Brown recluse season is ramping up in Memphis, and experts are concerned that the venomous spiders could already be inside Tennessee homes due to rising temperatures.
Here's what to know
According to FOX13 Memphis, the Mid-South is moving into the busiest part of brown recluse season. James Pest Management owner Shane James said Memphis-area calls about brown recluses tend to rise with summer heat, even though the spiders themselves are not usually seen out in the open.
"Usually, we see more calls and phones ring about this time of year. Usually early July and into August seem to be their peak months here in the Mid-South," James said. "They like to be hidden back in the wall voids, attic voids, garage areas, things like that, kind of not out in the open."
FOX13 said brown recluses, like black widows, have necrotic venom that can damage soft tissue. To show how serious a bite can be, one Memphian explained, "A dude's eye was swelled closed once he got bit, like the lower cheek area. His eye was swollen closed. He went through like a week of recovery after the spider bit him and he got the antibiotics in him."
Why is this important?
Encounters with wildlife often increase when animals adapt to human environments or when people expand into areas those animals already use — a broader pattern explored by BBC Future. In this case, that overlap occurs inside the home, where most people expect to be safe.
Because brown recluses are nocturnal and, true to their name, reclusive, many people may not realize they have a problem until they start spotting multiple spiders or someone gets bitten. As a result, the issue can seem to arise suddenly even if the spiders have been hiding nearby for some time.
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They thrive in hot, dry weather, so rising temperatures, driven by human-caused pollution, are creating the perfect environment for brown recluses to thrive, although dangerous encounters and bites are relatively rare.
What can be done?
James said that when homeowners suspect brown recluse spiders are present, they should call a professional instead and not attempt any DIY treatment. Because these spiders can remain tucked away in hard-to-reach spaces, this approach may fail to address the actual problem and is best left to experts who know exactly what they're doing.
"Usually trying to get up close to them, mmm, yeah, most homeowners don't want to do that here in the Mid-South," James said. "It's hard for a homeowner to do this on their own."
As a preventive measure, always shake out shoes, boots, clothing, and blankets before using them. Reduce clutter and clear out old cardboard boxes, and keep storage areas clean.
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