The Flip Side of Warm Weather
Warm weather is here and among the less charming aspects of summer are insects. Over the top reaction to insect bites (as well as poison ivy etc) is sometimes seen in CLL patients. I know dozens of patients with this problem. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix if you are among the patients that have this problem – other than lathering on bug repellents before going out, wearing long sleeved shirts, long pants, socks etc.
Here are some commonsense things you should be aware of:
- Prevent infection. Immediately wash the area of the bug bite with warm water. Using an antibacterial soap or thin layer of antibiotic cream may help.
- Some patients find a cold (or hot) compress helps – which ever works for you to reduce the itching.
- Cover the bug bite with a bandage to keep from scratching. Over the counter anti-itch spray or ointment may help. The idea is to prevent making things worse and get a bad case of bacterial infection.
- Know how to recognize skin infection. Look for redness and swelling that has enlarged beyond the original area of the bug bite. Check to see if the area is warm and tender to the touch. Watch for pus or drainage in the area of the bite. All of these are signs of secondary infection.
- If in spite of your best efforts the bug bite becomes infected, see your doctor. It is not a good idea to self-medicate or be macho and neglect the issue if there are any signs of the bite getting infected.
- Some doctors recommend antibiotic treatment to deal with the infection. You may also be told to use a topical corticosteroid cream to pacify the aggressive and inappropriate immune reaction of your body.
- Here is the link to a site that seems to have reasonable guidance on what to do.
There have been a number of recent articles on the subject – I have attached a few of the abstracts below for your information. The consensus seems to be that the problem is due to inappropriate and over aggressive immune response because of the underlying CLL. What else is new.
J Cutan Med Surg. 2001 Jul-Aug;5(4):312-4. Epub 2001 Jul 18.
Arthropod bites manifesting as recurrent bullae in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Blum RR, Phelps RG, Wei H.
Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA.
BACKGROUND: We report a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that developed recurrent vesicobullous lesions that histologically demonstrated features of an exaggerated response to an arthropod bite. OBJECTIVE: Patients with CLL can present with many cutaneous manifestations, including specific and nonspecific lesions. Although rare, patients with CLL can develop an exaggerated response to an arthropod bite. CONCLUSION: Emphasis needs to be placed on the clinical recognition of arthropod bites as an unusual cutaneous manifestation of CLL, as they provide the physician with both a diagnostic and a therapeutic challenge. Patients often deny being bitten and, thus, the biopsy results conflict with the patient’s history. Additionally, as there is no specific treatment, both the patient and physician are faced with a similar dilemma. Although our patient initially responded well to corticosteroids, his lesions significantly improved while being treated with dapsone.
PMID: 11907842
J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998 Jul;39(1):27-35.
Exaggerated arthropod-bite lesions in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a clinical, histopathologic, and immunopathologic study of eight patients.
Davis MD, Perniciaro C, Dahl PR, Randle HW, McEvoy MT, Leiferman KM.
Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
BACKGROUND: Unusual papulovesicular lesions resembling arthropod bites have been described in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to describe and characterize further the clinical, histopathologic, and immunopathologic features of these lesions. METHODS: Eight patients were identified retrospectively who had CLL and characteristic skin lesions. Clinical and histologic features were recorded. Skin biopsy specimens were analyzed immunohistochemically for eosinophil granule major basic protein, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, neutrophil elastase, and mast cell tryptase. RESULTS: The clinical features, including the lesional distribution, suggested arthropod bites, although most patients could not recall having been bitten. Mixed T- and B-cell lymphoid cell infiltrates were present within lesions, along with prominent eosinophil infiltration and eosinophil granule protein deposition. CONCLUSION: Exuberant papulovesicular lesions develop in patients with CLL apparently as an exaggerated response to arthropod bites. Prominent eosinophil infiltration and degranulation within these lesions likely contribute to the severity of symptoms.
PMID: 9674394
Am J Dermatopathol. 2005 Aug;27(4):290-5.
Insect bite-like reaction associated with mantle cell lymphoma: clinicopathological, immunopathological, and molecular studies.
Khamaysi Z, Dodiuk-Gad RP, Weltfriend S, Ben-Arieh Y, Dann EJ, Sahar D, Bergman R.
