The dangerous brown recluse spider has been spotted once again in Michigan. According to CBS News, the spider was found in the detached garage of the Davison family's home.
This is the third time in as many years that the spider has been seen in Michigan. According to Howard Russell from Michigan State University, they were found in Tecumseh in Lenawee County in 2015, Ann Arbor in 2016 and then Davison this year.
"The latest find in Davison is noteworthy because the spiders were found this past week in an unheated detached garage. There was no history of anything being stored in the garage that originated from areas located within the native range of the brown recluse," Russell wrote. "Cold winter temperatures are thought to be a limiting factor in brown recluse spider populations. In the case in Davison, it appears brown recluse spiders survived the winter of 2016-17 in an unheated garage."
In 2011, the brown recluse spider was found three times in Michigan, specifically Lansing, Hillsdale and Flint.
According to Russell, it's significant because the populations are all well north of the recluse spider's native area, which can be seen in the map below.
Russell told CBS News that there are deadlier species of spiders in Michigan, including Northern Widows, which he says are as dangerous or more dangerous than the brown recluse.
According to the University of Kentucky's Entomology Department, bites are very rare but the venom can cause serious wounds.
You can spot a brown recluse spider due to the violin-shaped marking on its dorsum.
Russell said if you spot a spider that appears to be a brown recluse, call an expert.
