2012年3月16日 星期五

Brown Recluse Spider "Tips to Avoid Them and Keep That Spider Outside"


Seeing spiders in your home is an unsettling thing. It's not something you dwell on until you pick up a shirt off the floor to put in the laundry and a big ugly spider jumps down to the floor and runs away. The natural response is to scream and jump away. Every hair on your body stands on its ends. Suddenly you see every teeny tiny creature that you might not have noticed before and you feel like they are crawling all over your body. It can take days to get over an incident like that. You find yourself shaking out your pants before you put them on and looking in every box before you stick your hand in it. When really, these should probably be regular practices.

Many spider are harmless, but on of the most dangerous is the brown recluse spider. They are called the brown recluse, because they like to hide out during the day. Hence the name recluse.

They generally occupy dark and undisturbed areas. They can be found indoors or outdoors. Indoors they are commonly found in attics, basements, crawl spaces, cellars, closets, and heater vents. They will find a storage box, shoe, clothing, folded linens, or even your sheets to hide. Outdoors they like to live under logs, loose stones and stacks of lumber. They are not aggressive spiders by nature. Some common ways people have been bitten is by rolling over one in your bed while sleeping, touching one accidentally while cleaning out your storage area or putting on an old pair of shoes that a brown recluse spider has made a home in.

Preventing Spider Bites
There are steps to avoid getting a bite from a brown recluse spider.

1. Shake out clothing and shoes before getting dressed.

2. Inspect bedding and towels before use.

3. Wear gloves when picking up firewood, lumber, and rocks, but be sure to check the gloves for spiders first.

4. Bed skirts are nice looking, but they are great for spiders to crawl up.

5. Move the bed away from the wall slightly.

6. Storage under the bed are handy, but they make a great dark place for brown recluse spiders to live.

7. Be careful when picking up cardboard boxes. Recluse spiders like to hide under the folded cardboard flaps.

Keep Spiders Out
The best way to avoid brown recluse spider bites is to keep them outside and away from your house.

1. Windows and doors must be tight-fitting. Door sweeps are a must.

2. Use seal or caulk cracks that the spider can use to get into your house.

3. Your lights outside can attract bugs and spiders like to eat bugs. So the best kind of light bulbs are yellow or sodium vapor light bulbs. They attract less bugs.

4. Seal off the edges of your cardboard boxes to keep the spider out or use plastic bags that can seal to store things in your garage, basement and attic.

5. Get rid of trash, old boxes, old clothing, wood piles, rock piles, and other things you don't want.

6. Clean your closets out. Throw away and organize them.

Move your wood away from the side of the house. Stack it as far away as you can.

7. Brown recluse prefer to eat dead insects, so clean them up as soon as you notice them.

This is the best defense with the brown recluse spider. You have the knowledge and know how, now you just have to put these practices into place. Whether you have brown recluse or not, this will help with all spiders and you might just have an organized house as a bonus. So put you gloves on and get to work!




She is a mother of 5 children, ranging from 15 mo. up to 18 yrs. She is the author of a variety of articles about family life and all it's craziness. She has a whole website about spider safety, if you would like more information, visit:

http://spiderfrenzie.blogspot.com/

http://abusymother5.blogspot.com/





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Itsy, Bitsy Spider! Venomous and Non-Venomous Spiders Dog Owners Should Watch For


If you are unsure whether or not the spider is venomous, you need to visit your vet immediately! Unfortunately due to their long hair, a spider bite is often hard to detect, until symptoms of serious distress begin to show.

DO NOT WASTE TIME! DO NOT SECOND GUESS!

There are a number of spiders in the U.S. that are poisonous. They include:

1. The Black Widow

· Northern Black Widow - Found from Southern Canada to Northern Florida - shiny, black on top, with a red hourglass divided into two separate markings on their bellies. Found anywhere, they prefer tree stumps, fallen logs, wood piles, stone walls, sheds, barns, garages and basements

· Southern Black Widow - Found commonly in Southeastern states from Texas to New York. Shiny black top, anvil shaped red hourglass on the belly. Can be found anywhere but prefers dark cool places such as wood piles, fallen logs, tree stumps, sheds, barns, compost piles, eaves.

· Western Black Widow - Found throughout the Western United States. Can be found anywhere. Often found underground, in mole, mice, and prairie dog holes. Shiny black top, perfect red hourglass on the belly.

2. Tarantulas - Large, hairy and found in Southern California, Mexico, Southern and Southwestern states. Prefer dry, warm climates. Shy, and will try to avoid people and pets, but will bite if confronted. Pet may go into anaphylactic shock - the shutting down of the circulatory system. Your dog could die, in less than 20 minutes, unless they receive immediate veterinary care.

3. Brown Spiders - including the Brown Recluse - Brown, with dark brown violin shaped marking on thorax (between head and body) and six eyes, arranged in pairs, rather than eight. Found throughout the United States. Prefer places to hide such as linen closets, clothing drawers, closets, shoes and laundry hampers. Seek immediate veterinary attention...bite can cause dangerous blood disorders in just a few days and develop into a massive ulcer.

An important factor to remember should you suspect your dog has been bitten by a spider; try to capture the spider! Bring it with you, so the vet can identify it before treating your pet for a venomous spider bite.

A regular spider bite may be painful, and cause swelling, but it can be treated with first aid.

First Aid - Non-venomous bite:

· Restrain the dog - crate, pen or restrict them to the smallest room in the house, usually a bathroom for 2-6 hours

· Wash the wound area with COLD water and soap

· Place cold wet towel to wound site

· Apply ice to the cold, wet towel, for 15 - 30 minutes several times per day to reduce swelling and prevent the venom from spreading to brain and heart

· Watch for infection, fever, swelling, discharge, and hot, red, swollen areas sensitive to the touch

Venomous Bite - Requires Immediate veterinary attention! Until then:

· Check pulse and heartbeat.

· If necessary, begin CPR

· Crate or carry your dog to the car- to prevent venom from spreading to brain or heart - DO NOT MAKE THEM WALK!

· Watch for chills, labored breathing, fever, anaphylactic shock

· Keep bite area below heart level to slow spread of venom

· Wash wound area with COLD water and soap

· Place cold wet towel to wound site

· Apply ice pack to cold wet towel, it reduces swelling and numb area. Ice will decrease the circulation, slowing the spread of venom to brain and heart. Also may help reduce necrosis (tissue death)

Signs to watch for:

· Pale gums

· Fever

· Chills

· Swelling

· Convulsions

· Weakness

· Vomiting

· Diarrhea

· Rapid breathing

· Anaphylactic shock (circulatory system shuts down)

Bottom Line: DO NOT TAKE ANY CHANCES! If you suspect a venomous spider has bitten your dog, seek veterinary attention as soon as possible!

Watch for secondary infections. Your vet will prescribe the appropriate anti-biotic.

Expect your pet to be weak or even partially paralyzed for several days. Keep food and water nearby. Plan to carry and support them, when they have to relieve themselves.

Some dogs may continue to have seizures and require anti-seizure medication.




Karen A. Soukiasian, GOOD DOG! - DOG TRAINING - Owner/Trainer, St. Augustine, Florida - AKC CANINE GOOD CITIZEN Evaluator http://www.freewebs.com/gooddogsite





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2012年3月15日 星期四

Stun Guns to Treat Spider Bites


You undoubtedly have heard of the stun gun as a self defense or personal protection device. They are carried by law enforcement agencies around the world and today are quite popular among private citizens looking for an easy and non-lethal way to defend themselves in case of attack. There are some unusual uses for them that you're probably not aware of, though. You shouldn't try these yourself, but it's interesting to think about this device being used for purposes far beyond its invaluable self defense features.

Stun guns have recently been tested for the treatment of brown recluse bites. This poisonous spider's venom can apparently be stopped by one second of shock from the stun device, placed directly on the bite area. Several physicians around the world are known to have used this method repeatedly with success. Dr. Stan Abrams, one of the proponents of stun gun treatment for such bites, recommends a pattern of five or six shocks from 100,000 volt stun device (the type frequently sold for self protection) across the bite region. He has used them to treat hundreds of patients in Texas for brown recluse bites. Those who use his methods have also tried them for the treatment of wasp stings, tick bites, and other insect stings. Whether this method works is said to depend on the individual's biochemistry, the severity of the bite, and the length of time between the bite and the stun treatment.

Missionaries in remote regions, particularly in Africa, have also been using stun guns and other high-voltage, low-amperage electrical sources (such as the current from a small engine battery) to shock snakebites. This method is used in these areas because there are practical problems in obtaining anti-venom quickly enough to treat bites.