Department of Dermatology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
A cutaneous eruption simulating insect bites has been repeatedly described in association with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It was only rarely described with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Our study was performed to elucidate the clinical, histologic, immunopathological, and molecular characteristics of insect bite like reaction (IBLR) associated with MCL. The clinical presentation and histologic findings in 3 IBLR cases associated with MCL were found to be similar to 3 IBLR cases associated with CLL. The eruptions consisted of itchy erythematous papules, nodules, plaques, and vesicles. Non-vesicular lesions were characterized histologically by normal or mildly spongiotic epidermis. Vesicular lesions were characterized by marked spongiosis and intraepidermal spongiotic vesicles containing eosinophils, or marked subepidermal edema occasionally leading to a dermoepidermal separation. Most of the lesions were characterized by superficial and mid dermal to deep perivascular and interstitial, and occasionally periadnexal, inflammatory-cell infiltrate consisting of mononuclear cells and eosinophils. The densities of the infiltrates varied and the inflammatory-cell infiltrate extended often into the fat lobules. Neutrophils and nuclear dust were found more frequently and abundantly in the IBLR lesions associated with MCL. Immunophenotyping, direct immunofluorescence (DIF) tests, and IgH gene rearrangement studies were performed in the lesions associated with MCL only. The majority of the infiltrating lymphocytes were CD3+, CD5+ and CD43+, more CD4+ than CD8+, and only a small minority was CD20+. The cells did not stain for bcl-1 protein and CD30, and with no evidence of clonality. The DIF test result was negative. The IBLR eruption associated with MCL resembles clinically and histologically IBLR associated with CLL. The eruption seems to be reactive rather than neoplastic, because there is no evidence of MCL involvement in the skin lesions.
PMID: 16121047
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32 comments on "Insect Bites"
I would just add that it is particularly important that people in the zones where Lyme disease from tick bites is prevalent need to be particularly vigilant. Living in a city is no guarantee of a safe zone since I know of several cases where urban dwellers have wound up with Lyme carried by some hapless “country mouse” to the “city mouse.” Ticks are particularly skilled hitchhikers. For additional valuable information, go to http://www.tickencounter.org/.
As always, when Chaya describes something related to CLL, I’ve probably had it or have it. I live in Florida and face constant stand-offs with fire ants and mosquitos. On a recent trip to Belize we were attacked by “no-see-ems”. The wife recovered in two days, while it took me about ten weeks.
Thanks Chaya.
Chaya and everyone — Last October, back in Maryland, I stepped on a yellow jacket that was on my kitchen floor! Never occurred to me that I couldn’t walk barefooted in my own kitchen! Of course it stung me. At first it was a normal swelling of a bee sting…I put something on it but don’t recall what it was. Each day that passed it got worst and worst….I think it was the 3rd or so day when I could no longer recognize my toe area as being a part of my foot,or my foot a part of my leg, and it had turned black with blue and red tinges –swollen very very badly that my daughter took me to the emergency room at the local hospital. I stayed they for 3-4 nights….a surgeon came in and lanced the toe to let whatever was in there out…they took a scan to see how far the infection was…took blood tests…..which I was told my IGG was way down ( I had also been hospitalized a couple months before with lung infection and they told me it was low then too – ) I was on antibiotics drip and then orals at home for a couple of weeks at least. When I went home I was to keep it elevated for 4 weeks..yes I said 4 weeks – with the bandages changed and foot flushed with a bottled saline product and then medicated prescription ointment – I saw the surgeon twice more during that time. It was a very miserable time and I later found out that if I had not gone to the hospital, my life could have very well been over or lost a foot. (why did I wait 3 days?? Because I thought it would get better — CLL people DO NOT GET BETTER from this stuff without help!
The blood work never came back with any staph infection or other type, they were calling it Cellulitis, ….It may have been called Cellulitis but it was a horrible infection to me………isn’t anything that can end your life an infection? I couldn’t walk on this foot for almost a month – painful and swollen. I have stepped on bees many many times in my life with no reaction other than a bit of swelling around the site…….this time my whole foot was involved. I can only contribute this to CLL. My advice also is to keep your IGG levels up to normal. As soon as mine went down I started with infections…..from bladder – lung – cat bite – insect bite – cat scratch — As soon as I got those numbers up with the IVGG infusions, I have had no problems in that area since. Not to say i won’t had some point but keeping those numbers up are very important. Maybe some can go with the low IGG numbers with no problem – but many of us cannot.And by the way, I have yet to have an oncologist tell me to be careful about insect bites – why is that??
