Article: BROWN RECLUSE COMMON IN MISSOURI BUT LESS LIKELY IN CLUTTER-FREE HOMES

University of Missouri College of Food & Natural Resources issued the following news release:

The site of a brown recluse spider can evoke fear and conjure up images of ulcerated wounds brought on by their venomous bites.

While bites in some cases can cause wounds and caution is warranted, the spiders are rarely aggressive and most bites result in just minor to moderate skin irritations, said Richard Houseman, University of Missouri Extension urban entomologist.

"I think it is a serious thing to worry about, but only 2 to 3 percent of bites cause a skin reaction bigger than the point of a pencil. People worry that if they get a bite they're going to lose their arm," Houseman said. ...

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