There is science to back up this unique use of stun devices, though the current scientific literature is inconclusive. The use of electroshock to treat venomous bites was recognized within the scientific community during the 1980s. However, other studies have found that venom injected into animals could not be successfully treated using this method. Those who believe in this treatment method argue that because the venom of the brown recluse spider penetrates deep into the tissue, it is necessary to use a stun gun device, which provides a deeper shock than surface-only shock devices. Incidentally, this is one of the reasons why it is so effective at stopping attackers. In addition, the stun gun is believed to inactivate the enzymes in the venom, inhibiting the venom's attack. Those who have used these treatments for bites often claim that the pain has disappeared, leaving no bite reaction.

Though these methods are certainly an interesting use for stun guns, trying these methods is not recommended unless you have been trained in the use of stun guns in such situations. Stun guns should never be used except in the case of an imminent violent confrontation. The improper use of stun guns can cause pain or detrimental health effects, particularly in those with underlying heart conditions.




Resist Attack is your one stop shop for all of your needs. We have all you could possible need to feel safe!





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Common Insects and Other Pests Indigenous to Las Vegas


If you live in Las Vegas or are planning to move there soon, you should know that in the southern Nevada desert, you're never really alone in your home! As in every other place in the country, every house has to deal with insects, spiders, and other pests of one kind or another; but in the desert, some of these nuisances can be downright deadly. Here is a snapshot look at some of the most commonly found pests in and around the Las Vegas area that are indigenous to this part of the country.

Oriental cockroaches

Cockroaches in the desert? Absolutely! Although these carriers of germs and disease are more commonly associated with highly humid areas, the oriental variety has carved out a little niche for itself in the southern Nevada desert lands. They are smaller than most of their cousins, but they still can contaminate food just as efficiently. Keeping your house clean and caulking small crevices to the outside are great deterrents.

Black Widow and Brown Recluse Spiders

Although the Black Widow is more common, Brown Recluse spiders are also found in the Las Vegas area. Both of these spiders fight against potential enemies with highly toxic venom, making their bites nothing to laugh at. The Black Widow's venom is 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake's, and the skin around a Brown Recluse bite will quickly degenerate and die, causing permanent scaring.

Africanized Honeybees (or Killer Bees)

Killer Bees have been in the Las Vegas area for about a decade, having moved northward from Mexico. Although they are hard to physically distinguish from their European cousins, it is their behavior that most often betrays their presence. They are highly aggressive and more liable to sting, and they've been known to chase people relentlessly for long distances.

Your best defense against these pests is to retain a good Las Vegas pest control specialist, and have him make regular visits to your home.




Progressive Pest Control (http://www.progressivepestcontrollasvegas.com/) providing high quality L.A. pest control, specialized in bee hive removal, scorpion control, german roach flush out, pigeon control and bed bugs treatment. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2012年3月14日 星期三

Is That a Brown Recluse Spider in the Corner of Your Ceiling?


Brown recluse spiders seem so abundant these days that you see them building webs all over your home, and most people have no idea that the spider they're looking at is a recluse.

Spiders are spiders - right?

When I first started working as a pest control technician I had no idea what a brown recluse looked like. Oh, I knew they have a fiddle shaped marking on their backs, but you must get really close to the spider before you can recognize that mark.

If you get that close you're a whole bunch closer than safety demands.

My first month as a technician I worked with another tech as a trainee, visiting a number of customers, and learning how to inspect and treat for pests. My instructor, and the pest control company's resident entomologist, told me that brown recluse spiders were no threat here in Indiana.

The truth soon proved otherwise, and luck was with me when I learned that truth.

During my training period I studied local pests and their habits, and one book I read had pictures of brown recluse. I gave them no more than glancing looks, but those short glances anchored a fuzzy picture in my mind that set an alarm off the first time I actually did see a recluse in one of my customer's buildings.

It was in the basement area of a major hospital that I made my first recluse sighting. As I looked at the spider moving around its web something about the legs seemed familiar. To me a brown recluse's legs are distinctive; they are very long and slender. I remember thinking at the time, "That looks like those pictures I seen of brown recluse spiders."

I caught that spider on a glue board, took it back to the company with me, and had a look at it through a microscope that evening. Sure enough a violin shape was on that spiders back.

From that moment on I had a definite, and permanent, picture of the brown recluse legs in my head. That's a picture that never faded, I see it as clear today as I did that day - almost 10-years ago.

That picture saved me from a number of bites over the years.

One time I opened a small box, looked in, and seen what I thought was a set of those legs scurrying for cover. I dropped the box, put a glue board in it, and used a long tool to move the items inside around. A few moments later I had two brown recluse spiders trapped on that glue board. A few feet further along the wall I opened another box to spot another recluse in residence. I got that one on a glue board too.

If you see spider webs around your home, be careful about approaching them. Brown recluse spiders are everywhere these days. I've found them in my bathtub, and often in my storage barn.

Find some pictures of these spiders; familiarize yourself with how their legs look. Get a picture of those legs fixed in your mind well enough that you at least recognize a potential brown recluse if you see one.

Don't take a chance on getting too close to these spiders. Their poisonous bites leave you with some nasty wounds that won't heal soon, and sometimes spread through your body.

When you think you see one understand that he probably has a family. You probably must treat your whole home to minimize infestation.




Joseph Jackson is an experienced pest control technician and author of SPIDER RIDDANCE a how to guide for performing do-it-yourself pest control for controlling spiders.

If you want a more complete how to book for do-it-yourself pest control see BUG RIDDANCE, Mice And Rats Too!





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Do You Recognize A Brown Recluse Spider When You See One?


If you're familiar with the brown recluse spider he's an easy pest to recognize. But to most of us a spider is a spider. Some are skinny; some are fat, some big, and some small.

I know I had no idea what a brown recluse looked like before my pest control technician days.

Developing the ability to know when a spider is a recluse is a talent I learned fast when I got that pest control job. And many times I found myself very happy for that fast learning experience.

Do you know that the adult recluse grows no longer than a half-inch? See this word "brown" here? It's in size ten-text font, and it won't fit into a half-inch wide text box. The adult recluse is shorter than that word. And the body is very narrow. In fact the body itself is normally not the first thing you see when you look at this bug.

This insect's legs are very long. When you place this spider inside that box I mentioned above those legs stick outside the box's borders.

The legs of the recluse are the first things I learned to identify. They're distinctive as far as spiders go. They come upward from the body at an angle close to forty-five degrees, and then bend back toward the ground sharply.

Brown recluse spiders come in different shades of brown also. Some are dark brown, but others are lighter shades of brown ranging all the way to the same color as your skin.

The most certain way you know if a spider is a recluse is when you see that violin, or fiddle, shape on its back. The bottom of the violin points toward the spider's head, with the fiddle's neck pointing toward the rear end. The violin shape is a darker brown than the rest of the body, and easy to see once you get close enough to the spider to actually see it.

Of course when you get that close you're way too close if the spider is still alive. I don't recommend identifying a live recluse that way.

This spider has a nasty bite. Its venom is highly poisonous, and once it enters your body that venom starts eating your flesh away. Most of the time you won't feel that bite, if you do it's a mild stick. Thing is, soon the spot where the spider bites you starts turning red, and the pain begins. An hour or so later the skin starts dissolving.

The recluse spider only bites when you disturb it. When you touch the nest the spider feels vibration along the web strands, and thinks food. It runs out to bite the food to numb it, and then realizes it just bit something too big for it to eat. And the spider runs away.

Or the spider lives inside some rarely worn article of clothing or shoes. When you put them on you disturb the spider, and he bites. Again he's thinking food, or perhaps self-defense.

If you want to learn how to recognize these insects study some pictures of them. Note the legs especially, and get the look of them fixed in your head. When you know a recluse by its legs you won't need to get close enough for it to bite you.

Brown recluse spiders live all over the place. I recommend you learn how to recognize them, and learn how to properly treat for them.

This spider does eat flying insects, keeping those pests from bugging you. But the brown recluse is not a spider that you really want to share your home with.




Joseph Jackson is an experienced pest control technician and author of SPIDER RIDDANCE a how to guide for performing do-it-yourself pest control for controlling spiders.

Find other pest control ebooks by Joe at http://www.bugsmiceratsnomore.com





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Common Household Spider - Are They Poisonous


As small as these little creatures are, it's amazing what a raucous they can cause. Many spiders are harmless, but there are some common spiders that should truly be feared. It is important to be able to identify spiders that are poisonous and the symptoms spider bites can cause. It would be an excellent idea to place some glue traps around your house, to help you identify what types of spiders you have living with you. As it is hard to get a close look at them when they are running across your floor or when they are squished in a tissue or under your shoe.

The Hobo Spider

The hobo spider has a brown body and can grow from 1/4 to 5/8 inch in length. It is commonly found in Idaho and Utah. It is a European immigrant that has recently been implicated as a potentially poisonous spider in the United States. They live in funnel web. Most hobo spider bites occur in bed or clothing where the spider is trapped next to the skin.

The initial bite from a hobo spider is usually painless but hardens within 30 minutes. The area of the bite may have numbness and it is common to feel dizzy. After 15 to 35 hours the area forms blisters and can start to slough, which stops after about 24 hours. It causes a slow healing wound. It can take months to heal. The hobo spider bites is not considered to be fatal but fatalities have occurred.