I have had CLL for 13 years. I had quite large areas of swelling from mosquito bites. Not just around the bite, where it was a normal nickel size redness, but an allergic type reaction with pitting edema that made my elbow or wrist look like a sausage. This lasted for three summers when my WBC were between 70,000 and 110,000. Then I had chemo. Now my WBC is normal and -presto chango- no more mosquito bite swelling. When I had the reations it produced “hypesthesia” with a skin sensitivity that was almost the worst thing I have felt.
One thing to do is get thin nylon clothing for the summer when you are in an area with mosquitos. Also hats with a curtain around your neck. This type of clothing is available from vendors who call it “sun protection”. What prevents skin cancer helps blood cancer!! Anyway, I am back hiking and paddling.
My best to all, Big Dad
Dee Dee:
You and your doctors are both right. Cellulitis is an infection. Usually bacterial infection. You can read more about it here: http://www.medicinenet.com/cellulitis/article.htm
You were lucky it was not MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and your physicians were able to get it under control. You are very correct when you said it might have cost you your life if you had neglected it any longer. I hope other members of our community learn from your horrific experience. FOLKS, IF THE BUG BITE LOOKS LIKE IT IS GETTING INFECTED, SEE YOUR DOCTOR, PRONTO.
Why don’t oncologists warn patients routinely about this kind of stuff? Well, if they did, I would be out of my “job” don’t you think?
I would like to add jelly fish to the list of dangers. I was bitten by one in the sea in Greece and my whole leg swelled and I conked out sleeping for 24 hours. It took a week to go down and I was very tired all that time. The bite seems to reoccurr now even if there is a slight chance of jelly fish in the water.
If you put witchhazel, a very old trusted remedy, immediately on the insect bite, it stops the itching.
I have also noticed like Bigdad, that since having chemo I don’t suffer so much from constant immune overreactions.
My husband and I wondered why my mosquito bites turn into big welts and uncontrollable itching like never before . . . now it makes sense. But are the bug sprays with deet risky to use? My husband is convinced that the deet poison to avoid the bites is worse than the bites. Your thoughts?
The Bug-Bite subject has extended implications for a better understanding of not only CLL but how our immune system works or doesn’t.
Having carried a huge tumor burden in the PB (peripheral blood) nodes and marrow I am clinically free from infections in general including bug-bite reactions. My wife is another story. She looks like an abused spouse after working in the garden and is cancer free. We need comparative & comprehensive testing of the extremes of immune response in CLL to help uncover mechanisms as yet not understood.
I have been frustrated in that Immunologists are not directly part of patients’ Health Care Teams and that Immunology is perceived as a segregated discipline not properly integrated with cancer treatment considerations.
While the focus is on the enemy (CLL/cancer cells) the far more important questions are how our immune systems fail us and are even turned against us as in ITP/AIHA and over reaction to bites. There are apparently as many mysteries regarding immune function as with any cancer. Though some important detail is known about the functions of the immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM almost nothing is known about IgE and IgD even though IgD is expressed on B-cells.
The answers leading to cure in CLL are not to be found in another tweak of the latest CD20 mAb but in the blood and the stimulation or dampening of the immune system in the right ways.
You have done the most in raising immune system dysfunction awareness of any information source, thanks Chaya.
WWW
Just like to add one more warning here. Last summer I was bitten by chiggers. One never sees them, but they seem to like grass, just lawn grass. One step off of someone’s deck at a bar b q and I wished I could crawl out of my skin for nearly a week. Last year they said it was due to the huge amount of rain we’d had in the spring. This year has been quite wet, so if they’re right, we had all best be on guard for these bugs. It seems there are no remedies for the itching chiggers cause. long pants and bug repellant are somewhat effective, but these guys can crawl up sleeves and pant legs… whatever you do do not sit on the lawn !! trust me on that one. if you are gardening tuck long pants into socks and take off your garden clothes at the door,,throw them in a hot wash immediately… ticks also love seams of pants and will hop a rid there for days.
