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Spiders and other Arachnids at UC Riverside
UCR research and extension on Spiders and other Arachnids

Spider myths

"Internet spider hoax" Debunking a recent (9/99) hoax concerning the supposed "blush spider" Arachnius gluteus

"Daddy-longlegs myth": the myth claims "they are really poisonous, but can't bite people"

The myth of the brown recluse bite
Even in areas where Brown Recluse spiders do not occur, doctors and the public frequently diagnose a variety of lesions as brown recluse spider bites. The following articles written for different audiences address this issue:

An amusing yet educational rant regarding the lack of BR in California"The Myth of the Brown Recluse"
"The Myth of the Brown Recluse"

A peer-reviewed article for the general public in UCDavis Pest Notes
"Brown recluse and other recluse spiders"
UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Project Extension Bulletin #7468

A peer-reviewed medical artide discussing spiders that are confused for brown recluse
"Identifying and misidentifying the brown recluse spider"
Dermatology Online 5:2 1999

See general review including spider bites below

Misdiagnoses of brown recluse bites
Doctors and the public frequently diagnose a variety of lesions as brown recluse bites

A peer-reviewed article for the medical community discussing medical misdiagnosis of brown recluse bites
"Myth:idiopathic wounds are often due to brown recluse or other spider bites throughout the United States"
Western Journal of Medicine173:357-358 2000

"Causes of necrotic wounds other than brown recluse spider bites"
Necrotic wounds are NOT always brown recluse bites, though often misdiagnosed as such.

If you were diagnosed as having a brown recluse bite, and then later the same wound was diagnosed as Lyme Disease, I am looking for your help in a study, please visit this link. If not working, please contact us

Other information on Brown Recluse Spiders

Identification of brown recluse spiders

"Range of recluse (genus Loxosceles) spiders in the United States"
A Map of distribution of the Brown Recluse and other recluse spiders

"What you can do to avoid being bitten by a brown recluse spider"

Other spider information

"Bites and stings of medically important venomous arthropods."
An article on medical aspects of the bites and stings of venomous arthropods, including spiders
International Journal of Dermatology 37:481-496 1998

Photo gallery

Hobo spiders

A pdf reprint of a Pest Note from the University of California (Pub. 7488) (also available from UC Davis in html)
This reference is mostly pertinent to California, discussing that Hobo spiders don't occur in California, and other spiders for which they are mistaken)

An offer to identify possible specimens of hobo spiders

Rick Vetter, M.S., Staff Research Associate, studies the systematics, distribution, and public health impact of arachnids in Southern California (in collaboration with P. Kirk Visscher.)

Tom Prentice, M.S. works on taxonomy of southwestern tarantulas, Aphonopelma.

Mike Adams, Professor, studies neurobiology of arachnid toxins.

Copyright © 2001 [Alan Luke]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 04/20/12. Home