The Brown Recluse

The Brown Recluse spider is one of the few dangerous spiders in the United States. It is also called the fiddle back spider or violin spider because of the violin shape mark on it. It's native to south central United States but can be commonly found in the central mid western states. It is best to use glue traps for brown recluse, because they are not affected by pesticides.

The initial bite from a Brown Recluse spider is usually painless and the victim can be unaware for 3 to 8 hours later. Then the site of the bite might turn red and swollen. The bite can take a long time to heal. It will often leave scaring. It is extremely rare for a fatality to occur from a brown recluse spider bite but they still must be treated as a dangers spider

Black Widow

Adult female black widow spiders are about 1/2-inch long, not including the legs. They are jet black with a red hourglass marking underneath their circular abdomen. The adult males are around half the size of the females. Females can be identified by their red dots and white lines along the abdomen. The male black widow spider is harmless. It's the females you have to watch for. In spring or summer the black widow start to mate.

A black widow spider bite can go unnoticed. The intensity of the pain depends on amount of venom injected and the area of the bite. The bloodstream carries the venom around the body and it acts on the nervous system, causing different levels of pain. There may be slight local swelling and two red puncture points from the fangs. Pain usually starts from the bite site and works it way to the abdomen and back causing severe cramping in the abdominal muscles in some cases. Less than 5 percent of black widow spider bites results in death.

Wolf Spiders

Wolf Spiders are a common household pests that look for a warm place to stay for wintertime. They do not spin webs but they hunt for food at night. The Wolf Spider can be commonly mistaken for brown recluse spider, but they lack the violin-shaped marking behind their head. They are not aggressive and will run away from disturbances.

With wolf spider bites you will feel some local pain. Itchiness, dizziness, nausea, and swelling are uncommon, but they can be symptoms.

If a spider bite does occur, always contact a your physician. If it's possible, try to catch the spider or at least get a good description of the spider. This will aide the doctors to know how to handle the bite more quickly.




I am a busy mother of 5. I enjoy writing about things I have tried out that work for me. If you are interested in reading tips to make life easier for you as a busy mother or father then visit my website. http://spiderfrenzie.blogspot.com/

http://abusymother5.blogspot.com/





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2012年3月13日 星期二

The Big Little Bite - Brown Recluse Spiders, Your Home, and You


Crickets, and snails and other creepy-crawlies...they don't scare me. Snakes? Nah, they don't scare me either unless they're making rattling noises or standing at attention to an accompaniment of music from a snake charmers' flute. Neither do I suffer from arachnophobia (a general fear of spiders). Perhaps that lack of general concern for critters and such is a product of having been reared in central Florida where bugs are seemingly everywhere.There is one particular fear, though, that I do have...whether it be founded or unfounded, good or bad...and that's the quite reasonable (in my estimation) fear of unknowingly coming in too close contact with a Loxoceles reclusa...a Brown Recluse spider. If the truth were to be accurately conveyed...the very thought gives me the heebie-jeebies. The Brown Recluse is one of the few spiders that are harmful to humans. Another spider that is harmful to humans is the Black Widow with which most of us are at least vaguely familiar...but for some reason they just don't bother me too much although I am always "on the lookout" for them too.

Having performed thousands and thousands of Raleigh home inspections, I have had the opportunity to go in some great homes. I have also had the...opportunity, if you will...of going into some homes that were, well, not so great. Even in homes that look perfectly safe and in near pristine condition, there are potential dangers that may be lurking about.

Here in the eastern United States a large percentage of homes are constructed upon crawl space foundations. Crawl spaces have the deserved reputation of being less than desirable places to "hang out". I don't know anyone who finishes dinner, for instance, and says to their significant other "Honey, let's go down in the crawl space for a little while and...." You get the picture; it's just not the favorite part of the average persons' home. But it is an important place into which I must willingly and gallantly venture in the performance of my professional duties as a Home Inspector. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't relish the thought of being bitten by anything, really, but especially not a Brown Recluse spider. These spiders can be found in places other than crawl spaces. But it's usually there...in darkness and separated from the outside world, that I sometimes think about them (and other potential local hazards) and am usually in a heightened state of alert for any creature that might be observing me while I am making my observations...it's the things we don't see or hear that often impart the most fear in us, is it not?

So, why should you be concerned about Brown Recluse spiders? Because...they can be living with you in and around your home. The potential for you to come in contact with one is real. It's better to be educated and informed than...bitten! Agreed? Good!


How can you visually identify a Brown Recluse spider? A large Brown Recluse is something a bit larger in size than a penny. Typically, they are light to medium brown although they range in color from cream-colored to dark brown or a blackish-gray. Their most readily identifiable feature is the presence of a violin-shaped marking on their back with the neck of the violin pointing toward the rear of their body. It's this marking that has led to nicknames having been given the Recluse such as the "fiddle back spider" and the "violin spider". It is noteworthy that other spiders have similar markings, so such a marking is not absolutely reliable insofar as identification is concerned. Another distinguishing trait of the Brown Recluse is that it has three sets of two eyes, at the front of its head, for a total of six eyes; most spiders have eight eyes.
Are they indigenous to my part of the country? Brown Recluse spiders are native to the Midwest states such as Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio and south to the Gulf of Mexico. They are also found in Texas and east from there to Georgia and north to Kentucky. They are known to exist elsewhere as well, likely as the result of traveling along with humans in their travels [Authors note: I know they live in North Carolina because I've seen em'...the little buggers!]. For more information on the Brown Recluse in North Carolina, visit the website of the North Carolina Nature Center.
Will they try to attack me, or chase me? No, they will not. They don't seek out human contact and will only bite if they are disturbed, feel threatened, and are in contact with your skin. They can "jump" slightly if touched but this movement is based in avoidance rather than aggression.
Why are they potentially dangerous? Because they are venomous...poisonous. A bite from a Recluse will be very uncomfortable at the very best...and fatal at the very worst (although this is very, very rare). The majority of bites are not exceptionally serious but, as with many dangers, the very young, the elderly, and those with a compromised immune system are at the greatest risk for more severe complications.
Where might you find a Brown Recluse spider around my home? Recluse spiders like to reside in many of the same places you like to hang out within your home. They can be found in closets, garages, carports, basements, wood piles (well, maybe you don't hang out in your wood pile)...just about any location where it is reasonably dry and generally undisturbed. They can also be potentially found in shoes, gloves, behind base-boards, behind pictures, in the bedding of little used beds, in stacked or folded clothing, and in clothes that have been piled or placed on the floor. Many reported bites have been immediately after putting on clothes that have been lying on the floor or otherwise disturbing the spiders who have taken up residence in such isolated areas.
How might you know if you have been bitten by a Recluse? A bite may be readily apparent but this is not always the case. Some bites can go undetected for as much as 24 hours. Often, the bitten area begins to itch and be painful within 2 - 8 hours and these effects worsen and become more pronounced over the subsequent 12 to 36 hours. In extreme cases, the site of the bite can swell in size to 10 inches or more and the areas can become ulcerated and where skin tissue is actually destroyed (a condition medically described as necrosis for which there is no established treatment) and that can result in scarring of the skin. In very rare instances, the venomous bite can cause a systemic reaction (one that effects the entire body) where side-effects can include nausea, vomiting, muscle and joint pain, fever, and rashes.
So, what should you do if you know, or suspect, that you have been bitten by a Recluse? You should provide or seek proper medical care just as soon as you exhibit any local or systemic symptoms. Following prudence and common sense, as with the care of any injury or skin damage, the area should be cleaned and should be maintained in a clean, dry condition to every extent possible; every effort should be put forth to avoid infection. Something that can be done initially is to apply an ice pack to control swelling. Aloe-Vera can be applied to soothe the area and control pain. And, of course, you should seek professional medical attention. A tetanus shot may be prescribed. The offending spider could be carefully caught and saved in a jar or other container to provide evidence to medical staff but, again, the bites often go undetected so this may not be possible.

Since there are potentially serious medical consequences of having been bitten by a Brown Recluse spider, and since it is desirable to avoid such a bite, then the best defense is a good offense (to use an unrelated sports metaphor). The effective offense comes from being educated about the possibilities of a spider bite and in being informed about potential consequences and appropriate courses of action. It's important to know how to minimize the chance of an encounter with a Brown Recluse e.g. checking your shoes, gloves, and other clothing before putting them on and knowing where they like to hide out so that you can be more observant and cognizant regarding their potential presence. And...it's important to know what to do if you suspect that you may have been bitten.

As for myself...as I 'm crawlin' around under a house, I'll just hope that a snake has already eaten em'...or somethin'!




