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  1. #1
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  2. #2
    Ted Menelly's Avatar
    Ted Menelly Guest

    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Quote Originally Posted by Benjamin Thompson View Post
    I hate to hear such things

    Folks look at you funny when you tell them that just in the entrance of the crawl you can see a few black widows and more further in and "Sorry folks. I have never been bitten by one and do not want to find out what may happen if I do. Until there is an exterminator out here I won't be going in."


  3. #3
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    Mar 2007
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!


    they were everywhere this day

    Last edited by BARRY ADAIR; 08-07-2011 at 03:10 PM.
    badair http://www.adairinspection.com Garland, TX 75042
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    life is the random lottery of events followed by numerous narrow escapes...accept the good

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    I was bitten by one many years ago. I drove myself to an emergency room about 15 minutes away. Got pretty sick from it even with prompt treatment.
    I guess it can affect people different ways, same as bee stings, etc.
    Tragic when someone dies.


  5. #5
    Brian T Bennett's Avatar
    Brian T Bennett Guest

    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    My condolences to the family. I had no idea as I came from CT and have never seen one. What states have these spiders?


  6. #6
    Ted Menelly's Avatar
    Ted Menelly Guest

    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian T Bennett View Post
    My condolences to the family. I had no idea as I came from CT and have never seen one. What states have these spiders?
    Draw line from side to side through the US and even move up a bit. You will find them all through those states plus some but a heavier concentration in the deeper south.

    Please do watch out for them. Most folks may just get some pains and cramping. Others, well, you heard what can happen to some.


  7. #7
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    They were very common in So CA, but I see quite a few in TN, mostly in the water meter boxes.

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  8. #8
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    Mar 2007
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    I test Backflow assemblies, saw a black widow today.
    As Jack said, common in water meter boxes.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  9. #9
    Ted Menelly's Avatar
    Ted Menelly Guest

    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Just a little FYI

    Those spiders as in all spiders, can move seriously fast. They can be over the edge of a jar and up your arm before you can blink. Most of the time they will hide in the corner or crack, unless there is an egg sack right next to her. She will protect it.


  10. #10
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    Mar 2007
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    Georgetown, KY
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Erby Crofutt, Georgetown, KY - Read my Blog here: Erby the Central Kentucky Home Inspector B4 U Close Home Inspections www.b4uclose.com www.kentuckyradon.com
    Find on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/B4UCloseInspections

  11. #11
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    Apr 2008
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    Western Massachusetts
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Used to play with black widows as a kid - been bitten a couple of times with only mild cramping and soreness. Didn't realize that for some the hourglass on the abdomen meant your time is up. Happy to no longer live in a state with black widows or rattlesnakes.


  12. #12
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    I don't fear the Black Widow as much as a Brown Recluse.
    I've heard that you may not even know that you've been bitten, untill weeks later, when your arm rots off.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  13. #13
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    Apr 2008
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell View Post
    I don't fear the Black Widow as much as a Brown Recluse.
    I've heard that you may not even know that you've been bitten, untill weeks later, when your arm rots off.
    That's mostly myth. Necrosis from a brown recluse bite is uncommon, and usually heals on its own (albeit after weeks or months and with some scarring). Even then there is pain and swelling well before necrosis sets in. In addition, dermal necrosis is often diagnosed as being caused by brown recluse bites without the victim, much less the physician, having seen the spider. Yellow sac spiders may also cause necrosis of the dermis, while in other cases it may be caused by bacterial and other infections.

    Believe me, you don't just wake up one day and find your leg looking like this:
    Tissue Necrosis from Bothrops Asper bite


  14. #14
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    That's mostly myth. Necrosis from a brown recluse bite is uncommon, and usually heals on its own (albeit after weeks or months and with some scarring). Even then there is pain and swelling well before necrosis sets in. In addition, dermal necrosis is often diagnosed as being caused by brown recluse bites without the victim, much less the physician, having seen the spider. Yellow sac spiders may also cause necrosis of the dermis, while in other cases it may be caused by bacterial and other infections.

