Brown Recluse Spider
The brown recluse spider is part of the genus Loxosceles and is sometimes known as “fiddleback” spiders or “violin” spiders because of the violin-shaped marking on the top of the cephalothorax, which are the head and the thorax. The brown recluse spider has six eyes, which are all arranged in three pairs (sometimes a pair may be so close that they look like one eye rather than two). Their eyes are also their most noticeable feature which makes it easy to identify a brown recluse spider.
Identify the Brown Recluse Spider
The violin-shaped marking is typically found only on more mature brown recluse spider. The brown recluse is range from a light tan to a darker brown color with their entire body being covered with thin hairs. The brown recluse spider is about 3/8 inches long and about 3/16 inches wide. Although the male spider are somewhat smaller in body length than females, their leg span is usually the same length.
If there is more than one color on the legs, or if the legs are dark brown, or if there is more than one pigment on the abdomen, it is NOT a recluse. Note: spitting spiders (genus Scytodes) have a similar eye pattern but do not have the violin mark.
The brown recluse spider is found throughout the Midwest and the southern central part of the United States. It is very rare to find a brown recluse spider outside of those particular areas. Brown recluse spiders are typically found outside in many different areas such as under rocks or logs, woodpiles, dirt, or debris. However, during the cooler months it is not uncommon to find brown recluse spiders within the house, especially basements, attics, closets, or anywhere else that is dry and warm.
Many times during those months the brown recluse will go without any food or water. It is nearly impossible to fully get rid of brown recluse spiders once they have become established in these areas of the home. The brown recluse does not spin a web either to catch their food; instead they hunt their prey which usually consists of insects, either dead or alive.
The brown recluse is actually somewhat nocturnal, as they spend most of the daylight hours hidden within rocks or logs. They line these homes with webbing, which is later used for holding their egg sacs. If a brown recluse spider is seen during daylight hours it usually has to do with the fact that they are hungry, otherwise they stay hidden.
Our Brown Recluse Spider Bite section has some very graphic pictures of what happens when people are bitten by a BRS and pictures of the spider. Rick Vetter over at UC Riverside Dept of Entomology also has a page on Entomology - Brown Recluse Spiders. The agricultural extension service of the university of Tennessee has a brown recluse spider packet in pdf format the you may also find helpful.
Here is a quick test to determine if you may have a Recluse:
1) Has 3 pair of eyes, one in front, one on each side.
2) Has Violin shaped marking
3) Legs must be one uniformly light-colored
4) Only one pigment on the abdomen
5) Fine hairs on legs, no spines
6) Body length is less than half an inch (3/8 usually)
Brown Recluse Spiders
Brown recluse spiders are not aggressive unless they are aggravated, which is like many other species of spiders as well. Some cases where they may bite is if they are trapped between skin and other surface or when putting on clothes that they are hiding in.
Because of that it is extremely important to thoroughly shake out clothing before putting it away to ensure that there are no hidden spiders that could possibly bite. The brown recluse spider bite is often not even felt, which makes it very dangerous. In some cases the bite is noticed right away because of immense pain, for others it can take several hours before the bite is even noticed. The reaction to the bite depends on how much venom is injected.
The only deaths reported from a brown recluse spider bite have been with children under the age of seven. However, the brown recluse is one of four species of spiders that is dangerous to humans along with the black widow spider. If bitten by a brown recluse spider it is vital that the victim seeks medical attention right away, and if possible capturing the spider and bringing it in will help ensure accurate identification. More about the Brown Recluse Spider Bite
Written by Jim on August 4th, 2007 with
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In April 08, my son (30 yo) found some red marks on the back side of his upper rt thigh. Over the next few days, the inflammation/necrosis began. The progression of his wound was similar to many of the online photos - I have included the photos below:
Son thought it was a minor thing. Eventually, swelling and pain became intolerable. He finally went to the ER. Doctor gave him some vicoden and lanced the wound. Pus drained. Antibiotics helped and the deep wound healed over next week or so. Then a “recurrence” happened. More of the same as original situation. Currently healing ok.
