places to find these spiders are:

• Attics

• Basements

• Crawl spaces

• Closets

• Heating and cooling registers and ductwork

• Inside storage boxes (in clothing, shoes, boots, linens, etc.)

• Eaves of buildings

• In the corners of storage sheds, barns, and garages

• Inside rock walls

The most common situation surrounding a brown recluse spider bite is when a person inadvertently surprises themselves and the spider by touching, trapping, or grabbing it. The spider’s natural instinct will be to bite in order to protect itself. Contrary to popular belief, these spiders do not seek out humans to bite them.

These small, 3/8” long and 3/16” diameter, light brown spiders are easily identified by the dark brown fiddle shape on their back. Anyone who is bitten by a brown recluse spider should seek medical attention immediately. The bite of this spider is extremely painful and the venom that is injected with the bite can cause varied reactions in people. If possible, obtaining the spider that caused the bite and keeping it secure for proper identification is important for the proper course of medical treatment.

The warm mid-summer weather in Tennessee is a happy time for many of us, including the brown recluse spider. Keep brown recluse spiders out of your home or business with a year round pest control plan from the authority on Tennessee pests here at All-American Pest Control. We offer numerous pest control plans that will surely fit your needs, your schedule, and your budget. Don’t wait another day to contact us! You will be glad you did.