286
spiders (slrpnk.net)
submitted 5 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Brown recluse aren't nearly as bad as people think though. They are very passive, reclusive (heh) spiders and only bite people in exeptional circumstances, like getting trapped against the skin by clothing. But when you can see the spider, it's really not that different than handling any other spider.

I'm definitely not a good benchmark for spider tolerance, though and I won't condemn people for killing medically significant spiders in their homes. But they are still pretty cool, overall benefitial, spiders and shouldn't be killed (and certainly not fucked) if it can be avoided.

tagging @[email protected] because you also replied to this.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Do you live in an area that has them in high numbers?

They might be reclusive nesters, but they're a hunting spider and they constantly roam around looking for food. They'll roam around your bathrooms, blankets, clothes, and they're fast AF boii.

Important things are keeping your bed away from the walls, checking the blanket and pillow before you get in bed, and checking clothes and shoes before you put them on, since like you said, they can bite if trapped between something and your skin.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Do you live in an area that has them in high numbers?

Sadly not, never got to have any of those. I had black widows, but we had to buy them.

Important things are keeping your bed away from the walls, checking the blanket and pillow before you get in bed, and checking clothes and shoes before you put them on, since like you said, they can bite if trapped between something and your skin.

Yup. But if you do that (even half-assed), there is a pretty good chance you'll never ever get bitten.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

All spiders are cool just because they're spiders. Brown recluses are scary ones though. Had a friend almost lose her pinky finger after one bit her. I just leave them alone if I see them. Thankfully, I've never encountered one inside my home.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Had a friend almost lose her pinky finger after one bit her.

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to undermine your or your friend's story or imply anything, if you don't want to engage further, I totally understand.

But: As a hobby arachnologist, I've heard these kinds of stories soooo many times. However when you look the scientific literature, there a bunch of studies that show a systematic pattern of misdiagnosed spider bites ... and and astonishing lack of studies covering actual, confirmed spider bites and their medical impacts.

I'm not sure what exactly you mean by "almost lose her pinky", but she probably didn't? A local doctor probably gave her some antibiotika (which is for bacteria and does fuck all against venom) and that was it.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

I know 2 people that received recluse bites. One almost died and the other ended up with a big chunk of flesh taken out of their leg.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

Those sound like serious medical cases. I hope the spiders involvment was well documented, because that's extremly rare.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

Nope, doctors usually say "teehee, brown recluse never bite anybody!"

[-] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

That is actually good to hear.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

My friend had some kind of necrosis on her pinky that left it super disfigured. I have no idea what they gave her for it, but she told me she got bit by a brown recluse. We were also 14, so she could have been lying to seem cool? I do know that her finger was gross as hell.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Yeah, this is usually how these stories go. It was a long time ago, the spider wasn't collected, word of mouth can change the story overtime. Maybe a spider was involved and is just to be remembered as part of the story now. Who knows.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago
this post was submitted on 28 May 2025
286 points (96.7% liked)

solarpunk memes

3929 readers
267 users here now

For when you need a laugh!

The definition of a "meme" here is intentionally pretty loose. Images, screenshots, and the like are welcome!

But, keep it lighthearted and/or within our server's ideals.

Posts and comments that are hateful, trolling, inciting, and/or overly negative will be removed at the moderators' discretion.

Please follow all slrpnk.net rules and community guidelines

Have fun!

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS