I had a bunch of bites over several months that I assumed were of spider origin when we first moved into this house, because I saw lots and lots of spiders here. Now I never see spiders, and I also don't have bites... but I didn't even try to get rid of them!

However, I do know exactly what a Brown Recluse looks like, and the one time I saw one (not at this house), I trapped it in a jar and killed it somehow (-I don't remember how...)

Oh, hell, I just remembered. After about an hour of talking about it, we agreed, and - my husband dumped it out and stomped on it. Instant death, no suffering. No spider suffering.

What activity should you avoid after discovering a small but painful spider bite on your arm?
W.W.P.P.D.?*
* What Would Peter Parker Do? Thanks for the easy set-up.

muddgirl, I followed the link because I deal with a lot of spiders and there have been reports of brown recluse spiders out here. Now I know what they look like, but I'm all itchy. Thanks?

Brown recluse spiders, hermit crabs, rogue elephants, lone wolves...
What's the lesson? Never trust an introverted animal.

Ooooh. Nothing scares me more than brown recluse bites. I mean, sure, a black widow bite is going to be hideously painful but unless you're very young or very old (or allergic to the antivenin) chances are you're going to live through it with relatively little disfigurement. Fiddlebacks will MESS you up.

I had a bunch of bites over several months that I assumed were of spider origin when we first moved into this house, because I saw lots and lots of spiders here. Now I never see spiders, and I also don't have bites... but I didn't even try to get rid of them!

Oh, taz, you reminded me. I dated a guy once who kept on finding bites of some kind all over his arms and torso. He discovered the source a week later - a spider's nest under his bed.

We slept at my place after that.

Why did I click? Why?!

Bug, anyone?

I have a spider bite on my butt now. It's itchy. Look at me not checking the link since I would like to sleep again at some point in this lifetime.

(have we learned nothing from my adventures with googling "infected tattoo?" ;)