This U.S. State Has the Largest Brown Recluse Infestation Numbers

The last thing anyone wants to hear is the word “brown recluse infestation.” And while the brown recluse does not occupy much of the U.S., they are quite widespread in the lower half of the country, residing in 16 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.

While the brown recluse has been found outside of these states, sightings are rare, and these spiders are not native to territories that don’t suit their needs like the South and Midwest do.

Recluse Species Found in the U.S.

From southwestern California to southeastern Georgia and up through the Midwest, the U.S. is home to several types of recluse spiders, all part of the Loxosceles species. These include:

• Deserta
• Arizonica
• Apache
• Blanda
• Devia
• Reclusa

The recluse is the most well-known and has spread from Texas through Iowa and as far east as South Carolina. While hundreds of brown recluse bites are reported annually, only about 80% of those cases reported are legitimate. The bite from a brown recluse is often confused with other insects, lymphatic problems, and even other spider bites. Additionally, many of these reported bite cases come from states where the brown recluse is not established, further driving up fear and concern when it comes to this venomous species.

The State With Legitimate Brown Recluse Claims

One of the worst states for these pest complaints is Missouri, where the brown recluse doesn’t just exist, it dominates the chain of native arachnids. Nailing down an exact number for Missouri’s brown recluse population is challenging. Their total numbers depend on breeding habits, environmental conditions, and lifestyle. They can live for several years, which makes it even more difficult to determine how many, in total, occupy one state. What experts can confirm is how widespread a species such as this is, which is where Missouri stands out in statistics compared to many other states.

In recent years, Missouri has seen an increase in brown recluses, as reported by Bug Zero, a pest control company. The reason is simple: As temperatures increase — especially near water sources — so do the bugs. These bugs become food for the brown recluse and other spiders native to Missouri, leading to more sightings. While there’s no exact number of infestations reported, Tad Yankoski, senior entomologist at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Butterfly House, once said, “You give me five minutes in your house, and I can almost always find a brown recluse spider. Sometimes we’re talking seconds instead of minutes for how long it’ll take.”

A Disturbing Infestation

In 2007, a couple made headlines when they found they were not the only ones occupying their Missouri home. In what was described as a freak event, Brian and Susan Trost discovered what they soon realized was a horrific brown recluse infestation. Further investigation revealed between 4,600 and 6,000 brown recluses had taken up residence, and all efforts to exterminate the venomous spiders were unsuccessful.

The infestation turned dangerous after these failed attempts, with the Trosts having no choice but to leave their new home. While the bite from a brown recluse is rarely fatal, it can cause severe discomfort and take months to heal. The Trosts reported spiders “bleeding from their walls,” an infestation image that is truly nightmare fuel.

How Do You Know If You Have An Infestation?

Thankfully, there are some definitive indicators you can use to determine if you have a brown recluse infestation. Their behavior is easy to track and while an infestation may go unnoticed for some time, these signs will eventually give it away:

1. Spotting Spiders in Your Home: The most obvious sign of an infestation is frequent sightings. While it’s normal to see a few spiders throughout the year, seeing them often means there are more that go unseen.
2. Fewer Sightings of Other Insects: Smaller bugs considered prey for a brown recluse will begin to lessen. If all you see are spiders with no sign of any other insects, this is a big sign that they are numerous.
3. Finding Egg Sacs: Finding a brown recluse egg sac in your home is cause for concern even without an infestation present. Without intervention by pest control, this problem very well could turn into an infestation that is much harder to treat. Brown recluse egg sacs are messy and look like cotton balls wrapped in silk.
4. Spider Webs: Brown recluses are rarely seen in their webs and are usually found walking around. If you find webs, it means a spider has established its home and will potentially lay eggs, which can lead to an infestation.

Where Are You Likely to Find Brown Recluses in Your Home?

In Missouri, brown recluses are often found in places such as attics, unused drawers, closets, basements, around furniture, and tucked away behind baseboards. They naturally prefer dark and warm spots, which makes these great hideaways for such a small spider. Interestingly enough, brown recluses are terrible at climbing on smooth surfaces. Therefore, it’s not uncommon to find these spiders trapped in sinks or bathtubs.