I too share Wayne’s frustration on the lack of coordination/information on the immune system functioning in CLL. It’s evident much work needs to be done in this regard, but more awareness of the problems would help in the meantime. beth f
Regarding tick bites, the upside of this story is that if you have a overblown reaction, then at least you know you’ve been bitten, which is the key to successful treatment. All the worst cases of Lyme happen when people are diagnosed long after infection and have already reached second stage. So knowing you have been bitten by a tick is something of a silver lining.
It happened to me! In December some flea or mosquito bites on my back turned into a menagerie of reactions — little bite-like things, blisters, welts, at least 3 histologically distinct reactions — which was ultimately diagnosed as ‘exaggerated response to arthropod bite’. Eosinophils way up. Went away on its own more or less, with relief from topicals and antihistamines. Hellish itching.
As long time members of CLL Topics know very well, I am not a big fan of self-medication with hopeful home-made potions – hence my reluctance in reporting on my husband PC’s special approach to keeping away bugs that bite.
Limonene is the major component of the oil of lemon and orange rind. It is also thought to be a chemopreventive and used as a component in many food stuffs and topical lotions because of its pleasant citrus smell. It is also a potent insect repellant. Many dog sprays for keeping fleas off of dogs use 5% solution of limonene. Used in moderation and dilute form it is considered safe and non-toxic to pets and humans. It is excellent as a de-greaser and used in household and industrial cleaning agents (at significantly higher concentrations).
You can buy food grade versions of it by the gallon for very little money from Florida citrus growers. There are two versions of limonene, D and L. You want to look into “D-limonene”. I would not recommend lathering yourself liberally with the full strength material (may cause dermatitis), but a dilute solution (about 5%) of it in distilled water makes for a refreshing spray that is (a) non-toxic (b) smell great (c) keeps away bugs (d) may help prevent stuff like skin cancer if the chemoprevention leads pan out (e) it worked for PC, but you know what I think of anecdotal patient testimonials not backed by solid statistics.
I strongly urge you to do your own research. Last thing I want to do is push “herbal remedies” on this site. Below are some links that can help you get started.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limonene
http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/129/3/775S
http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/dmpk/19/4/245/_pdf
http://epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/3083fact.pdf
http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Limonene-9924495
My husband who is a 59 year old CLL patient got a terrible itchy rash in July 2009. This was the first rash he had ever had in his life. The treatment was sort of hit and miss. (my opinion) It seemed that the Dr’s used the treatment to identify the cause which might be all they can do.? Several treatments were tried over a 2 month period. I insisted that they biopsy it and even that was somewhat inconclusive. It showed signs that could be pre-cancerous or cellulitis. He was given Prednisone which finally got rid of it. His skin has always been a little on the oily side and he has never needed lotion. Now that he has CLL his skin is very dry and irritates more easily and he now has to use a therapeutic quality cream. A side note on the Prednisone treatment it seemed to make him feel better fatigue wise (for a little while). He is on an accelerated skin check up schedule as he has already has had squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma removal as well as some suspicious moles removed. Thank you Chaya for all you do to keep us informed. I have learned so much. Chaya, you really are amazing. Best regards, Sandra McKay
Thanks Chaya for keeping us informed.
Monique
`Before I was diagnosed with CLL, I was in southern Louisiana and was bitten many time by gnats. I have been bitten before with minimal effect but was wondering why the swelling and itching was so aggressive when before it was hardly a problem. I still have scars on my forearms from the bites and this article now explains why. I will henceforth use industrial strength DEET as a precaution. Thanks so much for your continued enlightenment.