Gary Gentry is the owner of Quality Residential Inspections, a Raleigh Home Inspection firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is a veteran Home Inspector, having performed many thousands of fee-paid inspections of residential, commercial, and industrial properties. You are cordially invited to visit their website at http://qriquality.com





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Spider Bites And Various Types of Spiders


There are over 40,000 different types of spider on this planet and these clever little critters have found ways to exist just about anywhere where they can find a food supply, with is normally other bugs. They all bite, and understanding spider bites can help to quickly diagnose a bite and seek medical treatment if the bite is from one of the more deadly spiders, such as the brown recluse or black widow.

All spiders bite, but some are so small they cannot be seen with the naked eye and they do not generally bother us. Their venom is injected into their prey - much like a snake kills, and the toxin that is injected usually acts on the prey's nervous system so it will stop struggling so the spider can wrap it up and take it home.

The tropics and subtropics, and the southeast and mid-western United States are where the most dangerous venomous spiders like to hang out. There is a large food supply for them in warm and moist conditions. Unfortunately Florida is a subtropical state and there many incidences of nasty spider bites there, especially from brown recluse spiders.

These spiders hide in crevices and unexpected places, perhaps between a door and a frame if the door hasn't been opened for a few weeks. They like dark secluded places, hence the word "recluse" in their title. Their bites can cause severe pain and sometimes anaphylactic shock, so if you are familiar with the bites of these spiders, you are better prepared to get a patient off to treatment immediately.

The wound a brown recluse spider or black widow spider inflicts may just feel like a pin prick at first and sometimes you will see two minute spots of blood side by side where the fags penetrated the skin. Swelling follows and the bite site becomes painful, at this stage there may be feelings of nausea and stomach cramps. Depending on which spider bit you understanding spider bites and how they progress may help in diagnosis, especially if you are perhaps camping in a remote area. Depending on the age and physical health of the victim, they can also suffer fluctuating blood pressure, dizziness and vomiting. The black widow's venom acts on the central nervous system.

Three days after being bitten by a brown recluse spider, there is a large necrotic area of skin, which means all the skin in the location of the bite will have died, and the venom penetrates and kills muscle and fatty tissue, leaving an ugly gaping wound that can only be described as like looking at a piece of raw meat. This will not heal on its own, and after nine days the wound will have continued to grow until it can be a life-threatening condition open to severe infection.

The best way to avoid spider bites is by using a liberal amount of Deet all over the body. Deet contains many unfriendly chemicals to both the human body and spiders but is regarded as the best defense. However, it should not be used on children under 2. As a natural spider repellent you can use oil of calendula or oil of eucalyptus effectively. When moving piles of wood and debris, wear long sleeves and long pants, tie the bottoms of the pants securely with string and tie long sleeves over the ends of gloves so the spider cannot crawl under your clothing.




Learn more about Insect Bite Rashes and Common Spider Bites.





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2012年3月12日 星期一

The Cool Summer Kept Insect Numbers Down But Nobody Told the Brown Recluse Spider to Stop Breeding


We made it to the middle of September without the usual hordes of insects around my yard. Although I notice the mosquitoes still attack in large enough numbers in the evenings that their population growth didn't suffer much from the cooler summer.

Even efforts to keep water from pooling in the drainage ditch at a minimum seem ineffective against those guys. I guess there's just no stopping them, they're almost as stubborn as I am.

I got lucky with the ants this year though. I only had one incident of ant presence in my kitchen. I seen them streaming into the trashcan one day. I don't know what attracted them, but they sure liked something in that trash. As soon as I emptied the contents that invasion stopped.

The usual invading pests didn't bother me much. In fact I haven't seen any pill bugs or centipedes this year. That's unusual here in Indiana, and the numbers of flies buzzing around my head was fewer than I'm used to. Sometimes the blowflies stray into my office on a daily basis, trying to drive me crazy as they make their pestering runs between the computer screen and me.

I do have a big situation with brown recluse spiders. They started appearing in my house a couple years ago, and I'm fighting a constant war keeping control over them.

I remember when the headline news articles about recluse spiders always came out of the western United States. Reporters here in Indiana always said we didn't need fear bites from brown recluse because we didn't have any of these spiders here.

Every time I go into my storage barn I run across a recluse. I initially noticed them last spring when I pulled the mower out to cut the grass for the first time this year. They went scurrying for cover as soon as I opened that door.

I sprayed that day, and I know I decreased their numbers, but next time I went into the barn I felt like they'd hatched out a whole new horde of baby spiders, because they seemed everywhere again.

After I did a pest control inspection I realized the recluse I saw did include some new hatchlings, but I didn't see many of them until I moved something. The spiders that lived behind, and under, stored items escaped earlier treatment because the item blocked the spray, and it didn't reach them.

There's a lot of stuff in that barn, so I had a summer long battle fighting brown recluse spiders because every time I picked something up in the barn I found another one or two of them. Kept me on my toes keeping from getting bit. You gotta keep a constant watch for them rascals - they're sneaky.

If you have an out building where you store a lot of stuff be careful when you move things around. You might find some unwelcome guests hiding in there.

I recommend you wear some good thick work gloves. Those brown recluse spiders have nasty bites, but their fangs don't pierce through thick leather.




Joseph Jackson is an experienced pest control technician and author of SPIDER RIDDANCE, a how to guide for performing do-it-yourself pest control for controlling spiders, and other how to do-it-yourself pest control techniques found at BUG RIDDANCE, Mice And Rats, Too!





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

About Spiders and Why They're a Danger to You in Your Home


Aside from Halloween decorations, it's never a good thing when you have spiders in your home. Yet some people don't realize what a real problem these creepy crawlies actually are. Some of them, such as the brown recluse, a very common spider in Florida and the Tampa area, can have fatal consequences.

The reasons spiders and other pests are an issue during the fall months is because that's when the climate and temperature varies as the weather cools. This makes all insects restless, and more likely to roam, and that includes roaming into places like attics, book shelves, closets, cabinets, sheds, and garages. They are particularly fond of dark places.

All spiders carry venom, which is used to paralyze their prey. Some of it is more dangerous than others, with the brown recluse and the black widow having the most dangerous bites.

The brown recluse is said to have venom that is more powerful than a rattlesnake's bite. It can cause dizziness, fainting, severe headaches, low blood platelet count, and even death. The brown recluse's venom destroys the tissue surrounding a bite. People who are bitten by these dangerous spiders must undergo one to several rounds of antibiotic treatment, in addition to having the bite drained.

You can prevent spiders in your home by cleaning and dusting regularly. Be on the lookout for spider webs, especially in dark areas, or places that aren't frequently visited. Garages, sheds, and doorways are popular places for spiders to congregate.

Have pest control come out to your home and spray for bugs annually, and more frequently if needed. Pest control can also inspect your home for places that could be vulnerable to insects.

If you suspect you've been bitten by a spider, call a doctor immediately, especially if you feel faint or dizzy. Sometimes the bites are minor, but other times, they can be fatal. In this situation, it's always better to be safe than sorry.




Tampa Pest Control

Tampa Bug Control





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2012年3月11日 星期日

Dust Off Your Pest Control Techniques The Brown Recluse Spider Is Active Again


Did you relax your pest control techniques for insects over the winter?

Those brown recluse spiders took to hiding in their crannies, and crevices, for the last three or four months. They lurked in the shadows just out of sight. But they didn't go very far away, and now they're developing eggs. Soon those eggs will hatch, and you'll have a bunch of little tiny brown recluse crawling all over your house.

Yesterday my lady started some spring-cleaning on the patio. She told me when she moved things around spiders went scurrying everywhere. She said there were all kinds of spiders out there.

I didn't say anything about that, and I didn't go have a look see. I know from experience many of the spiders she seen running away were most likely brown recluse. Those things are everywhere in the neighborhood now.

That's strange because just a few years ago we supposedly didn't have recluse spiders in Indiana. Now a days, even though I'm no longer an active pest control technician, I here about brown recluse bites all the time.

I think the main reason people get bitten is because most people don't know what a recluse looks like. Sure the majority of people know about that mark on the spider's back that's shaped like a violin, or fiddle. It's the reason we call the spider the fiddler.

But if you're trying to identify this spider by that mark you're way too close to the insect if it's still living. That violin is so small it's hard to see.

I studied pictures, and got an image of the spider firmly fixed in my head, back when I started my pest control technician days. Now I recognize one when I see it from a distance of a few feet. So I know to be very careful when I approach.

The brown recluse has distinctive legs. They're very long. They angle upward from the body for a short distance, and then turn back downward toward the ground. That turn, or bend, in the leg is kind of like our knee. The body is long, and slender. But it's very small too. That's why the fiddle mark is hard to identify.

These guys have a nasty bite. My father found that out the hard way. A recluse bit him on the first knuckle of his middle finger. He didn't really feel the bite. When you do feel it you only feel a slight pinch. But a short time later his knuckle started turning red, then it began swelling, and an angry wound opened up.

That red started crawling up his finger next. And then the doctors cut his finger off so the poison couldn't spread up his arm, and into his body.

Not fun.

Treating for brown recluse spiders is simple enough if you know how.

