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Rabbit Hutch Spider

Michigan Spiders - Rabbit Hutch Spider-6
Michigan Spiders - Rabbit Hutch Spider-5
Michigan Spiders - Rabbit Hutch Spider-2
Michigan Spiders - Rabbit Hutch Spider-1
Abdomen - Round like and Brown or Chestnut. Often with a cream colored stripe running along the sides and down the back.

Cephalothorax - Approximately two thirds the size of the abdomen. Usually black in color. Could be brown.

Size
- The females grow to around 7mm (Just over 1/4 inch) and the males are only 5mm (just under 1/4 inch). The male, shown in the pictures above is on a 3 oz dixie cup.

Bite Info - I have not been able to find any evidence of anyone ever being bitten by this species. Whether it is capable of penetrating human skin or not I cannot say. Since I have no insurance at this time, I was not about to test it. :o)

Other Notes - This Steotoda (Rabbit Hutch Spider) is also known as the False Widow because it is nearly the same size and has a similar body shape. When they are black, they are often confused with the Widow, except they do not have the tell-tale red hourglass marking.

Genus - Steatoda Bipunctata

Brown Recluse and Mediterranean Recluse (Very Rare in Michigan)

Due to the fact that the Recluse cannot live in temperatures of less than 40 degrees, the spider is NOT native to Michigan. In my searches, I have only uncovered four or five accounts where the Brown Recluse has been positively identified here in Michigan. The DNR lists one case and the Entomology Department of MSU has an article listing three cases. Assuming the DNR case is not one of those other three, that would only be four time ever in Michigan. The fifth happened in June of 2013, when Rod Crawford, the Curator for Arachnids at the Burke Museum, positively identified two specimens sent to him by a woman in Livonia Michigan.
The Recluse seems to be the most feared spider in Michigan, even though they are not even indigenous to Michigan. Often when pictures are sent in to me to identify, people do so because they are afraid the spider they found might be a Brown Recluse. If you find a spider and fear it may be a Recluse, look closely at the eye pattern. If the eyes are not in three groups, with two eyes in each group, it is not a recluse. If it has banded legs or stripes or patterned markings on it abdomen, it is not the recluse. If you look at these things and still believe it may be a recluse, please send me as clear a photo as you can. My email address is on the front page near the top. Please, do not discard any spider you believe is to be a Brown Recluse. Even if I agree, the only way it can be positively identified is to send it to a real expert to be dissected.

Michigan Spiders - Brown Recluse-1

Abdomen - Brown and ablong but shade can range from lighter to darker. It is believed that this can change depending on how recently they have fed.

Cephalothorax - Approximately 2/3 the size of the abdomin, it has a darker pattern at the head of the cephalothorax that extends towards the rear with a thin stripe leading towards the rear. The pattern has a shape of a violin, giving the Brown Recluse the knickname of the Violin Spider, Fiddleback Spider, and the Brown Fiddler.

Legs - Long and thin and closer to the color of the abdomen with no stripes or hairs.

Size
- The body is approximately 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch, but can sometimes be a little larger.

Bite Info - It is rare that a recluse will bite. It usually has to be forced to bite by pushing against it and making it defend itself. Of the cases it does bite, most bites have little effect and heal on their own in a couple of days. It is only the rare venomous bite that is cosidered dangerous.

The venom of the Recluse is a cytotoxin, which destroys cells causing the body tissue to deteriorate. The bite is often painless and not noticed for several hours before the infected area becomes irritated. In some cases, the bite is nothing more than an irritation but there is some cases where it can be dangerous. Left unattended, the wound can develop a sore that will continue to grow. Even treated the infected area can create a sizable wound. In some cases the victim will develop symptoms that lead to systemic hemolysis, coagulopathy, renal failure, and, rarely, even death.

Other Notes - Though dangerous, the Recluse is not an aggressive spider. Bites are pretty rare and almost always the fault of the victim. Most bites occur when the spider is in shoes, towels covers when people use them or when someone picks up a box in a basement and presses against the recluse.

Recluse spiders are night hunters and will feed on dead insects as well as living.

