Unlike most spiders, which have eight eyes, recluse spiders have only six eyes, arranged in three pairs. These biters include the agrarian or yellow sac spiders (yellow sac spider (Cheiracanthium mildei) in her thin cocoon near the ceilingfemale bold jumper (Phidippus audax) looking at me from the shag carpetfemale bold jumper (Phidippus audax) showing white spot of adultphoto of immature (subadult) bold jumper (Phidippus audax) showing orange spotparson spider (Herpyllus ecclesiasticus) showing two obvious spinnerets at the backparson spider (Herpyllus ecclesiasticus) in my sinkfemale bullheaded sac spider (Trachelas tranquillus)female bullheaded sac spider (Trachelas tranquillus)There are a few spiders which occasionally arrive with produce at the grocery store that are potential bite risks; huntsman (dead wandering spider (Cupiennius coccineus) that came in to Columbus Ohio with bananas from Costa Ricaunderside of dead wandering spider (Cupiennius coccineus)Some individual recluse have a visible “heart mark” in the center of the abdomen, this is not actually a pattern so much as the dark heart visible against the “background” abdominal color*. For more information about other causes of wounds that might resemble spider bites, consult Recluse spiders are not aggressive. These spiders are relatively rare in our state.The two species of recluse spiders found in Ohio (brown recluse – There are many cases of wounds that have been attributed to spider bites, even recluse bites, but many of these represent misdiagnoses. The Triangulate House Spider and the Common House spider (Parasteatoda-tepidariorum) represent two cobweb spider species that rank as two of the most common house spiders from coast to coast.Wall spiders, ground spiders, jumping spiders and cellar spiders are also commonly found in homes.Another group of common lawn and garden spiders such as the crab spiders and lynx spider don’t often show up in the house. Do you know the spiders in your house? The background color of the abdomen depends to a large degree on the recent meals that the spider has had. Think, for example, how often one might see the very common and large Green Lynx spider in the house. recluses The two species of recluse spiders found in Ohio (brown recluse – Loxosceles reclusa, Mediterranean recluse – Loxosceles rufescens). This is often a furry spider, or a brown spider with black on its back. The hemotoxic venom of the brown recluse acts rapidly by restricting circulation in the capillary beds surrounding the bite and eventually leads to the death of nearby tissue. As the person picks up the item, or puts on the clothing , the spider is crushed and may bite. Outside the house, early morning dew often brings out their funnel webs in the yard.Providing a larger perspective on Ohio spiders starts my mentioning that over one hundred species have been documented in the United States. Typically the bite caused local pain, sometimes local inflammation, that resolved within a few days. The brown recluse spider is known for its ability to hide and prefers to find out-of-the-way places to build their webs and are most active in the warmer months. One published study from 2001 collected more than 2,000 brown recluse spiders from a house in Kansas. One common variety is the Wolf spider.
The actual bite may feel like a needle prick but eventually causes painful muscle spasms and cramps. The Pennsylvania Grass Spider (Agelenopsis pennsylvanica) is the most common.Putting aside the widow spiders, the vast majority of Ohio’s cobweb spiders live outdoors and don’t come anywhere near the house.Still, a handful of less dangerous cobweb spiders also fit into the common house spider category. The bite of recluse spiders is often not very painful at the time of the bite but the pain may become quite severe after a few hours.
The eye arrangement of the funnel web spider in the picture suggests it’s a member of the genus Agelenopsis.Ohio follows that same general pattern.