Recluse Spider Populations;  
The darkly shaded area of the map shows the distribution of the brown recluse spider (modified from the distribution map of Gertsch and Ennik, 1983). Additional limited populations may be found around the margins of the shaded area. The other 10 species of native recluse spiders are found in the striped area in the southwestern U.S.
 
[img]http://dermatology.cdlib.org/DOJvol5num2/special/maps.gif[/img]

The brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, is often implicated as a cause of necrotic skin lesions. Diagnoses are most commonly made by clinical appearance and infrequently is a spider seen, captured or identified at the time of the bite. The brown recluse lives in a circumscribed area of the U.S. (the south central Midwest) with a few less common recluse species living in the more sparsely-populated southwest U.S. In these areas, where spider populations may be dense, recluse spiders may be a cause of significant morbidity. However, outside the natural range of these recluse species, the conviction that they are the etiological agents behind necrotic lesions of unknown origin is widespread, and most often erroneous. In some states such as California, unsubstantiated reports concerning recluse spider bites have taken on the status of "urban legend" leading to overdiagnosis and, therefore, inappropriate treatment.

Despite their reclusive habits, they do occasionally bite humans. Recluses typically bite when they are trapped between flesh and another surface, as when a sleeping human rolls over on a prowling spider, or when putting on clothing or shoes containing spiders. Ways to reduce bite risk from recluse spiders include: 1) keep beds away from walls; remove bed skirts and items under the bed so that the only pathway to the bed is up the legs. 2) Keep clothing off the floor; if it is on the floor, shake it vigorously before dressing. 3) Store all intermittantly used items such as gardening clothing, baseball mitts or roller skates in spider-proof boxes or bags.
The common name "brown recluse" refers specifically to one species of spider that lives in the south central Midwest U.S. (Map). It may be found in less dense populations around the margins of the shaded area on the map. Many reports, both media and medical, forebodingly state that the brown recluse can be transported outside its range. Although this is true, it is then erroneously projected that one spider is the "tip of the iceberg" for rampant populations. In fact, verified finds of brown recluses outside of its range are rare and almost every collection is that of a single itinerant spider. Subsequent searching of the vicinity typically results in no additional recluses. The few known instances of any recluse spider population establishing in non-native habitats typically are limited to circumscribed areas, with only rare reports of expansion from its locale.

I did read somewhere that hte Daddy-longlegs is the most poisonous spider on earth but that it's fangs are far too short to pierce human skin. Can anyone corroborate this or is it just one of them Urban Legend things?

And also, apparently the average person swallows 8 spiders during their lifetime while sleeping. Kind of makes you wonder when you wake up in the morning with that "something is crawling in the back of my throat" feeling don't it?

Spiders just give me the heebie jeebies.

We have tons of those Daddy long legs in the crapper and here in So Cal we have quite a large ant problem. So while I was sitting on my porcelain throne I watched an ant walk into the web of a daddy long leg and watch that spider go to work ... WOW!!!

Now if a Daddy Long Leg is not a spider:
Why does it look like one?
Why does it have eight legs like one?
Why does it spin a web like one?

If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck ... guess what.

DUDE!!! UGH!!! Thanks for reminding me of those ugly bastards! I remember when they used to come out when it was really humid in the summertime in NY. I HATED THEM WITH A PASSION!!!

You are lying in bed and see one of those crawling on the wall... forget it..cant go back to sleep...

Can't sleep..... they're all out to get me!!!!

[img]http://snspkz.lorton.com/images/salpuga2.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.allstarreview.com/spiders.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/arachnida/spiders.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.redamedia.com/sponge/pics/spiders.jpg[/img]

And the worst of them all..... The dreaded Cooty!

[img]http://www.starstogether.tierranet.com/forever/humor01cooties.gif[/img]

Hey, that sounds like several members of this site! [:D]

If they have webs and a seperate abdomen, they are daddy long legs.  If their body is one "unit" they are harvesters.  

Whether they are daddy long legs or harvesters, I would leave them be.  They eat other bugs and are harmless.

You're not the only one.  Everybody I know calls the "Harvestman" a "Daddy Long Legs".  I didn't know there was anything different until this post.

Riddle me this Batman: Someone once told me that those centipedes are poisonous. If so, do they bite and inject poison or is it like a scorpion... from the tail end?