It has a red hourglass-shaped marking on its underside. It is found in most parts of the U.S. in woodpiles, sheds, and the bowls of outside toilets. These symptoms may continue for several days. Deaths from cardiac arrest or respiratory failure occur occasionally in children or the elderly, but are uncommon in adults. Treatment consists of painkillers and an injection of a solution of calcium gluconate, which relieves the muscle cramps.
Recluse spiders are brown or brown-yellow.
They occur in southern and southwestern states, where they inhabit crevices in or around houses. Their bite causes severe pain, reddening, blistering, and death of tissue at the site of the bite, followed by a deep ulcer. Treatment consists of analgesics, care of the wound to prevent infection, and measures to deal with complications. Fatalities have occurred in children. The hairy tarantula is usually harmless, although its bite is painful, but severe local wounds can be fatal.