Brown Recluse Spider In New York, Fact Or Fiction?

Most of us have a fear or phobia that sends chills down our spine or make us weak in the knees just at the thought. For some it's a fear of heights, for others, it's the sight of blood, enclosed spaces or clowns that make us squirm with anxiety. What about Arachnophobia, the fear of spiders?

The other night, I was lying in bed, lights out, scrolling on my phone when I felt a spider on my neck. Not cool, so I swiped it away, turned on the lights and there it was. A big, bigger than a quarter, brown spider. Is that the brown recluse I've heard so much about? Is it going to eat my flesh? Does it even exist in New York? What is the truth about the brown recluse?

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The brown recluse prefers a warm, dry and dark place to spend its time. You could find them in the bark of a dead tree or under a rock for examples. According to Penn State, there are 11 different types of recluse spider in the United States. Four of these 11 are known to be harmful to humans. How harmful?

The bite of the brown recluse is known to cause pain, itching, blisters and/or large sores and a red, white and blue "bulls-eye" appearance. Look for a deep blue or purple mark at the bite with a white ring around that and a red area around all of it.

The real question is, does the brown recluse exist in New York State? Natures Way reports that, although there have been reports of the brown recluse in New York State, this species is not native to New York.