How can you tell brown recluse

Infestations in Kentucky are more common as one travels westward. Other species of Loxosceles spiders occur in the southwestern U. Recluse spiders are rare outside their native range. In general, these spiders are widely over-reported and less common than perceived.

Occasionally, one or a few spiders may be transported to a non-native area in boxes or furnishings, but infestations seldom become established. Though variable in size, adult brown recluse spiders with legs extended are about the size of a U. Coloration ranges from tan to dark brown, and the abdomen and legs are uniformly- colored with no stripes, bands or mottling.

The legs are long and thin and lack conspicuous spines. For laypersons, the most distinguishing feature of a brown recluse is a dark violin-shaped mark on its back, with the neck of the violin pointing toward the rear abdomen of the spider. This feature is consistent in adult brown recluses, but sometimes less obvious in younger spiders. A more definitive diagnostic feature is the eye pattern -- brown recluses have a semi-circular arrangement of six eyes three groups of two while most other spiders have 8 eyes.

Seeing this feature requires a good quality hand lens. Many harmless brown spiders are mistaken for the brown recluse, so it is prudent to have specimens confirmed by an entomologist or knowledgeable pest control firm.

In nature, brown recluse spiders live outdoors under rocks, logs, woodpiles and debris. The spider is also well adapted to living indoors with humans. They are resilient enough to withstand winters in unheated basements and stifling summer temperatures in attics, persisting many months without food or water. The brown recluse hunts at night seeking insect prey, either alive or dead. It does not employ a web to capture food — suspended webs strung along walls, corners, ceilings, outdoor vegetation, and in other exposed areas are almost always associated with other types of spiders.

In homes, such webs are often produced by harmless cobweb or cellar spiders. While sometimes considered a nuisance, spiders like the cobweb or cellar varieties prey upon other pests including brown recluses , and in this sense could be considered beneficial.

During daylight hours, brown recluse spiders typically retreat to dark, secluded areas. They often line their daytime retreats with irregular webbing, which is used to form their egg sacs. Adult female recluses seldom venture far from their retreat, whereas males and older juveniles are more mobile and tend to travel farther.

Consequently, they are more likely to wander into shoes, clothing or bedding at night and bite people when they inadvertently become trapped against the skin. At times, brown recluse spiders will be seen during daylight hours crawling on floors, walls and other exposed surfaces.

Such behavior can be triggered by hunger, overcrowding, pesticide application, or other factors. The tiny emerged spiders gradually increase in size, molting five to eight times before becoming adults. The molted shed skins of the brown recluse have a distinct outstretched appearance and can be useful in confirming infestation.

Brown recluse spiders mature in about a year and have an average lifespan of 2 to 4 years. The females produce up to 5 egg sacs in a lifetime. Infestation levels in homes vary greatly, ranging from one or a few spiders to several hundred. Like other spiders, the brown recluse is not aggressive.

It is quite common, in fact, to live in a building that is heavily infested and never be bitten. Most bites occur in response to body pressure, when a spider is inadvertently trapped against bare skin.

Some people are bitten when they roll over a brown recluse in bed. Other bites occur while moving stored items or putting on a piece of clothing that a spider has chosen for its daytime retreat.

Brown recluse spiders have very small fangs and cannot bite through clothing. The initial bite is usually painless. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great.

By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Identification Chart. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Support wikiHow and unlock all samples. Part 1. Look at the color.

A brown recluse has a dirt or sandy brown body with a slightly darker marking at its center; they can also be dark brown and even slightly yellow. Its legs are a lighter brown and completely uniform in color, with no additional markings. If the spider has stripes or other pigments on its legs, it's not a brown recluse. If the spider has more than two pigments on its body other than the violin and maybe a slightly darker abdomen , it's not a brown recluse.

If the spider has legs that are significantly darker than its body, it's not a brown recluse. Keep in mind slight variation can exist in shade and tone. Examine the violin shape on the spider's body. It's a slightly darker brown color than the rest of the body, or cephalothorax. The violin shape isn't clearly defined, so it may not look to you exactly like the musical instrument. Many spiders have similar shapes on their bodies, so this alone is not significant enough to identify the spider as a brown recluse.

Again, look at the color of the violin shape closely. If it has spots of different pigments, then you are not looking at a recluse. However, injury or sun damage may also cause what would appear as different coloring or texture. Count the eyes. The brown recluse, unlike other spiders, has only six eyes. They are arranged in pairs: one pair is in the center, and there's a pair on either side.

Because the eyes are so small, it can be difficult to see them without a magnifying glass. If you count eight eyes, you're not looking at a recluse. Please be safe when counting - you don't want to conclude there are six just to have it suddenly bite you! Look for fine hairs.

The brown recluse has many fine, short hairs on its body. Unlike some other spiders, it does not have spines on its body or legs. If you see a spider with spines, it's definitely not a recluse. Check the body width. If you're looking at a spider that's larger than this, it's a different type of spider. Part 2. Know what regions recluses inhabit. The brown recluse lives in the southeastern United States. If you don't live in this region, then it is highly unlikely that you will encounter a brown recluse, although it is possible.

Know where brown recluses like to reside. True to their name, brown recluse spiders build their webs in out-of-the way places that aren't usually in plain sight. Brown recluses usually build webs in places that are dry and haven't been recently disturbed. Look for the recluse's web. Brown recluse webs are loose, sticky, and off-white or grayish.

Recluses possess a necrotic venom that, in rare cases, triggers severe or even life-threatening symptoms in bite victims. To make matters worse, the spider is relatively common in the central and southern US. After hearing about the Brown recluse, people start imagining them everywhere.

No matter how rare Brown recluse spider bites are very , just the possibility is enough to trigger arachnid freak out. We tell you what a brown recluse spider looks like by covering:. For a spider with such a big reputation, brown recluse spiders are relatively small. You may be seeing a wolf spider or other species.