The hard part is learning how to recognize this pest. And then you must learn how to take care of it with the proper pest control techniques.




Joseph Jackson is an experienced pest control technician and author of SPIDER RIDDANCE, a how to guide for performing do-it-yourself pest control for controlling spiders.

Find other pest control ebooks by Joe at http://www.bugsmiceratsnomore.com





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

The Insects Are Done For the Winter, But the Mice and Rats Are About to Move Into Your Home


The temperatures seem colder than normal for this time of year in Indiana. Do you suppose that's a prediction of a harsh winter ahead? The last couple of days turned nice with sunshine and warm air, and I spent the evening two days ago outside grilling a Mahi Mahi steak for dinner.

The experience was extra pleasant because it was pest free. Not one mosquito bothered me, and I heard no buzzing from bees or flies. I did see a centipede crawl out of a piece of my firewood, and run away from the heat.

Looks like maybe all the insects have moved into their nests and bedded down for their winter break. The spiders still crawl around their nests, but at much slower speeds now than they moved a couple weeks ago.

Re-arranging stuff in my barn doesn't disturb as many brown recluse spiders with the cooler air either. If you're a warm weather person like I am you'll view that as a benefit to cold weather, even if reluctantly.

We might see a little insect activity when Indian Summer comes, but I don't expect many bugs then, and that only lasts a week in Indiana normally around the beginning of November.

You can pretty much say goodbye to insects, except for the spiders of course, until spring if you live in cold weather states.

Now is the time to prepare for the cold weather pest invasion.

With this new season come the mice and rats as they leave the dens in the ground, under the outbuildings, and woodpiles where they enjoy the warm summer months, and move into your warm house to escape the cold.

If this winter turns as extreme as I suspect many households will serve as host to the rodents looking for heated spaces, and better living conditions.

Before they start moving in I recommend you do a thorough perimeter inspection of your home to bar their entry. Look for any holes or openings in the foundation, and close them off so the mice and rats can't get in. Check under cabinets and around pipes for possible access points too.

Remember that what looks like a very small space to us is a wide open door to rodents.

Take these steps now, and you'll minimize your in home rodent population this winter.




Joseph Jackson is an experienced pest control technician and author of RODENT RIDDANCE, a how to guide for performing do-it-yourself pest control for controlling mice and rats.

For a complete how to do-it-yourself pest control guide see: BUG RIDDANCE, Mice And Rats, Too!





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2012年3月10日 星期六

Are Brown Recluse Spiders Hiding in Your Home?


How much do you know about the brown recluse spider? How reclusive are they, do you think?

Let me be totally honest about that title question up there. Brown recluse spiders don't hide from us anymore. They're rather brazen these days, and weave their webs right out in the open.

Back when I first started working as a pest control technician I knew absolutely zero about brown recluse spiders other than the fact that they carried a fiddle shaped marking on their back.

I didn't know a brown recluse spider from a violin.

I asked the company entomologist if brown recluse spiders lived in the Indianapolis area, because news articles said they only lived in southwestern states. But sometimes I don't trust the news media all that much.

That bug guy told me that he'd found a few recluse spiders, but only in the basements of the city's larger buildings, and even then only in very dark corners where people hardly ever went.

I took him for his word, and, since part of my job as a pest tech included visiting those very dark corners I looked at some pictures of brown recluse trying to familiarize my brain with what they look like.

Wasn't long before I realized those picture studies were well worth the effort - and that sudden realization came not in a deep, dark corner, but in a brightly lit, well traveled area.

Many warehouses have rodent problems, and to keep the mouse population down we used cardboard boxes with little round holes through their ends. Inside those bait boxes (that's what we called them) we put a glue board, laying flat, or a couple blocks of mouse poison.

One day I serviced the warehouse of a major Indianapolis hospital. This particular building housed all of the hospital's stored paper medical records and patient charts. The workers in the warehouse organized the records, filed them on stacks of shelves that covered the warehouse floor, and pulled records back out when doctors or nurses requested to see them.

I walked up the loading dock stairs, through the door into the warehouse, and picked up a bait box that sat on the floor next to that door. I opened the box up, and movement caught my eye. As my vision focused in on the source of that movement a clanging bell sound set off in my head.

...I dropped that box and jumped away from it just as fast as I jumped out of that old corvette I owned every time I failed to step far enough away from the door as I got out of the car - and my leg touched against the hot side pipe.

That movement was a brown recluse spider, my subconscious recognized it, and warned me to get away, even though my conscious mind took its time realizing what I looked at.

I got out a glue board, put it into the box, coaxed that spider onto the board, trapping the spider, and as I did another recluse jumped out at me from behind the bait block.

I captured the second spider too.

I didn't see my life pass before my eyes that day. But I did check my pants to make sure they were still clean.

Since then I found brown recluse in my bathroom, and in my office. Only because I studied those pictures when I first became a pest control technician can I recognize these spiders as recluse. Even then I only suspect, not until I see that fiddle shape am I truly sure. Of course, if you get close enough to see that violin while this spider is living, you're way too close.

That warehouse visit was the moment when I understood that brown recluse spiders aren't really all that reclusive.




Joseph Jackson is an experienced pest control technician and author of SPIDER RIDDANCE, a how to guide for performing do-it-yourself pest control for controlling spiders.

Find other pest control ebooks by Joe at http://www.bugsmiceratsnomore.com





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

SEO Tip - Increase Your Traffic by Optimizing Images


Here's the scenario: You're searching for information on the most poisonous spider in the world, the brown recluse, which you've recently learned has been found in an area near your home. Desperate for information that may help you protect yourself and your family from the dangerous arachnid, you type in "brown recluse" in a search engine bar. As the information is populating, several articles on the effects of the spider's poison, the origins and known locations, or other subjects pulls up, looking very promising. Then there are the pictures. Lots of pictures of the huge, brown and black spider and even the damage its bite inflicts on the human body. Which of the two would draw your eye?

Most likely, you would immediately move your cursor over the picture, possible exclaiming something like, "Gross!", and would possible spend the next few minutes sharing the images with your friends and coworkers.

Recent studies on the browsing habits of search engine users confirms that people will consume information through pictures more than 30% faster than with regular text. Why would someone knowingly skip over interesting pictures like graphs, charts and other images, in favor of reading a full-length blog post on the subject? Some just might, but most won't.

Image searches account for hundreds of millions of searches on Google everyday. By optimizing the images on your site, you can tap into this market and begin a new side of Search Engine Optimization for your company.

Here are a few ways you can optimize your images to generate traffic.

Name the Image Correctly: An accurate name that describes the picture in brief, simple language is important, and will ensure that your image is pulled up in a relevant search.

Use Keywords: Keywords are another important factor. Properly describing the image with keywords and alternate keyword tags will increase the power of your photo and increase its searchability.

Place Images Near Relevant Content: The best location for an image is surrounded by relevant content, like in a blog post. This will increase the organic ranking of your photo within search engines.

Optimizing your photos can be a great source of traffic for your site! These simple guidelines take very little time to implement, so start following them today to get the results you're looking for.




More internet marketing articles can be found at submitsolution.com





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2012年3月9日 星期五

How to Get Rid of Spiders


If you are like me though, these facts will do little to keep you from recoiling at the sight of a spider in your home. When you see one, you just want to get rid of it. The best method of fighting spiders is to target their food sources. Spiders are predators, and the size of their population is directly proportional to the amount of available food. Take a good look around your home and a good look back into your memory - what other insects are found in your home? You must work to reduce these in order to reduce the number of spiders. Use the navigation on the right or the search box at the top to find the guides needed to reduce the other insects in your home.

Spider bites

In the rare event of being bitten by a spider it is a good idea to capture it in case you have an allergic reaction to the bite. Spiders can be captured by carefully lowering an inverted glass or jar over them and then sliding a piece of paper underneath the opening to trap it. Flip the container back over and tap the paper to make the spider fall to the bottom. If you suffer no reaction within 6 hours, let the spider go outside.

The following sections deal with the more dangerous varieties of spiders. We will show you where to find them, how to minimize their presence (if possible) and what to do if someone gets bitten.

1. How to get rid of brown recluse spiders

Brown Recluse spiderBrown recluse spiders grow to 1/23 (13mm) excluding the legs. They have long thin legs, light tan to brown bodies and a violin-shaped mark on their backs. Their abdomens will vary in color depending on what was last eaten. These spiders are hunters who wander away from their nests at night in search of prey. Most brown recluse spider bites are a result of the spiders hiding out in clothing or bedding and then being inadvertently pressed against a persons skin.

Black widow spiders like to build their nests in dark, undisturbed places close to the ground. The webs themselves are usually small with a thick den spun into the center in which the spider takes up residence during the daytime.

Locating and removing brown recluse spiders

Brown recluse spiders are native to the U.S. and are commonly found in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Montana, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi,, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and northern Florida.

It is important to understand that if you kill a black widow, it's likely another will shortly take it's place. So when you locate one, after killing it you should seek to make the area in which it was found less attractive as a hiding place.