It should also be noted that there are thousands of people going to hospitals every year to have what they believe is a recluse bite, and too often doctors are misdiagnosing them. Consider this. In states where the Recluse is common, it is still uncommon for people to be bit by them. Of those who are bit, it is uncommon for the bite to develop the nasty wounds we so often hear about. So if it is so extremely rare for someone in Michigan to come across a Recluse, how much more rare would it be for someone in Michigan to be bit by the infamous spider? How much more rare would it be for someone in Michigan to not only find one and get bit by one, but for the bite to develop a terrible wound? The fact is, if you are here in Michigan and your doctor says you were bit by a Brown Recluse, go see another doctor and have him check you for infections like MRSA and Allergic reactions. Because the odds you were actually bit by a Recluse here in Michigan is almost impossible.

If you are ever bit by a recluse, or ANY other spider, it is important to retrieve the spider (dead or alive) for true identification. I have recently had an expert from Spider Myths (Burke Museum) inform me that even medical doctors often misidentify the recluse spider and it is important that a real Arachnologist is the one to identify it.

Genus - Loxosceles reclusus (Brown Recluse), Loxosceles rufescens (Mediterranean Recluse)

Jumping Spider

Michigan Spiders - Jumping Spider-2
Michigan Spiders - Jumping Spider-2
Abdomen - Gray and white with a splotchy pattern. Somewhat hairy.

Cephalothorax - Approximately the same size as the abdomen, it has nearly the same pattern as the abdomen and two sets of its eyes on its back.

Size
- The spider in the above pictures was near the size of a dime if I included the legs.

Bite Info - Not considered dangerous and are listed as No Risk. ....  However, the symptoms of a bite are not always something you want to deal with.  Most cases will have some swelling and itchiness that will fade. Sometimes they can cause aching muscles and on a rare occasion they can cause flu like symptoms with nausea and vomiting that can last a few days.

Other Notes - These spiders are very intelligent and quick to run or jump away from approaching danger. I found this one on the inside of a friends back door and trying to get it on a piece of paper so I can get pictures was near impossible. After some difficulty I finally chased it around to the outside of the door and knocked it off onto his steps where I got the pictures.

Genus - Marpissa muscosa

Running Crab Spider

Michigan Spiders - Running Crab Spider-1

Michigan Spiders - Running Crab Spider-2

Michigan Spiders - Running Crab Spider-3Notice how flat the Running Crab Spider spreads out to the counter top.


Michigan Spiders - Running Crab Spider-4


Abdomen - Oblong and Gray charcoal looking with two indented looking points.

Cephalothorax - Around half the size of the abdomen, it has a little patter with darker and lighter grays.

Size
- The spider in the above pictures was near the size of a dime if I included the legs.

Bite Info - N/A

Other Notes - These spiders will stay in one position for a little while but are exceptionally quick when on the run.

Genus - Philodromus margaritatus

Orb Weaver

Also known as the common Garden Spider, Diadem Spider, and Cross Spider.

Michigan Spiders - Orb Weaver-1Good picture of the cross on its abdomen.


Michigan Spiders - Orb Weaver-2Face to face with the common Orb Weaver


Michigan Spiders - Orb Weaver-3A nice profile shot of this guy


Michigan Spiders - Orb Weaver-4Got him to pose for me to get a shot at his underside.


Abdomen - Round and slightly oblong with an array of design to the pattern and can range from light yellow to a gray in color. Most prominent on the abdomen is usually a white cross.

Cephalothorax - Around half the size of the abdomen, it is sometimes smooth with a hairier head area.

Size
- I have seen adults around as large as a quarter, thought that is including its legs.

Bite Info - As ugly as this spider may seem, it is quite tame and harder than most to provoke to bite. When it does bite, it leaves nothing more than some irritation and is completely harmless to humans.

Other Notes - They tend to spin round webs, strung across an open area and will sit in the center (head down) and wait for their prey to fly into its web

Genus - Araneus diadematus

Woodlouse Hunter

Michigan Spiders - Woodlouse Hunter-1

Michigan Spiders - Woodlouse Hunter-2
Abdomen - Oblong smooth but dull look to it. Usually a cream or tan color.

Cephalothorax - Near the same size as the Abdomen. Has a dark brick red color with large chelicerae (fangs).

Size - The adult bodies usually run around a half an inch with the females usually slightly larger. Including legs the run near an inch in size as adults.

Bite Info - Can cause a blistering rash, but otherwise is not considered dangerous.

Other Notes - This spider has the large fangs for penetrating the armor on beetles, so whether the venom is considered dangerous or not, likely the bite will hurt, so I would not suggest handling them.

Genus - Dysdera crocata