I suspect a “cousin” of the Brown Recluse spider, the Violin/Fiddler spider, did the damage. Or, a staph infection. Son states wound appears to be healing but he (I) am concerned about long-term consequences and possible recurrences.
I found a “Brown Recluse Spider First Aid Kit” advertised on the web - Description of ingredients/procedures sounds like a compound of activated charcoal and other ingredients are mixed together then applied to the wound site.
Would appreciate any feedback regarding anyone’s experience with this “First Aid Kit.” I did order the “kit” on 5/19/08. Don’t know if it some “snake oil” deal or not. I just want to try something to help my son. If it doesn’t work out, I will post results.
Last, I have found Black and Brown Widow spiders around my home and in the community here in Waianae, Hawaii. Now that I have a picture of the Brown Recluse, I will start my own “spider hunt” and exterminate/relocate the little buggas. Will fumigate my home/garage (lots of clutter) and yard.
After reviewing the pictures of the BRS, I believe its cousin, the Fiddleback is around the house/yard. Same envenomation characteristics, inflammation, necrosis, and so forth.
Anyway, thanks for having a site where people can learn about these spiders. Pictures are graphic but valuable. Want to put off that doctor’s visit? Want pain, crater/surgery/plastic surgery to reconstruct destroyed tissue? Get smart. See the doctor. Also, educate yourself. Visit online sites and become informed about these spiders. Learn how to live in an imperfect world…but first, kill the little buggas. How can such a small creature have such powerful venom?
Good luck everyone. CKS
Hey Folks:
Has anyone had any experience with the Brown Recluse Spider First Aid Kit sold by Progeny Products, LLC?
The kit consists of activated charcoal and a liquid solution (Comfrey, Echinacera, Lobelia, Plantain, alcohol)
Mix 1/4 tsp charcoal with an equal amt of the liquid into a poultice. Apply poultice to wound sit. Cover with clear plastic wrap to keep poultice moist. Change dressing every 1-2 hours when wound is in “critical stage” right after a bite. When wound is in “recovery stage,” poultice packs may be applied every 2-4 hours. Kit costs about $40 US for double kit. Also, spider glue traps are available to use.
Appreciate any feedback,
Clarence
I have been bitten three times now by brown recluses in our newly purchased 15 year old home in Duluth Georgia. The first two were at the same time on both shins; I thought I had gout or something. After the third time also on the shin, I identified that we have these spiders in our house. All three bites occurred in the same way; I laid down on a couch at night in our basement and pulled a blanket from the floor over my legs. The recluses must have been in the blanket. Each bite caused my whole shin to swell for about three weeks, loss of skin, and fever.
Now my wife and son are scared to go down in the basement. I am experimenting with different ways of controlling this insect. I use a cordless vacuum to suck them up when I see them, traps made with shipping tape on metal hangers, traps made with sticky insect control goo, and pressure washing the outside of the house.
One very helpful behavior of these spiders is that most of them will locate their web in a ceiling edge or corner making them easy to spot in the daytime. The other day I, found one fighting another type of spider in the upper level of my house. I believe that they are aggressive and can take over a house. I also believe that with a level of vigilance and neatness, it is not difficult to bring their population down it near zero.
Monday 05/26/2008
My name is Kathy and I live in Florida. I had a really bad spider problem in my shed in my back yard. It was crawling with very large spiders. I started seeing them inside my home and so decided to find out more about them. Also, my fiance has been bitten twice by Brown recluse and has the scars to prove it.
Every picture I brought up looked exactly like the large spiders in my house but I was told Brown Recluse are not in Fl. and do not get to be large. I kept calling my pesticide company and they told me the usual, they are not USUALLY found in Fl. I kept seeing them so decided to hunt one of them down. I did not want my children bit so I caught one of them alive and kept in a tupperware container and called my pesticide company again. They came out the next day and when I showed it to him he immediately said yes it was a Brown Recluse and the biggest he had ever seen. Come to find out the spider I had caught was one of many of a very large nest of Brown Recluse in my shed.