The biggest problem with spiders living in someone’s home is their ability to remain tucked away, unnoticed. They can get into tight spaces such as folded towels or the toe of a shoe, which is how many people are bitten each year. These small spaces resemble the rocks and crevices the brown recluse would naturally seek out in the wild.

Those worried about finding brown recluses should also be aware of their webs, which can be far from where the spider was originally discovered. Their webs are usually a disorganized mess that serves the sole purpose of being a daytime escape. One of these webs would rarely be discovered unless there is an infestation, leading to more webs and increasing the chance of noticing one.

Brown recluse webs are usually grayish-white in color, and females are more likely to remain close to their webs. Male spiders venture further on the hunt for prey and are much smaller compared to females.

What to Do If You Suspect An Infestation

Eliminating the food source of a brown recluse and maintaining a tidy home and yard are the main recommendations for infestation prevention. However, a brown recluse can survive up to six months without a food source, so this isn’t always foolproof. This is also why they’re fairly challenging to remove once established since they are a survival-hearty species.

That being said, a brown recluse infestation is best handled by professionals. A pest control service is the best option when an infestation is confirmed and only they will have the tools to rid a home of these spiders. The usual protocol for a brown recluse infestation is an integrated pest management plan, otherwise known as IPM. This will usually require help from the homeowners as well since there are several things homeowners can do to prepare for an IPM:

• Ensure that professionals can reach spaces where a brown recluse might build a nest or hide
• Take care to shake out all clothing, bedding, shoes, and other places where there might be spiders.
• Clear away any other insects (carefully) that might serve as a food source.
• Remove things such as bed skirts or other fabrics that touch the floor.
• Cover any furniture or items you want to protect from chemicals.
• Store away any food and put away open containers.
• Use caution in places where brown recluses might hide, such as sheds, garages, or woodpiles.
• Do not try to remove a brown recluse without a professional, but note where it was seen.

The first step to any pest control service will be an inspection. This is when a professional will look around and determine any signs of infestation, and which pests they’ll be dealing with. Pest control services safely do this with protective gear – therefore, it’s best to leave this to the exterminators.

Pest control professionals may lay sticky spider traps, which can indicate how many spiders are present and where they’re hiding. They can be placed on floors, near crevices and cracks, around entryways, in cabinets, closets, attics, and garages. This is a non-invasive way to eliminate some brown recluses but in the event of a serious infestation, it might not be enough.

Dealing With A Severe Brown Recluse Infestation

If an infestation is severe, more extreme pest control methods might be needed. This can include closing gaps in outside walls or crevices indoors where spiders could crawl into a house. By closing off their entry and exit points, the spiders are unable to enter the house but are also unable to leave.

Once this is done, pest control professionals have several options when eliminating an infestation for good:

• Residual Sprays: Liquid pesticides such as sprays are used mainly outdoors and on the exterior of houses. This will be sprayed around the perimeter of a home, which prevents spiders from entering again.
• Residual Dusts: For the interior of a home, residual dust can be used to reach areas where sprays can’t. This is most effective in crawl spaces and within walls where humans do not have access.
• UVL: UVL includes aerosol sprays that contain pyrethrins. This method is generally safer but is only effective when used in conjunction with closing gaps and crevices, as well as maintaining a clean yard and home. In severe cases, a stronger chemical called resmethrin may be used.

Leaving the house during a pest treatment is typically up to the residents of a home, but this also depends on the type of treatment used. More often than not, pest control will opt for non-toxic chemicals, especially if children or pets are living in the residence. However, it can provide more peace of mind for those who leave before treatment, and stay away long enough for any chemicals to settle. For those with pets, it’s always better to remove them from the home since they’re more sensitive to smells and may sniff out treated areas.

When the treatment is done, professionals recommend not cleaning the space for roughly a week. By doing so, you can unintentionally remove chemicals, thus rendering them ineffective in treating the pest problem. Additionally, homeowners should continue to check for spiders. If there are any brown recluse sightings, report them to pest control as soon as possible.