Hiker rescued from California mountains after possible spider bite left her unable to feel legs. I highly doubt that a spider would have caused it. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hiker-rescued-california-mountains-possible-spider-bite-left-unable-fe-rcna158013
No myth on St Croix. The number of brown recluses resulting in necrotic tissue is alarmingly high.
My friend’s husband lost a portion of his calf.
There is an ongoing myth about spiders, bites, and venom: https://spiders.ucr.edu/myth-brown-recluse-fact-fear-and-loathing