So, even if people tell you otherwise, always trust your instincts and find out as much info. as possible. I would be very careful trying to catch one of these as when they are cornered they are quite aggressive as I found out. Luckily, the spiders are gone and there were no new spider bites!!!!
We are buying a home and found a sticky board with many brown recluse spiders attached to it in the basement storage place. How do we get rid of these spiders? How do I test to see what other areas they might be….attic, etc. Do they live behind the walls too? I am worried. Thanks for any help.
Erin yes you should still worry actually i had a horse that got bit by a (Brown Recluse, for sure) and it died the next week
Oh my gosh!!! i was working in my shed that is behind my house. I say a bunch of these spiders. They came toward me and i got bitten a lot of times around the head and my feet. I counted and i have 12 spots. Now i am on antibiotics. But whenever i go anywhere, people just stare……please stay away from these.. they are dangerous
Hi.. I recently found a what appears to be a brown recluse in my apt .I ‘ve asked around and was told to buy old fashioned moth balls put them in old socks then put the socks full of moth balls in places these spiders might live . just wanted to see if any one else had heard of this home remedy and if so does it work ? I’m from cali now living in the south and am pretty naive to this spider problem…thanks
TBit on Sunday night, Left Foot, between 2nd and 3rd toe, back of foot,
note the pictures of back of foot, for target site of actual bite.
Monday 8/14/06 Swelling redness
Tuesday 8/15/06 Swelling, redness tenderness when walking
Wed 8/16/06 Swelling, redness tenderness when walking
Thur 8/17/06 Swelling and tenderness not getting better, went to Dr. He
said I had gout…fever of 100.6, x-rays and blood test showed negative
for gout. I told him it was a spider bite, but he insisted it was gout,
put me on arthritis meds and arthritis pain meds. (Does not listen to
patients well!) Was crying most of the night it was so painful.
Friday 8/18/06 The pictures start on Friday, it is starting to blister,
withinn 3 hours it was seeping, popped lots of advil. Had the diarrhea
and was vomiting all afternoon, still had a fever, chills, woke up in
the middle of the night with the worst headache in the world.
Saturday 8/19/06 blisters are festering/draining, Bad night sweats.
Sunday 8/20/06 Skin and tissue are dying, turning black, went to
emergency at our local hospital, they couldn’t believe that the Dr on
Thursday said it was gout, and or course I was taking the wrong meds,
and I should have been putting cold compresses on it (the Dr on Thursday
told me NOT to put cold nor heat on it) they did surgery to remove dead
tissue, and could not freeze it because of severe swelling (ouch, like
its time to faint,) put me on antibiotics, painkiller, steroids.
Mentioned possible skin grafts in future dependent on how it heals. Will
be able to tell further as time goes on.
Monday 8/21/06 picture shows a very red clean wound.
Week of 8/27/06. Dr. feels it is healing well, and will not need skin
grafts, yaaaa…. VERY painful, put me on a nerve medication, lyrica to
help with pain.
I was off work for over 2 weeks (and I have a desk job), this is the
most painful thing that has ever happend to me. Had to stay on
painkiller, advil and keep foot elevated, could hardly walk on it, but
mostly painful when not elevated above my heart.
Dr. who originally diagnosed me with gout, called me at home to
apologize. The emergency room Dr and the surgeon must have called him
and told him I had been in.
I had to go back to the Surgeon, who is a Orthopedic specialist every
other day for 2 weeks.
Monday 9/4/06- Back to work, wound is healing, not painful
anymore….but still tender, wearing gator garden clogs for shoeware…
back to Dr. on Sept 11. Hope its the last time.
9/12/06- Dr. said it looked good, I don’t need to go back. See picture
from Sept 12 for how it looks one month after bite.
