According to Dr. Unzicker, the brown recluse is a southern U.S. species that cannot 

 survive the winter outdoors in central and northern Illinois. Consequently, it pre- 

 fers to live in or near buildings. In the southern part of the state where the win- 

 ters are milder, it can survive outdoors. 



We are cataloging the distribution of this 

 spider in the state and it is important to 

 take a closer look at the 52 counties from 

 which we have no specimens of the brown 

 recluse (see map) . We encourage Extension 

 Advisers in these 52 counties to send any 

 spiders submitted to them as suspected brown 

 recluse spiders to Dr. Unzicker, Room 93, 

 Natural Resources Building, Illinois Nat- 

 ural History Survey, Urb ana, Illinois 61801. 

 Include your name, address, and where the 

 spider was collected. Dr. Unzicker will 

 identify the specimens and send you the 

 identification. When spider bites occur, 

 attempt to capture the spider and send it 

 to Dr. Unzicker for identification. 



Brown rufus spider , a similar species, is 

 a close relative of the brown recluse. A 

 single specimen turned up in Fayette County 

 in 1971 (see map). This spider is an im- 

 migrant from the Mediterranean Region of 

 southern Europe and northern Africa, and 

 is identical in appearance to the brown 

 recluse spider. It is just as poisonous 

 as the brown recluse and causes the same 



kind of wound. It lives under the same conditions as the brown recluse, but does 

 not appear to be established in the state at this time. 



Ants, spiders, crickets , and other crawling insects can be prevented from entering 

 the home by spraying the outside foundation wall with a 1-percent emulsion of chlor- 

 dane and water. Purchase chlordane as a liquid concentrate and mix half a pint of 

 45-percent chlordane or 10 tablespoons of 72-percent chlordane in 3 gallons of water. 

 Spray the foundation wall from the ground to the sill, or about a foot, to the point 

 of runoff. In addition, spray 3 to 6 inches of soil adjacent to the wall, as well 

 as the expansion joints along porches and steps. Do not spray shrubbery or flowers. 

 The oil in the spray may burn the foliage. 



For controlling ants already inside the home, use 0.5-percent diazinon or 0.5-percent 

 Baygon. They are available in pressurized spray cans. Spray into old cracks, around 

 baseboards, and other areas where the ants are observed. 



Brown rufus spider 

 (Loxosceles rufescens 



No records of Brown recluse 

 or Brown rufus spiders 



Galls on tree leaves and twigs are sent in each summer for identification and con- 

 trol. These swellings can be caused by the feeding of immature wasps, aphids, 

 midges, mites, or other insects. Some of the more common galls are maple bladder 

 galls, especially common on silver maple leaves, caused by the feeding of mites. 

 Galls on hackberry leaves are caused by young, jumping plant lice. Midges are re- 

 sponsible for vein pocket gall on pin oak leaves and pod gall on honey locust leaves, 



The number of galls on the leaves of certain trees will vary from year to year be- 

 cause of climate, predators, and parasites. Chemical control is usually not neces- 

 sary. If the tree is young and is being stunted by the leaf damage caused by the 



