Depending upon where you live, there are numerous environmental hazards that you are acutely aware of at any moment. Earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, forest fires, flash floods - most of these threats exist outside of our homes, in the back of our minds. If you live in the Southern and Midwestern United States, however, one of the most frightening dangers could be living right alongside you in your very home.
Introducing: Loxosceles Reclusa, The Brown Recluse spider.
While it is true that these spiders carry one of the most dangerous bites of any known spider toxin, they are not often lethal and in fact many people's immune systems will fight off the infection before much damage is done. But in serious cases these bites can become horrific wounds of rotting flesh, which often begin to spread to the surrounding area. This can be a difficult thing to treat, even in a hospital setting, which is why - as ever - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Sadly, these tricky spiders have one peculiar characteristic that makes them especially troublesome to eradicate from a home. Unlike most hunting spiders (who, it turns out, are just tiny kitties!) Brown Recluses do not clean their limbs with their mouths. For this reason they can go mostly unaffected by the majority of chemicals which are often used to treat other critter infestations. Is all hope lost, you ask? Is there no chance of getting these micro assassins out of my home?! Fear not, for there is another.
Introducing: Phidippus Audax, aka the Bold Jumping Spider!
Chances are high you've seen more than one of these guys lurking around your lawn or garden, and for many of you the chances are also very high that you've killed a couple of them in your life. Well, if you're anything like me those days are long over! these miraculous little warriors are about half the size of a fully grown Brown Recluse, yet when these two hunters go toe-to-toe it's all bets on the Jumper. With lightning fast reflexes, strong limbs, and a fearless attitude these little spiders make quick work of their larger opponents.
You may be thinking 'While this sounds like a fun game of tiny pokemon, I'm not sure that introducing a stronger spider in hopes that the two will fight each other to death is really the answer I'm looking for'. And therein lies the beauty of Phidippus Audax. These guys don't win the occasional fight against a Brown Recluse on the off chance that they cross paths. These little Spartans actually GO LOOKING for them, because THEY EAT THEM.
That's right, folks. These beautiful little maniacs actually spend their time wandering into dark nooks and crannies, seeking out their reclusive prey. The best part of all is that they pose no risk whatsoever to humans, and on the off chance that one were to bite you the reaction would be comparable to a mosquito bite. For this reason, I recommend anyone who is struggling with a Brown Recluse problem start looking at all of those little jumping spiders on your porches and window sills as something besides another pest. And if the problem is bad enough, you might consider bringing some of them inside. It sounds crazy to most people, who think all spiders are the spawn of Satan, but in this case the old adage may be true: better the devil you know.
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