Don’t let anyone tell you the the Brown recluse is not in WI or other
states, with all the travel, wood hauled, mulch shipping from the south,
they are around. I am certain that it what bit me, and I ordered the
Brown recluse first aid kit and lots of spider traps! I don’t ever want
to go through this again!
Several hours after the bite:
5th day after the bite:
7 days after surgery:
10 days after:
My mom (67) lives with us here in Texas and she does not trust doctors, so I often treat her homeopathically. She was bitten 2 days ago (Sunday) by what I am sure was a Brown Recluse - her bite looks distinctly like a target, it was very bright red and swollen at first. As soon as she noticed the bite (they take a few hours to start hurting) - I had her to clean it with lemon and rub Nutribiotic on it ( this is an extract of grapefruit seeds) then we applied a poultice of food grade diatomaceous earth and aloe juice.
This helped to cool it down and draw out the poison. On Monday morning I had an appointment with my doctor for bloodwork (I am diabetic), so I had mom to tag along and the nurse confirmed for me that mom was bitten by a Brown Recluse. After we left the doctor, we made a run to the health food store and bought Echinacea Extract and Lobelia Extract and picked up a bunch of plantains from the grocery.
While I prepared the new poultice - I had her to hold the plantain skin to her wound. I placed 1/2 a plantain, 1/2 cup of aloe juice, 10 drops of Echinacea extract, 5 or 6 drops of Lobelia, and 10 drops of Nutribiotic into a cup and pureed it in my bullet blender - we mixed this with food grade diatomaceous earth and have been using it to both soothe and draw on the wound - she also applied it to the itchy rashes she developed on her extremities and they went away. So far we have relieved her pain and kept it from going necrotic we have another day or so before we will know we are out of the woods so to speak - but I feel confident that her bite will heal with little complications.
I think it is also important that you know that I have been feeding her sliced tomatos with lots of raw garlic and Gorgonzola cheese throughout the day - the bacteria in the cheese and the garlic have strong antibiotic properties, and it tastes pretty good too!. She also had a meal of liver and onions on Monday to help offset the blood cell weakness many Brown Recluse bites can cause - so far she is doing great.
I am including a photo I took today (Tuesday) that shows the current state of her bite. I hope this information will help your readers. I appreciate the photos and info provided there very much - it helped me determine what the best tactics for treatment might be.
Thanks!
Toni M. in Texas
Hi…
I don’t think brown recluse spiders are as rare as some people believe they are… I think that most people just don’t know what they look like!
I was shocked when I saw (or at least realized what I was looking at!) my first brown recluse! The are small and DELICATE looking… It was slowly walking across my playroom floor… it surprised me, because I had always heard that they hide all the time, so I was not expecting to see one so “out in the open”… as a matter of fact, at first I walked right by it because it was so small and non-threatening looking! but, something made me stop in my tracks and go back… I caught it under a glass and then got out my magnifying glass to look at it and sure enough, there was that dreaded violin shape on it’s back! After knowing what I was looking for, I noticed quite a few in my home…. I was really worried about someone in my family getting bitten by one, so I researched online and apparently the only really good way to get rid of them is to buy these little sticky traps that the spider gets stuck to when they try to walk through them… I purchased a box of the traps and put them all around the inside of the house and quite a few were caught that way…
I read one of the posts who said they are not aggreassive and I will disagree with this… When I see a spider in the house (we live in central Texas, so I get a lot of wolf and smaller varieties of spiders in the house a lot) I trap them under a glass, slip a piece of heavy paper or cardboard under it and toss them outside. Most spiders that I have come across will always try to run when they realize they are cornered, but not the brown recluse… this tiny, FRAGILE LOOKING little spider totally stands its ground and will get into an aggressive stance like he’s thinking “want some of this?” This is one little spider that does not get tossed outside at my house… he goes right down the toilet!
We have been really lucky so far, with no BR bites, but I have read that they have had some REALLY good success and outcomes with doing ACCUPUNCTURE treatments on the bite area.
