Southport Magazine

On the ground and hidden in dark places in our geographical location are spiders that are not so beneficial. Primarily, two types of venomous spiders live and breathe in and around Southport and the surrounding area. They are the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse spider. These spiders make their habitat in warm, undisturbed areas like basements, woodpiles, amongst unused pots, in landscaping rocks/blocks, along fences or where yard debris has accumulated. The brown recluse is particularly known for living in closets and shoes that are outside or back in a dark corner. Both have been known to frequent outdoor toilets as well.

The Black Widow spider is characterized by its shiny black appearance and red hourglass design on its abdomen. The bite of the Black Widow spider is often described like a needle or pinprick leaving a set of fang marks or puncture marks at entry. This spider bite releases a neurotoxin that quickly spreads to the chest, abdomen and body. Symptoms include immediate pain, redness, swelling and burning, nausea and/or vomiting, fever/chills with the onset of severe abdomen cramps with- in 20-30 minutes or other muscle cramps. Symptoms of severe allergy or anaphylaxis include hives, shortness of breath or wheezing and muscle weakness.

The Brown Recluse spider displays a light colored, hairless abdomen with a chest and thorax described as a “violin” pattern on the upper back. Generally, the bite is experienced as a mild sting with redness then severe pain, fever and chills frequently within 8 hours or later. Some people experience a small white blister or a blue/purple discoloration in the area that is then surrounded by a lighter ring and a large outer ring that is often reddened. (Think Target) The fluid filled blister that forms will slough from the area leaving a deep ulcerated hole as the venom destroys the skin layers. This can also turn black or dark in color.