I've been itchy since I read Mark's post at the start of this string. Seriously, I detest spiders. I looked online but couldn't find any references to the brown recluse being in Massachusetts. Hope I'm correct on that. I know that poisonous snakes are very rare in my area.

You were extremely lucky to come away from your experience without serious damage, considering the area where the bite occurred.

Last week, the weather was warm and I was putting bricks along my backyard fence and there were all kinds of spiders. I had my husband turn on the water supply to the hose to wet everything down with Malathion. Nothing with four or more legs is going to be walking around on my property for several days. During the summer months, I spray every two weeks or so. It was a very sad day when they took chlordane off the market...