    I've read that before also, but still concerns me.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  15. #15
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    I've seen and killed a few of those black widows. About 3 or 4 i think in the past few years. Seems like I mostly find them in garages. Maybe just a coincidence. I worry about those brown recourse dropping down my shirt when I am under a house. Never happened but I always think about it.


  16. #16
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Quote Originally Posted by Gene South View Post
    ... brown recourse dropping down my shirt...
    The spider is Brown Recluse. "brown recourse" is the symptom of it dropping down your shirt!


  17. #17
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Quote Originally Posted by Benjamin Thompson View Post
    The spider is Brown Recluse. "brown recourse" is the symptom of it dropping down your shirt!
    brown recourse is what happens in your shorts after a brown recluse drops down your shirt


  18. #18
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Timely thread. Today I was doing an inspection and unscrewed the lattice over the crawl scuttle and saw about 6 or 7 small spiders hanging out on the underfloor insulation. Closer look and they sure look like brown recluse to me. Smaller and different colored than others I have seen but with the distinctive violin. I was hesitant but finally carefully entered. All of them seemed to be feeding on some other sort of spider or bug. Creepy!
    P8100039.jpg


  19. #19
    Ted Menelly's Avatar
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Real pictures of the nasty little brow spider and a nasty little, what really happens to a leg or arm unless they do noy get the area of the bite cut away really fast

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  20. #20
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Ted, your photo looks like a brown recluse to me, based on other photos I have seen. It looks like your photo is taken from the underside of the spider.

    Man I hate to see this stuff. I have a pier and beam on Friday.

    Gene


  21. #21
    Ted Menelly's Avatar
    Ted Menelly Guest

    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Quote Originally Posted by Gene South View Post
    Ted, your photo looks like a brown recluse to me, based on other photos I have seen. It looks like your photo is taken from the underside of the spider.

    Man I hate to see this stuff. I have a pier and beam on Friday.

    Gene
    Yes brown recluse. I sent it from my phone and the phone pics its own words at times


  22. #22
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    FYI, the Black Widow west of the Rockies can be found as far north as Southern BC, Canada. So inspectors in the Western States need to be on guard.

    The experts can't seem to agree about the Brown Recluse. Some say it is here, some say it is not. Hey, it's a recluse, eg, hard to find.

    In 1998, a pregnant Brown Recluse was stopped by a border guard, trying to get in to Canada. Three weeks later, his arm fell off. Just kidding.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  23. #23
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Here's some black widow photos that I took during inspections. Photo 0668 and 0672 are the same spider in the garage of a new constuction home on Gatesville Drive in Frisco Texas, about 3-4 years ago or so. The other three photos are from a home in Anna Texas in August of 2010. Both spiders were found in the garage in a well lit area.

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  24. #24
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    Mar 2007
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Quote Originally Posted by Gene South View Post
    Here's some black widow photos that I took during inspections.
    Photo 1262 is a brown widow spider, their egg sacks are different than black widow spiders, more spiny as I recall (which is confusing as those egg sacks are not spiny).

    There is a house which an investor purchased, did some work and which was infested with both black widow and brown widow spiders, mainly around the exterior, and most were in the exterior wall lights.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  25. #25
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    Photo 1262 is a brown widow spider, their egg sacks are different than black widow spiders, more spiny as I recall (which is confusing as those egg sacks are not spiny).

    There is a house which an investor purchased, did some work and which was infested with both black widow and brown widow spiders, mainly around the exterior, and most were in the exterior wall lights.
    OK
    But which is worse?
    The stink from crapping in your pants when a BROWN widow drops on you or a Black widow?

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  26. #26
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    Apr 2008
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    McKinney Texas
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    Default Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Wow, Jerry, I had never heard of a brown widow, only the black windows. Thanks for enlightening me. Click here: Brown Widow Spiders article at University of Florida Extension, Sarasota County

    Gene


  27. #27
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    Mar 2007
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    Post Re: Careful in those crawl spaces!

    Time to up the inspection fees!!

    Randall Aldering GHI BAOM MSM
    Housesmithe Inspection
    www.housesmithe.com

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