Chaya, I am curious about getting tattoo’s and the healing process.. would you recomend getting ink even if my emune system seems to be working properly ? Thanks the last time I got ink (about 3 months ago) they healed just fine. I am in stage 0. thanks for your help.. Tim
Such a well timed article. It seemes at times that we are walking around in the dark. Thank you for helping to shine more lite on things that matter. Bill
Several years ago I started having a problem where I would get these large welts that sometimes got very infected that my doctor said looked like an insect or spider bite. I’d know that I had one because I would actually feel like I had a flu then I’d look around and find one on my leg or arm or torso. I never had this problem before so I figured I had developed some kind of allergy to something but it seemed very unusual. I never noticed being bitten but I did notice that I’d get these things after doing things like trimming shrubs, walking through woods, etc. A couple years after this started I was diagnosed with CLL (caught by accident at a very early stage and I’m very young for CLL) and I realize now that the “spider bites” were probably the beginning of my CLL. The weird thing is that everyone probably gets bitten by small bugs or spiders all the time without ever realizing it if they don’t have this strong reaction! Anyway, I wear long sleeves and pants when doing anything outside in the yard (despite the Georgia heat!)and now the bites are very rare – I almost never get them anymore. One other thing I learned – tuck in the shirt or whatever they are seem to get on you and climb up under your shirt and get you on the torso!
I remember a presenter at the Niagara Falls Conference last year mentioning that mosquitoes now gave him a “real problem”. I’ve noticed that bites of some kind (spiders?) give me a swelling up. When I’m out observing variable stars on the 3rd floor deck in the warm months I spray myself very generously with maximum deet. It’s a good idea I think.
I wish “bites” would leave a little label saying, “Hi — my name is Mel Mosquito and this is my bite” or “Hi — my name is Simon Shingles” (or Harry Herpes Simplex or whatever). So often I just don’t know what the itchy burning welts are .. all I can do is guess, maybe start valtrex, maybe use anti-itch cream. Sometimes it’s obvious; sometimes it’s just a mystery. Next time one of the more major eruptions occurs, I’ll get to my dermatologist for a biopsy. Meanwhile, it’s the time of year in California when I will put on my knee high white sox, white pants, long sleeve white shirt, etc. I guess I’ll spray with deet this year but I just hate those products. Would love to hear if anyone has a favorite that doesn’t feel so oily and smell so awful.
Thanks so much, Chaya, for a very relevant article. Hope all your packing is going well and that you enjoy your East Coast abode !!
I too have been affected by the inflamed mosquito bites. This article is a confirmation of what I have suspected for quite awhile. I was diagnosed with CLL in 2000 and at that time had never had a problem with mosquitoes even growing up in Florida. I was always the last one to get bitten, if at all. About 2002 I started getting huge painful welts as well as intense itching from mosquito bites. I mentioned this to my doctor who suggested that my immune system was possibly compromised by the CLL (at that time my WBC was very high) but he had not heard of insect bites as a specific problem. I started using insect repellant and had a rash occur as a reaction to the repellant. In 2003 I was treated with FCR and gradually the intensity of the bites has lessoned, not gone completely away, but definately not as bad.
Thanks so very much for this article, Chaya. Your site has been a blessing to me through this illness.
Thanks so much for your timely article Chaya!
Yesterday about noon I was sitting in the shade at a garage sale, and was bitten by a small black flying insect of some sort – I felt the stinging bite on my leg and killed the insect with my slap, but never thought to keep it in case I reacted to the bite. I cleaned the site and applied anti-itch cream, but last night the itching was so bad I had trouble sleeping, and this morning I have a large slightly reddish area around the bite site, though no swelling. I will see a doctor Monday morning if it continues.
I woke this morning and my first thought was to return to your article and reread it for more information. Like everyone else with this disease, I am so grateful to you for filling in the gaps left by the oncologists.
Thanks again, Chaya!
Just wanted to add to your comments on d-limonene…some “anecdotal” evidence that it can be a real benefit to folks suffering from GERD. My wife was, indeed, able to stop her heartburn prescription after years. You can go to lef.org and search d-limonene. (I have no fiduciary relationship with them..just get my supps there). By the way, back from visit number two in the study at NIH…5 years and holding,reclassified to MBL. Keep up with the insightful articles!
Jim and Gail
Thanks for the heads-up on d-limonene and the great links! I am figuratively allergic to chemical remedies (imagine my ordeal when I went through chemo!) so d-limonene will be a viable alternative for me who lives in sunny, muggy, hot, Low Country Savannah, and love to garden. Until now I used physical barriers (clothing, gloves) with inconsistent success.
Thanks for your insights and fellow readers who make us think – about aspects of our health, not just our disease.
This may be way out there, but will run it by.
