Twp weeks I was bit by a spider. I don't know what type but my DS said it had to be big and he thought it could possibly have been a brown recluse. I still have the imflamation and spots traveling up my arm. I've been using benadryl and taking advil for the pain. My question: Do any of you have or know of a way to rid the house of spiders. Spiders have never really bothered me but this is my second bite and it's really bothersome now.
I haven't a clue about how to get rid of spiders but if your bit is still bothersome after 2 weeks get thee to a DR!
Like *now*!!
on a side note: are you sure it was a spider and not a tick?
I didn't see the critter, but I know tick bites and this isn't one of those. It is healing but very slowly. The swelling has gone down and the redness is slowly fading but it's still irrated and sore.
Many times brown recluse bites require the use of an antibiotic to get over. My DH had a bite before we meet, and my DDad has had one also. Both needed meds to get over them.
Whether or not it was a brown recluse, the fact that it is 2 weeks later and you still have inflammation and spots traveling up the arm even with meds. means you should really see a doctor. I know I would if it were me.
As for getting rid of them:
-They make sticky traps. I've never used them so can't speak to their success.
-You can repel them with hedge balls (not sure of the other name for them sorry). They are green balls about the size of an orange IIRC. The smell is supposed be a natural repellant for spiders. Don't put them on anything you want to keep. They can make a mess. Make an aluminum foil bowl for them to sit in. I used them last year and had some success, but had a lot of spiders in that home. They are currently available in grocery stores here (Iowa), don't know what availability is in NJ.
-Do it yourself chemical sprays. Parents used some of these when I was growing up and they seamed (at least to me) to do alright. Don't know any particulars, but there probably aren't that many different formulas.
-Have a professional spray your home. We are doing this with our 'new' home because there is such a large population and having luck with it. I can tell we are overdue for our follow up as I am seeing so many lately. Don't know of many 'natural' ways other than the traps and the hedge balls, maybe someone else can help with that.
Hope that helps at least a little. And do go and get that checked if you can. I really don't like your description of the bite after that much time has passed. Good luck!!
ok just making sure - my doc had never seen a tick bite that was from a lymes tick so I had a devil of a time convincing him what it was :-S
go to the doc anyway.. best make sure it's healing as it should
I agree. You shouldn't fool around with a spider bite that lasts this long.
The professional who does the outside of our home (for wasps) uses a very fine powder that isn't toxic, but makes it so they can't breathe. It works on spiders, too, although that's isn't my goal. (We live near fields and two rivers, so there are lots of bugs. The spiders are welcome to feast away.) I do notice fewer spiders in the house for several weeks after he comes.
If you have a professional come out, talk to them first about any toxicity concerns. Ours was very helpful in choosing stuff that would do what we wanted and not dump tons of poison into the environment.
Definitely agree!!!. We discussed this with ours because we were not only concerned about the environmental effects, but also because we have 2 young children and several pets in the house. We didn't want any adverse effects for any of them either.
Make sure you know all the pros and cons and select a method that works best for your concerns.
I have friends who have been bitten by a brown recluse spider. The area around the bite swelled within a few hours, and they were in terrible pain. The skin around the bite peels away. It can take months for it to go away. It doesn't sound like what you are experiencing, but you need to get to a doctor ASAP!
Sherry Starr
I found some gadgets at WalMart that you plug into an electrical outlet and they are supposed to repel bugs, spiders, mice and other unwanted critters with some kind of sound waves. I still have some spiders and a few other bugs wander in- including a scorpion!- and one very, very memorable "mouse incident", but possibly I'd have more without them??? Anyway, the more expensive ones might work better than WalMart's cheapie version. They aren't supposed to have any effect on humans or pets- The HairyButt Gang doesn't seem to mind the gadgets and their faint clicking noises they make. Just a thought..... good luck with the bugs and your bute.
Leslie & The Furbabies > Twp weeks I was bit by a spider. I don't know what type but my DS said it
If you're in New Jersey you're outside the normal range for Brown Recluse spiders.
Ms P
or in the grapes that my friend bought and put in the fridge. she went in to get some out a few days later, put them on the counter while going to answer the phone. when she went back to rinse them, it bit her.
Kellie
ooh, yuck. Are you still doing Killer Bees?
Bonnie.
Brown recluses aren't very big and are noted by a violin shaped mark on their back.
A bite from one will ROT the skin.
Am I trying to scare you, YES! Get to the doctor now.
Even if it wasn't a brown recluse it is still very serious given your current condition.
Move it chickie and let us know how you are doing.
Jenn > Twp weeks I was bit by a spider. I don't know what type but my DS said it
Haven't been in quite a while. the last two months I went to the new guild that is less than 5 miles away from me and they meet on the same night as KBs... thinkin i might go to Killer Bees in Nov. and/or Dec just to say hi though... miss em but getting there is painful when DH is late...
Kellie
Oh how I hate spiders - scared to death of them. For some reason, we have huge ones this year - I started the gardening before they came, but absolutely refuse to go near any of the gardening now in case one falls on me. You'd hear me squawking in Texas. I've heard cedar trees are bad for spiders and of course I have three of those ugly things outside the door which just refuse to die. But with a bite like that, I'd be getting to the doctor - isn't a sign that poison is getting into your blood stream when the streams start going up your leg. etc.? I wouldn't fool around with it.
Sharon (N.B.)
Bonnie I have several of those plug in things that Leslie talked about, all over my house. I got mine at Home Depot, and they work beautifully. There are no crawly things in my house, nor mice, nor creepy stuff like that. I have at least one in each room, and the larger rooms have two. They are environmentally safe. Only thing is, you can't use them if you have rabbits, gerbils, hamsters or little pets like that. Dogs and cats don't mind a bit. And you should definitely have the bite checked and maybe get on some antibiotics right away.
Patti in Seattle
Hi Bonnie- Brown recluse spiders are common here in the south, and I've known several people who were bitten. A small blister will form in the center of the bite, and the flesh will begin to decay. My aunt ended up having skin grafts, and becoming very, very sick. Yours doesn't sound like a recluse, although it was probably another kind of poisonous spider. We used to spray around the foundation of the house, until we realized that while killing spiders, we were also killing the ladybugs, butterflies, and other good insects. I never did like to spray inside because of the cats & kids. Anyway, I googled last summer and came up with several nonpoisonous, or at least *less* toxic ways to control spiders. Pennyroyal, borax, eucalyptus, things like that. You might give that a try. There's also a natural enzyme bug spray that I've intended to order, but haven't tried yet. The website is
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