Indoors, focus near the floor and look in stacks of papers and piles of things, closet floors, clothing and bedding that is in contact with the floor, underneath cabinets and in corners. Outside, look in and around debris piles, stacks of things, rocks, logs, inner tubes, tires, ditches, holes and crevices. These spiders will nest in dark, undisturbed places so look anywhere that fits that description especially if it is a place where a child can go.

If you locate a black widow spider, it can be crushed or vacuumed up. If you vacuum one up, seal up the bag and stick it in the freezer overnight to kill it.




Want to know more? You can read more tips on How to get rid of Spiders, plus information to get rid of practically anything else that ails you - from bad breath to telemarketers to cellulite - at http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Camping With Poisonous Snakes and Spiders


Of course there are spiders, but I doubt any will crawl into our sleeping bags tonight. Living with someone with a newly developed passion for camping can teach you a lot about yourself. But since camping is a nice way to save money while still having a great vacation, I've learned to cope happily. Here's what I learned about camping with the neighborhood's snakes and spiders. Most are harmless to people and, in fact, provide great benefits, such as keeping rodent and insect pest populations in check. So it is important - for our own sake -- to be good neighbors to local snakes and spiders.Once you know where you plan to camp, learn about the poisonous snakes and spiders in the area. One of the best informational resources for photos and quick answers is venombyte.com.

Venombyte offers free descriptions, locations and photos of every kind of poisonous snake and spider in the U.S.Print out the appropriate photos so everyone, especially children, knows what to avoid and what to do if bitten. Any bite from a poisonous snake or spider should be regarded as a potential medical emergency so everyone in your camping group should have a number for emergency assistance available and know what to do until help arrives or until the person can be taken to a hospital. Even non-venomous snake bites should be treated because infections and allergic reactions are occasioned in some people. Common-sense approaches regarding your new neighbors prevent most unwanted encounters. If you leave your campsite during the day, zip up your tent against things that crawl along the ground. If you do leave it unzipped, carefully check your tent's interior and shake your bedding before crawling inside.

Snakes:

Hike along established trails, step onto then off (rather than simply over) logs, avoid tall grass and be careful when picking up firewood or rocks for your campfire. When rock climbing, remember a snake may be sunning itself or waiting for prey on the ledge you're reaching for. According to the NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, every one of the lower 48 states, except Maine, has at least one poisonous snake species. Poisonous snakes in the U.S. include: (1) Copperheads (Broad-banded, Northern, Osage, Southern and Trans-Pecos), (2) Cottonmouths (Eastern, Florida and Western), (3) Rattlesnakes (Animas Ridgenose, Arizona Black, Arizona Ridgenose, Banded Rock, Carolina Pygmy, Colorado Desert Sidewinder, Desert Massasauga, Dusky Pygmy, Eastern Diamondback, Eastern Massasauga, Grand Canyon, Great Basin, Hopi, Midget Faded, Mojave Desert Sidewinder, Mojave, Mottled Rock, Northern Black-tailed, Northern Pacific, Panamint Speckled, Prairie, Sonoran Desert, Southern Pacific, Southwestern Speckled, Tiger, Timber, Western Diamondback, Western Massasauga, Western Pygmy and Western Twin Spotted) and (4) Coral Snakes (Arizona, Eastern and Texas). If someone is bitten, some resources recommend keeping the bitten person's heart elevated higher than the bite until they can reach a hospital. If it will take more than 30 minutes to get a bite victim to a hospital, some resources suggest placing a suction device over the bite to help suck out the poison (commercial snake bite kits often include suction kits). But most medical authorities reportedly warn not to cut into the wound, use tourniquets or cool the bite area with ice. While some poisonous snakes may inject little venom (venom injection is a voluntary act by the snake), others - like the Eastern Diamondbacks which live in the South - can inject large amounts of venom in a single strike. In those cases, antivenins may be the only treatment to save someone.

Spiders:

Don't place bare hands where you can not see and wear protective gloves when handling things like logs for your campfire or equipment, like a canoe, which has set overnight. Again, before slipping into your sleeping bag, it can't hurt to unzip it and give it a good shaking outside your tent.While all spiders are venomous, only a tiny fraction of them can deliver dangerous bites to people. Black Widow, Brown Recluse and Hobo spiders, however, are dangerous and need to be recognized quickly in the wild. So learn what they look like and know where they hide and hunt. Black Widow venom is a neurotoxic protein which is an especially potent venom.

Black Widow bites are immediately painful while Brown Recluse bites become painful after a few hours. Some resources' recommended treatment, until medical help is available, includes cooling the bite area with ice but to not apply suction or cut into the wound.Poisonous spiders in the U.S. include: (1) Widows (Northern Black, Southern Black, Western Black, Brown and Red), (2) Recluses (Apache, Arizona, Baja, Big Bend, Brown, Chilean, Desert, Grand Canyon, Martha's, Mediterranean, Russell's, Texas and Tucson) and, (3) Hobo Spider. Yellow Sac Spiders, though not poisonous, can cause painful necrotic lesions -- so know what they look like as well.If someone is bitten, bring the spider to the doctor's office, if possible. When a doctor can identify which spider's venom is in play, effective antivenims are available for Black Widow bites. Spider bites are hard to diagnose as many medical problems mimic identical symptoms, so bringing in the spider that bit someone could save valuable time. Be Safe and Happy Camping!This information is for reference only and is NOT intended as professional advice.




D. Sturgeon

Top Sleeping Bags [http://www.topsleepingbags.com/]





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2012年3月8日 星期四

A Look at Common Northwest Insects


Being in the Pacific Northwest is wonderful in the summer, when campers and hikers can relax in the cool shade of pine trees, listen to the sound of a trickling creek and enjoy the aroma of wild blackberries. What isn't wonderful, however, are the insects you encounter.

Prepare yourself for the dangerous insects you may encounter while hiking or camping in the Northwest with this guide to common outdoor pests:

Stinging Offenders: Bees and Wasps

Unless you're allergic to their bite or sting, bees and wasps are more annoying than they are dangerous. Good hiking safety practices include taking care around flowering flora, dead or hollow trees, and garbage cans. Do not tamper with hives or nests, as this may provoke bees and wasps to attack.

Avoid leaving food out in the open, as this will attract wasps. Some campers have found that laying out anti-static dryer sheets on a picnic table helps keep wasps away.

Itchy Offenders: Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are the insect people find most bothersome. Not only do their bites cause itching, but mosquitoes can transmit the West Nile virus. Wear a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt and pants, especially if you're in an area famous for its pests.

Insect repellant is a must. Prevent bites to your hands and face by applying an insect repellant that's safe to use all over your body. Avoid areas with still water, such as ponds or small lakes.

Eight-Legged Offenders: Arachnids

While most of the Northwest's spiders are harmless, there are a couple of species to be aware of: the black widow and the brown recluse.

The black widow is recognizable by its black, glossy look and bulbous abdomen. The underside of its belly has an hourglass shape that's can range from red to orange or white. The black widow is a highly venomous spider - you'll instantly know if you are bitten by one.

The brown recluse spider is gray, brown or dark yellow in color. The top part of its body is bisected by a black line, giving the spider the appearance of a small violin. Although the brown recluse is shy, its bite can cause necrosis. It can take a couple of hours to feel the effects of this spider's bite.

Prevention is the best protection against spiders. One good camping safety practice is to use an LED flashlight when looking for items in the dark. Wear thick gloves when going through brush, collecting firewood or looking under rocks. Carefully examine your shoes and clothes before putting them on.

Blood-Sucking Offenders: Ticks

Ticks are nasty creatures that mostly live in trees. When these parasites see potential host, they jump on and bury their heads into the skin. Ticks can carry lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

The best chemical defense against ticks is an insect repellent containing DEET. In wooded areas, wear a hat, a long-sleeved shirt tucked into pants, and long pants tucked into socks or boots.

When all is said and done, insect repellent, the right clothes, good camping and hiking safety practices and a powerful LED flashlight are basic necessities for your Pacific Northwest bug-fighting arsenal.

~ Flora Richards-Gustafson, 2010




Flora Richards-Gustafson lives in Portland, Ore. and writes for Discount Lights and Knives.
Want to learn more about Northwest camping safety? Visit the DLK website to find out more about quality outdoor equipment like long-lasting LED lanterns, LED flashlights and survival tools.





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Identify and Prevent Dangerous Spiders in Your Home


Our pest control technicians have been getting lots of complaints about spiders lately. A couple of customers have even stopped by our office, bringing dead spiders in Ziploc bags so we could identify the intruders. In both these cases, the culprits were sac spiders.

Although the bite of the agrarian sac or yellow sac spider commonly found in our homes is not fatal to humans, this type of spider is believed to be responsible for more bites than any other spider, usually when trapped in ones clothes or bedding. The bite stings and causes a red welt and irritation similar to a mosquito bite. (If any insect bite causes a severe or unusual reaction, contact a physician immediately.)

