KU 'spider man' sets the record straight on brown recluse spiders

Every summer, brown recluse spiders make their presence known throughout the Midwest, leaving the dark, isolated corners they inhabit during the winter as they hunt for food at night.

Although the spiders usually don't bite unless provoked, their venom can cause serious problems for pets and people, and in some cases a bite from a brown recluse may prove to be fatal.

That's where Jamél Sandidge -- KU's real-life spider man -- comes in. Sandidge, a doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary biology whose research focuses on the brown recluse, is swamped with requests to diagnose bites and advise people on spider-proofing their homes. He doesn't mind at all, though, because a large part of his research deals with educating the general public about the mysterious brown recluse.

To help get the word out about the spiders, Sandidge and his colleagues created the Community Recluse Project Web site. It offers everything from detailed scientific explanations of the spider's population biology to recommendations for the most effective sticky traps to catch spiders in a home.

Much like bee stings, Sandidge said, the real danger from brown recluse bites comes from the secondary infections and the allergic-or systemic-reactions that some people might have as a result of the bite.

Also, medical professionals often misdiagnose brown recluse bites, Sandidge said. What's worse, even if they correctly identify the bite, they often don't treat it properly.

- For the complete text of this article, including how to treat recluse bites, click here.
- For tips on keeping recluse spiders out of your house, click here.

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