I think it is important not to get paranoid and overly concerned about this spider, but rather DO YOUR HOMEWORK on them, so that you know what you are dealing with and then in the rare case, you are bitten, you already have a “plan of action” and can ACT QUICKLY! That’s the key!
best wishes!
I want to make a quick comment about the “huge recluse spiders” people have found, especially in the northwest. I am not here to tell you that you have not seen a recluse, like many others have. I am here to warn you that you might have seen something more threatening than a recluse, a hobo spider. They grow to ginormous proportions, have some of the same after effects of the recluse and are very aggressive! Scientifically, recluse spiders are not large and are not aggressive. They also won’t be found in the Northwest, but how can someone definitively tell you that if every doctor shuts you down when you suggest it?
A huge recluse, is still possibly something more sinister. The hobo spider is a “trigger web” spider, which means its very nature is to attack purely out of reaction to something in its vicinity, which helps to explain its aggressiveness. Something triggers its web, and it attacks it before it can get away. This is a spider that will theoretically come after you, in contrast to the more venomous spider that will try to avoid you.
I was bitten by something on 07/13/08 in Abbotsford, British Columbia. I’m trying to figure out what could cause the symtoms that I am experiencing. The bite is swollen and a great portion of my foot has also swelled. The bite itself is red, swollen and has a white centre. If anyone has any helpfull information could you please email me at magill2 @ live.ca
any help is greatly appreciated!
At 5:00 am on May 6th, 2002 I was bitten by a brown brown recluse spider while lying in bed. The first day I went to the hospital they gave me aspirin and told me to go home to sleep the bite away. The next day I was rushed to the emergency room and told I was a fraction of time away from losing my leg or life. After nine days in the hospital they decided to remove the dead tissue. What I had left was a 12-inch diameter hole in my leg. After a scar rescission surgery last year I was able to reduce some of the plate size hole in my leg. The apartment I was in collected around 24 spiders which all proved to be brown recluse spiders. When I told the manager he laughed until he saw my leg and fainted. Even after all that it took the local Health Department to make him spray for bugs. Next time I see brown spiders strolling around my apartment I am packing my bags.
there was a spider on the kitchen floor of my house [california] and my friends traped it in a jar it was a recluse [brown]
I was bit by a brown recluse July 18th 2008, went to the hospital they gave me 3 pills told me it would heal itself, now i get to go to a surgeon every monday for the next few mths, i have a bacteria infection set up in my body and i’m very ill, and i have a very ugly area on the back of my thigh, still don’t know whats going on, I felt the spider bite me and even took it to the er with me.
i may have been bitten on my right arm by a spider the ones in my home looked just like one in the first picture accept i recently saw a baby white one on my bed which i killed-though im not sure if all the way could this be my spider?
Jim,
I found this one on my porch.
I have a sky light porch that only has a top, and she was on the bottom of the outside rafter with a egg sac with hundres of little ones.
I thought it was a Brown Recluse so I got rid of the little ones best I could and kept this one until today and let her go where I could find her again if I wanted too.
I have never seen one this big!!
The sheet of paper will give you her size!!
Thanks,
Joe
By the way I live in North Central Tennessee on the Kentucky border. Celina, TN
I have seen some more big bugs up here alot bigger than where I come from in South Georgia.
Enjoy
We just bought a lake home in the Ozarks in Arkansas and I have been using glue traps and caught quite a few of what may be brown recluse. I have sprayed with Home Defense Max and am using the glue traps. We are going to bomb the crawl space under the house BUT does anyone know what I can do to get rid of them. I am deathly arachnaphobic anyway but this is freaking me out. My neighbor told me about Viper but I haven’t been able to find it. Please help!
i seen a spider that looked like a trangula on the outside of my house in bridgewater, and i didnt know if it was one or not, because i figured that there were no tranguals in nova scotia. so i didnt really worry about it.
what type of spider would this have been,?
it looked exactly like one.