The sac spider typically builds its sac-like web in corners, behind shelves and framed pictures and can sometimes be spotted running across walls or ceilings. It is light yellow with a darker stripe down the center of its upper abdomen and, like most spiders, has eight eyes arranged in two rows at the top of its head, difficult to see with the naked eye.

Most spiders are not dangerous and can usually be eliminated by removing their webs and/or eggs. Spiders seen out in the open during the day are unlikely to bite people.

Although we often hear reports of the brown recluse spider in our North-Central California region, in fact the brown recluse doesn't live in California. The only recluse spider native to California lives in the Southern California desert and is less toxic to humans than its close relative, the non-native Chilean recluse spider, which has become established in Los Angeles County. Recluse spiders have a violin-shaped mark on their heads, which may or may not be easily distinguished, and have only six eyes. They are active at night and tend to stay hidden in dark, undisturbed places like storage boxes or old clothes or shoes.

The only California spider known to inflict serious injury to humans is the black widow, which usually is found outdoors in hidden locations such as in wood piles or underneath porches or sheds. Take care when you're outside gardening, especially at this time of year, when the weather is still warm and sunny. The black widow's web may not be visible in the sunlight, and you can easily stick your fingers into the wrong place.

The adult female black widow has a shiny black body, slender black legs, and a red or orange hourglass-shaped mark on the underside of a large, round abdomen. The body, excluding legs, is 5/16 to 5/8 inch long.

The best way to prevent spiders in your home is to vacuum up webs and avoid clutter build-up that can provide hiding places. To prevent spiders from entering your home or commercial building, seal foundation cracks and other access holes, keep window and door screens in good repair, and keep areas around the building foundation free of clutter.




If you are troubled by a spider infestation, our trained pest management professionals will make a free home inspection, identify the type of spider, determine the best method for safely eliminating them from your property, and follow up with regular de-webbing or other treatment to prevent their return. Some of the information in this article was obtained from the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. Visit http://www.earthguardpestcontrol.com for more information, call us at 916-457-7605 (877-D-BUGIN-U toll-free) or e-mail us at contact@EarthGuardPest.com.

Dave Picton is owner of Earth Guard Pest Management Services (http://www.earthguardpest.com), serving the Greater Sacramento, California, region. Earth Guard is a family-owned pest control company specializing in customized pest management services for your home or commercial site, offering free estimates, senior discounts and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, with no contract, no cancellation fees. We specialize in protecting your home, family or place of business from dangerous pests in the safest, most effective way possible. Our trained, certified professionals are educated on the lifecycles and breeding patterns of household pests, including ants, termites, roaches, silverfish, spiders, fleas, rodents and pigeons. We offer a full line of "green" products and services and hold the EcoWise certification. Contact us today for a free estimate: toll-free (877) 328-4468 or e-mail contact@EarthGuardPest.com.





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2012年3月7日 星期三

Dangerous Spiders of the Pacific Northwest


For many people spiders instill an instant feeling of terror. They are creepy, ugly-looking little things, and the very sight of one will send shivers up the spine of the average person. However, more often than not the fear is unwarranted. While all spiders are venomous, many spiders' mouths are too small to bite a human. Out of the creatures that are large enough to bite, very few have enough venom to cause any significant damage. Here in the Pacific Northwest, and more specifically the states of Oregon and Washington, there are only two species of spiders considered dangerous to humans: the western black widow and the hobo spider.

The black widow is perhaps the most well-known and wide-spread spider in the United States. Even though it is considered to be the most venomous spider in the United States, a black widow bite is rarely fatal. While it is recommended to seek immediate medical help if you believe that you have been bitten by a black widow, the most serious cases are generally found only in small children, the elderly, or people with already pre-existing medical conditions. Black widow venom is a neurotoxin, meaning that it attacks the nervous system. Often times the bite itself is not actually noticed, as it is generally not painful, and leaves a very small mark. Common symptoms include muscle cramping, nausea, fever, trouble breathing, and tremors. Black widows are usually found in dark, dry places such as: rock piles, piles of firewood, attics, and crawl spaces. The female is much larger than the male, growing to a leg span of up to two inches, and is characterized by the bright red hourglass shape beneath its abdomen. The rest of the arachnid is a glossy black color.

The hobo spider, also commonly known as the aggressive house spider, is not considered as dangerous as the black widow. The name aggressive house spider is actually somewhat deceiving, as this particular species is no more aggressive than most other species. It is believed that the common name was derived from a misinterpretation of the creature's Latin name, Tegenaria agrestis. Agrestis, however, does not mean aggressive; it actually means 'of the fields', which is where this pest is most commonly found. A hobo spider bite has never been known to cause death. Their venom is necrotic, and is often confused with the bite of the brown recluse, however, the brown recluse is not found in Washington or Oregon. The bite of the hobo spider causes a blister, which breaks open after a day or so, leaving a nasty lesion, and can take quite a long time to heal. The hobo spider is a pretty ordinary looking arachnid. It is a dark brown color, with a leg span of up to an inch and a half. The abdomen has several darker chevron marks on it. On the male, the two pedipalps are large and swollen, and look like little boxing gloves. These are often mistaken for large fangs.




If you have an arachnid problem that you need taken care of in the Portland, OR, or Seattle, WA areas, contact Sprague Pest Solutions today. Sprague has been providing quality pest control services for 85 years. Visit them today at http://www.spraguepest.com.





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Time To Clear The Cobwebs Away And Perform Your Pest Control Techniques For Spiders


If you haven't performed your pest control techniques for spiders in a while you have some of these little pests lurking around your home. And, depending how you feel about spiders, you might feel it's time to do something about that.

I have mixed feelings about spiders. For the most part they help me out by catching, and eating, those flying insects like flies and mosquitoes. If they weave their web in the right place they even catch a few ants.

And those other bugs are often much more of a bother than any spider I've ever encountered.

Almost.

I have to say that the brown recluse spider is an exception to that. And over the past few years those recluse became so abundant around here that I spot one more often than I like.

I can't go into my storage barn without seeing recluse. I do admit that I've got so much stuff stored in there that I can't spray effectively though.

Most spiders are what I must classify as the good guys because they help keep the more bothersome insect populations down.

But their cobwebs do become unsightly after a while don't they?

One pest control technique to keep spider numbers down is removing those cobwebs. Just take a broom and sweep them away.

If you do that often enough the spider eventually moves on in search of a spot where its home is safe from your destructive activities.

Sweeping away those cobwebs also gives your visitors a better impression about your housekeeping skills too. Kind of a double benefit that.

Using that broom isn't necessarily so safe if the web you're brushing away belongs to a brown recluse though. You take a chance of that spider jumping onto your broom, crawling up its handle, and possibly biting you.

You don't want that. Those recluse bites are bad enough that my father lost half of a finger to one. Doctors had to cut it off to stop the poison from spreading across his hand, up his arm, and into his body.

Your more secure method for controlling spiders is with the use of a residual spray. The residual is a combination of poison dust mixed with a liquid. When you spray it on a surface the liquid dries, and leaves the poison behind as a layer of powder.

Spiders walk through the powder, get it on their legs, and lick it off when they clean themselves. Within 30-minutes the spider is history.

Residual sprays are not discriminative though. They take out all spiders - good and bad.

Some spiders help you out, and some threaten your health. If you have brown recluse lurking around you need to take action for your personal protection. It's better to tolerate a few more flies than risk a poison bite from the recluse.

If you don't know how to recognize a brown recluse get some pictures, and study them. Brown recluse have distinctive legs.

Learn how to perform pest control techniques for spiders, and go on the attack if you have a brown recluse problem. Or if you just don't like spiders of any type.




Joseph Jackson is an experienced pest control technician and author of SPIDER RIDDANCE, a how to guide for performing do-it-yourself pest control for controlling spiders.

Find other pest control ebooks by Joe at http://www.bugsmiceratsnomore.com





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

2012年3月6日 星期二

How to Get Rid of Spiders Today


Spiders are one of the most feared and reviled creatures on earth. No one quite knows why we love to hate spiders like we do. Arachnophobia is real, and there are people who would rather jump off a cliff than take on a spider. But in reality, most spiders are harmless. There are a few spiders, like the brown recluse and the black widow, which can cause serious harm if they bite. The majority of spiders only bite when threatened and their bites are usually less bothersome than a mosquito or fly bite. As irrational as it seems, spider fear still exists. Fortunately you can get rid of spiders fairly easily if they scare the bajeebers out of you.  

Spiders are Predators  

Spiders love to eat other bugs and insects. They catch them in webs. Spiders have bad eyesight but great sense of vibration. When they feel their helpless prey struggling to free itself (which is very difficult due to the wonderfully efficient properties of spider webbing), spiders will come down the web and feed. You can make your home less hospitable to spiders by reducing the other insects that live there.  

