Spring Cleaning? Don't get bitten by bugs!

Spring is in the air in Western Pennsylvania, where I sit writing this article. (OK maybe not spring, but most of the snow is melted, and we can hope we don’t get anymore! Next year we have a plan to hold Punxsutawney Phil hostage on Ground Hog Day!) If you are like me, this is the time of the year to start making plans for the upcoming camping season and to get the camper out for it’s spring cleaning and get it ready for the season. This article is going to be a little warning about some of the creepy crawlies you might discover during your cleaning.

I am sure you all are familiar with the fact that wasps, hornets and bees can get into the camper if you aren’t careful, but, for the most part, these are easily seen and taken care of. I am also sure no one likes to find silver fish and pill bugs crawling around in the camper, but again easily taken care of and not much danger. Today I want to talk about Spiders… they are small, easily over-looked and hide in places we are about to clean! Now the good news is most spiders in the United States are harmless to humans. They will produce only a mild localized reaction and don’t even hurt much. However, there are two that are found in a good portion of the United States and that are, at the least, very uncomfortable to down right dangerous!

Let us learn more about these spiders, Come into my parlor said the Spider. . .

Of course, the spiders we want to learn about today are the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse. Let’s start with the black widow. Almost everyone has heard of these spiders, but, to be honest, few have seen them at least in these times. To be honest, they are a very beautiful spider. They are a very shiny black color, like polished patent leather, and they often have a red or orange or even yellow “hourglass” figure on the top of their abdomen. They measure about 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch across.

Now for the Brown Recluse, most people have never heard of these spiders. They are less striking than the black widow being dull shades of brown and gray, although they can be almost black at times. They measure about 1/2 to 1 inch across and have a “fiddle” shape near the head. Of the two, the Brown Recluse is to be the most feared. Thankfully, it is also the least common.

Both of these spiders tend to live in dark/low light areas with high humidity. Examples are clothes closets, rotten logs, “outhouses” (imagine where Those bites are!), log piles, basements, etc. In other words, your camper shut up for winter is a idea place!

The bites from these spiders tend to have a lot of pain associated with them and redness and swelling. Reactions vary due to placement and strength of the bite. Also, other noted symptoms include fatigue, weakness, dizziness, chills, fever, nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath. In the early stage, they will often form a “bullseye” pattern with a yellow waxy area approx. 1 – 3 cm surrounded by a larger area of redness. Later, these will disappear in the case of the Black Widow, but, in the Brown Recluse, they will progress to a necrotic area that does not heal well without special treatment.

Treatment for these spider bites is mainly palliative. You may apply cool compresses to the area, pain control with anti inflammatories. The Black Widow bite tends to be very painful (think of say 5 or 6 wasp or hornet stings in one place) for 48 to 72 hours. The pain will decrease and should be gone in 7 – 10 days. Difficulty breathing or being bitten on the face/head or neck should be reason to seek medical care. In the case of difficulty breathing, the sooner the better!

The Brown Recluse is another story, it can start as very painful but often then has no feeling. This is not a good sign. What it means is the area is breaking down into necrotic tissue (dying tissue). These bites need to be treated with care by a Doctor and treatment should not be delayed. I am going to show you some pictures of a Brown Recluse bite. They are graphic, but, to be honest, I am not going to show you how bad it can get.

The above is Day 3 after a Brown Recluse bite.

Above is Day 4 after a Brown Recluse bite. Notice how fast it is progressing.

Above is Day 6 after a Brow Recluse spider bite. I am not going to show you the rest of the series, just know that it can get much worse.

Now, when you go to do your spring cleaning of your camper, to protect yourself all you need to do is follow some simple precautions. First, if you can avoid, it don’t put your hands or fingers where you can’t see. Second, if you do, Wear GLOVES! Playtex gloves, gardening gloves almost any kind of gloves will protect you, and that is where you are most likely to get bitten. Finally, long sleeved shirts and long pants with socks and shoes are best. The more you cover the harder it is to bite you. Lastly, if you are really worried, a general insecticide will kill them, just keep it away from open flames, food and pet areas.

So, make those plans and get that camper out of storage and ready for the new camping season. Just keep your eyes open for creepy crawlies that can make you go OUCH!

Your Obedient Servant,

Gary Smith, Jr.