Oklahoma is home to thousands of spider species, and the vast majority are harmless — even beneficial — because they feed on pest insects. But two species are medically significant and found throughout Payne County and central Oklahoma: the Brown Recluse and the Black Widow. Knowing how to identify them, where they hide, and what to do if you’re bitten could make a serious difference.
Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)
Identification
Light to medium brown, 6-20mm body, with a distinctive violin or fiddle-shaped marking on the cephalothorax (the front body segment). Six eyes in three pairs — unlike most spiders which have eight. Legs are uniform in color with no banding or spots.
Where They Hide in Oklahoma Homes
Brown recluses are aptly named — they hide in undisturbed areas. Cardboard boxes in storage, folded clothing and towels that sit unused, inside shoes, behind wall outlets, in crawl spaces, attics, and basements. Oklahoma’s older homes with more crevices and unfinished spaces are particularly favorable.
The Bite & Medical Concerns
Brown recluse bites are initially painless — many people don’t notice the bite. Over 3-8 hours, a burning sensation develops. The venom can cause necrotic loxoscelism — tissue death around the bite site. Most bites resolve with minimal treatment, but severe cases can create deep tissue wounds requiring medical care. Seek medical attention for any suspected bite.
Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans)
Identification
Shiny black, round abdomen with the iconic red hourglass marking on the underside. Females (the dangerous ones) have a body about 13mm long. Males are smaller and rarely bite. Black widows build irregular, tangled webs low to the ground.
Where They’re Found
Outdoor structures: woodpiles, under decks, in garage corners, behind outdoor furniture, in utility meter boxes, under rocks and debris. They prefer dark, sheltered areas with access to insects. Oklahoma garages and outbuildings are classic black widow habitat.
The Bite & Medical Concerns
Black widow venom is a powerful neurotoxin. Symptoms include intense pain at the bite site within 15-60 minutes, spreading muscle cramps, abdominal rigidity, sweating, and in severe cases, elevated blood pressure and respiratory issues. Go to an emergency room immediately if bitten — antivenom is available and effective.
Why DIY Spider Control Often Fails
Spiders are notoriously resistant to typical consumer pesticides because they walk on the tips of their legs, minimizing contact with treated surfaces. Contact sprays kill what you directly spray but rarely eliminate the source of the infestation. There are several compounding issues with DIY approaches:
- Treating symptoms, not causes — spiders are in your home because insects are in your home. Control the insect population and the spider population follows.
- Missing hidden populations — for every brown recluse you see, there are many more in wall voids, crawl spaces, and storage areas you’re not accessing
- Incomplete treatment — eggs survive in protected locations and a new generation emerges weeks later
Murray’s Spider Control Approach
Professional spider control requires treating both the spiders and the insects they feed on. Murray Pest Control begins with a thorough inspection to identify species, locate nesting areas, and assess the extent of the infestation. We remove accessible webs, apply targeted treatments in hiding spots and entry points, and treat for the prey insects that are sustaining the spider population.
For brown recluse infestations specifically — which are common in older Stillwater homes — we take a comprehensive approach to treating the wall voids, attics, and storage areas where they establish. A single surface spray is not sufficient for a real recluse infestation.
Jake Murray holds a B.S. in Entomology from Oklahoma State University. Murray Pest Control serves Stillwater, Edmond, and Payne County, Oklahoma.
Ready to protect your Oklahoma home?
Call Murray Pest Control at 405-377-7777 for a free inspection.