Throw Away Your Food  

Many insects and pests are drawn to rotting food. The more bugs that are drawn to the food, the more spiders you will have. Place all discarded food in tightly sealed garbage cans and regularly remove the garbage.  

Outdoor Lights  

Have you ever noticed how bugs are attracted to your outdoor lights? Well, spiders notice this too. Keeping your lights off will reduce both your bug and spider populations. Consider yellow sodium "bug lights" if you want to retain your outdoor lighting.     

Cardboard and Paper  

Spiders love to live in cool dry places like cardboard boxes and stacks of paper. Check your basement and storage areas for spiders living in these items.  

Picking Up Spiders  

No great skill is required to pick up a spider. They are not particularly fast or devious. Simply wad up a paper towel and scoop it up. Release it outdoors, or if you so desire, stomp it under your shoe (mean you).   A vacuum will work just as nicely if you are loathe to catch a spider by hand, albeit with less personal satisfaction.     

Spiders and Drains  

Hint: Throwing a live spider down a drain with running water does not work. The spider will curl up into a ball and create an air pocket until their fun little water ride is over. It will then climb right out of your sink.  

Ruining the Web Does Not Work  

Removing a spider web does not get rid of a spider unless you take out the spider at the same time. Spider spin webs in a location because their prey is in the area. If you don't get the spider it will promptly build another web in the same location!    

Spider Traps  

There are commercially available spider traps that will ensnare spiders on a sticky surface. Isn't that ironic - a spider getting trapped by something sticky?   

Anecdotal Remedies  

There are a host of remedies that spider-haters swear by. Washing your windows with ammonia seems to repel spiders. Hedge apples (available in supermarkets during the summer months) are an anathema to spiders. Spiders hate the smell of cedar chips and eucalyptus leaves, so spreading these around your house will keep spiders away and provide you with a rather pleasant scent.   

Spider Bites  

If you should be bitten by a spider, watch very carefully for signs of allergic reaction. Shortness of breath, nausea and inability to swallow are clear signs to immediately seek medical attention. Brown recluse and black widow spider bites often inflict great pain and anguish and can sometimes cause death. Most spider bites are harmless, but do not fool around if you experience ominous symptoms.     

You Can Get Rid of Spiders  

Spiders are usually beneficial creatures because they eat other pests. However, people fear and hate spiders more than most other critters in their homes. You can get rid of spiders by removing other bugs and insects from your home. This can be accomplished by removing rotting food and garbage and keeping your outside lights off. Check cardboard and paper for spiders. You can pick spiders up with a paper towel or vacuum them up. Spider traps are available to catch spiders and there are a host of well known remedies that will get rid of spiders. Good luck to you as you do battle with your eight legged foe!  




Ted Curtis writes Get Rid of it All, http://www.getridofitall.com.

Occasionally Ted writes a brief piece about How To Get Rid Of (fill in the blank). He writes these articles to make a little coin (after all, living a life with no trappings ain't free!)

Please visit Ted's site, Get Rid of it All, http://getridofitall.com , learn something new, be entertained and educated, and click on a few sponsor links while you are visiting.





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Survival Tactics For Spider and Scorpion Bites


A black widow spider can be recognized by red hourglass on its stomach. Only the female bites, and it has a neurotoxic venom. In the beginning pain is not severe, but severe local pain rapidly develops. The pain will slowly spread over the entire body and settle in the abdomen and legs. Abdominal cramps and progressive nausea, vomiting, and a rash may occur. Also you can expect weakness, tremors, sweating, and salivation may occur. Anaphylactic reactions can arise. Symptoms begin to regress after several hours and are usually gone in a couple days. Shock is possible. Be ready to perform CPR. Clean the bite area to reduce the risk of infection.

The funnel web spider is a large brown or gray spider found in Australia. The symptoms and treatment for its bite are as for the black widow.

The brown recluse spider is a small, light brown spider identified by a dark brown violin on its back. There is no pain, or so little that usually a victim does not notice the bite. Within a few hours a painful red area with a mottled cyanotic center appears. Necrosis does not occur in all bites, but usually in 3 to 4 days, a star-shaped, firm area of deep purple discoloration appears at the bite site. The area will turn dark and mummified in a week or two. The margins separate and the scab falls off, leaving an open ulcer. Secondary infection and regional swollen lymph glands usually become visible at this stage. The outstanding characteristic of a brown recluse bite is an ulcer that does not heal but persists for weeks or months. In addition In addition to the ulcer, there is often a systemic reaction that is serious and may lead to death. Reactions (fever, chills, joint pain, vomiting, and a generalized rash) occur chiefly in children or debilitated persons.

Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders found mainly in the tropics. Most do not inject venom, but some South American species do. They have large fangs. If bitten, pain and bleeding are certain, and infection is likely. Treat a tarantula bite as for any open wound, and try to prevent infection. If symptoms of poisoning appear, treat as for the bite of the black widow spider.

Scorpions are all poisonous to a greater or lesser degree. There are two different reactions, depending on the species:

Severe local reaction only, with pain and swelling around the area of the sting. It is possible prickly sensation around the mouth and a thick-feeling tongue will occur.

Severe systemic reaction, with little or no visible local reaction. Local pain may be present. Systemic reaction includes respiratory difficulties, thick-feeling tongue, body spasms, drooling, gastric distention, double vision, blindness, involuntary rapid movement of the eyeballs, involuntary urination and defecation, and heart failure. Death is rare, occurring mainly in children and adults with high blood pressure or illnesses.

Treat scorpion stings as you would a black widow bite.




check out my site and my other article on Bankruptcy Law.





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Home Pest Control - How To Prevent Spiders From Entering Your Home


Are you afraid of spiders? These tiny insects with eight long legs and little round bodies instill fear in about half of all women, and at least ten percent of all men. Why is this, when most spiders are relatively harmless? Because there are a few spiders in Arkansas that are not harmless: in fact, a handful of spiders can inject poisonous venom in humans and sometimes, this can be deadly. If you have spiders in your home it's important to address the problem immediately, especially if someone in your home has a fear of spiders. There are many ways to get rid of spiders and even more ways to prevent them from entering your home in the first place. To protect your home from the regular every-day American house spider and the deadly spider varieties (including the brown recluse spider), here are a few things you yourself can do in and around your home.

The common American house spider normally enters your home during the summer while looking for insects to feed on. Because so many insects manage to find their way indoors during the summer months, your home makes the perfect insect hunting ground for clever spiders. As the weather gets cooler in the fall months, spiders that are looking for a warm place to spend the winter will enter your home. The American house spider is harmless, but it will spin its webs in the corner of your home and thus becomes a nuisance. The American house spider is generally rather indistinct- normally their bodies are about a quarter of an inch long, and they are usually a shade of dull brown. They aren't known to bite people very often, and when they do, their venom is not considered dangerous.

Deadly spider varieties like the brown recluse have similar habits to the common American house spider- they too are looking for a nice, warm place to spend the winter and will enter your home in both the summer and fall, looking for food and shelter. The brown recluse is between ? inch and ? an inch long, generally brown in color with an oval shaped abdomen. It's quite difficult to tell them apart from the common American house spider, but if you look closely at a brown recluse spider, you will see its body shows a strange dark brown violin-shaped spot. The brown recluse uses it's poisonous venom to kill insects, and it's venom is poisonous to humans as well. It's very important to avoid coming into contact with these spiders, and the best way to keep them out of your home is prevention.

There are no fool-proof methods of preventing spiders from entering your home, but if you follow these steps, the chance of having spiders in your home is minimized:

Make sure that holes or tears in window or door screens are repaired.

Apply weather stripping around doors and windows to seal any small cracks.

To keep insects from coming in the chimney, install a chimney cap.

Install hard wire mesh in dryer vents and attic vents.

Close up any gaps or holes around utility pipes and wires.

Seal any cracks or openings in your home's siding.

Remove piles of wood or other objects from close vicinity to the foundation.

Because regular outdoor lights can attract insects to your home, install sodium vapor lighting outdoors.

Get rid of any insect populations inside your home so that spiders have nothing to feed upon.

The very best way to keep spiders out of your home is to make certain that your home is free of all insect activity by using the steps suggested above. Also, keeping a clean home that is free from spider webs will help make sure that spiders cannot survive easily within the walls of your home. If you are finding spiders in your home despite having employed the prevention methods described here, a treatment performed by a professional pest control specialist is the next step. Pest control professionals will be able to locate any spider infestations in your home and have the tools to take care of the problem. They will be able to identify the type of spider that is infesting your home and give you advice on what you can do to avoid spider infestations in the future. Pest control professionals are trained extensively at pest extermination, and they know how to safely and effectively take care of your pest concerns.




If you have a spider infestation in your home, contacting a pest control company who offers pest control in your area is the best way to keep your home and property pest free. For spider control and extermination in Little Rock or anywhere else in Arkansas, you can contact http://www.callmccauley.com for more information.





This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

較新的文章 較舊的文章 首頁