An active military person and eye doctor shared with me that they carry a small bottle of clear fingernail polish with them to apply to bites, such as from “no-see-ems” as elcaringo mentioned, as well as mosquito and other bites.
Have you ever heard of this? Is this the same thing as that liquid band-aid solution?
And more importantly, is this safe for CLLers?
I like the herbal suggestions as well as staying covered, but even so, some still get through. Thanks for all the tips and links and educational information.
Chaya–
Thank you so much for your always helpful and insightful articles. I was diagnosed with CLL/SLL in 2001 and had PCR treatment from February to June of 2009. In the summer of 2009, and in all previous years, I had normal reactions to insect bites from mosquitoes. In January 2010, I developed pneumonitis and was put on prednisone because pulmonary specialists think the pneumonitis *may* have been a hypersensitivity reaction to one of the chemo drugs, or to Ritalin. (All tests for other causes of the pneumonitis were negative.) I have been on the prednisone since February and am still on it (5 mg./day) because the doc is tapering me off very gradually. And now I’m having hive-like reactions to insect bites! Since prednisone further impairs the immune system, could that be what is triggering the hives?? Has anyone else had this experience?
Thank you!
JV
I have found a drawing agent that works extreamly well on acne, and almost any kind of insect bite. It comes from the Austrslian turpin tree family. Turpintine. It is called Tea Tree oil. You can get it at most Drug stores and Walmarts in the south, not sure about the rest of the country. I have found that if you purchase it, buy it in the dark brown bottle, it seems most potent. Rub on with your finger repeatedly for a few minutes, about 3 time in a day. If it is inflamed pretty good, rub this tea tree oil on, then put a band-aid on for the rest of the day. You will be shocked when you remove the band-aid at the end of the day. The redness will ususlly reduce by 70 to 90%. Living in south Georgia, bug bites are a fact of life and Tea Tree oil is always kept in my medicine cabinet. One bit of caution, this solution can blister sensitive skin ie: around eyes. I have eliminated a tremendous amount of antibiotics with the use of this oil. Always beware if it does not reduce the redness and puffyness in 2 days, get to the doctor.
With Kindest Regards,
Raymond Parker
Thanks so much, Raymond. I will check out the Tea Tree oil.
Judy Voss
Dangers of Lyme disease for the CLL patient. Six months after completing FCR treatment my white blood count was less than 1. I avoided people and germs because of my low immune system but gave little thought to insects which was my big mistake. I got a deer tick outside which resulted in a brain infection called Lyme Meningoneciphilitis. It was the worst experience in my life. Doctors diagnosed it as bacterial meningitis and told my wife I would be dead within 4-6 months and should be put into a nursing home. I could not stand, walk or talk coherently. When the correct diagnosis was finally made I was hospitalized in the critical ward of the hospital, given antibiotics through a picc line which was continued at home for 17 days. With the help of several home care therapists I regained my speech, physical strength, and was able to assume a normal life again. I had been a big burden on my wife and daughter for a couple of months. Doctors have great difficulty in diagnosing lyme disease, especially when it is similar to other diseases. Lesson learned – stay away from wooded areas when your immune system is low. Good luck to all.
Mollie
Recently diagnosed, stage 0, trying to get my brain around so much info. Really grateful for this site. The bites have been driving me nuts. A couple of things that may help: The army uses Avon “skin so soft” in the jungle. It helps with these TX mosquitos. I put spider/insect sticky strips down around the basement after finding hobo spider and then around the rest of the house and my bed when I saw the # of bugs I hadn’t known were there. Thank you so much Chaya!
MLMG .. can you please give a bit more info on these strips? Name and manufacturer? Sounds like something I could really use. Thanks !! Insect bite is what led to my Dx back in 2007.
LynnS
My brain is fuzzy and the strips are at my Montana home while I’m in TX for the winter. However, go to your local hardware store and tell them you want sticky strips to snag spiders (gets all sorts of critters, even a tick I’d probably carried in on my shoes and a mouse in the cabin). The stickum is very potent–so you’d have to take care re. pets, kids and ? They are about a foot long with a strip of sticky on one side. They are made to fold into a tent–I leave it flat tho. and seem to catch more. Hope this helps :)
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