This critters can give very nasty bites! http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/...use_spider.htm

[pgilson]

No problem with spiders. Alliance Pest Management has done a great job for us for years in keeping the bugs in check.

[Avista]

We've lived in Florida since 1983 and to my knowledge have never seen a recluse spider.

[pvb526]

my father had a nest of them behind his front door. the pest control guy from Surperior found them. Luckily no one was bitten.

[Villages Kahuna]

...a small brown recluse popped out of the box that the cover came in. Wow! Did those guys give that little critter a wide berth! They knew exactly what it was and the damage a bite can do. The worked for a few minutes to get the insect in a position where they could safely stomp him. But even two young, macho guys were not choosing to be a match for the little brown recluse.

[diskman]

:dontknow:
Is this a Florida bug, never heard of it before?? sounds dangerous
larry

[samhass]

This spider is in lots of places. Typically the midwestern states have most, but my brother in law was bitten in eastern NC.

[rdkent]

They are common in Missouri. I found one in my closet a few years ago. You learn to kind of shake your shoes a couple of times before putting them on. They do have a really nasty bite.

[nanci2539]

I just did a search on this - I guess it depends if it injects venom because they say most bites are dry (no venom). They seem more common in the mid west (where I live). Being a city girl for most of my life, I wouldn't know the difference.

Does the pest control in TV have a handle on this? Would proper maintenance keep them away? And, can they bite a cat or dog? I guess they can but what would he reaction to your pet be. Knowing my cats, they would try to eat it!

Originally Posted by nanci2539

I just did a search on this - I guess it depends if it injects venom because they say most bites are dry (no venom). They seem more common in the mid west (where I live). Being a city girl for most of my life, I wouldn't know the difference.

Does the pest control in TV have a handle on this? Would proper maintenance keep them away? And, can they bite a cat or dog? I guess they can but what would he reaction to your pet be. Knowing my cats, they would try to eat it!

Proper pesticide management should kill brown recluses around your house. Best to keep an eye out for them. They do bite pets. I have only seen one around my house since moving to the Villages in 2005. And, I am not sure it was one because I kept my distance. Got our dog away from it to.

For pets, you should also avoid the frogs. They are poisonous according to neighbors.

I GOOGLED Brown Recluse Spiders theres alot of information about them
one thing of interest is the map showing where they are found and FLORIDA is not
one of the states WHERE THEY ARE FOUND

[samhass]

So...about those frogs, are they poisonous if I eat them or just touch them? 8)

Originally Posted by Bay Shore L I N Y

I GOOGLED Brown Recluse Spiders theres alot of information about them
one thing of interest is the map showing where they are found and FLORIDA is not
one of the states WHERE THEY ARE FOUND

Yes, that's true that this is not there normal distribution area. But moving trucks and other transports sometimes have these spiders on them.

"Gertsch and Ennik (1983) report that occasional spiders have been intercepted in various locations where they have no known established populations; Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Wyoming and Tamaulipas (Mexico),[22] which indicates that these spiders may indeed be transported fairly easily, though the lack of established populations well outside the natural range also indicates that such movement does not lead to colonization of new areas." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_recluse_spider

Originally Posted by samhass

So...about those frogs, are they poisonous if I eat them or just touch them? 8)

It looks like it is the big marine toads which are harmful if you touch them as well as poisonous to eat. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW089