How to Identify Brown Recluse Spiders in North Carolina

All across the country, brown recluses are among the most feared types of spiders. While the states located in the South and the Midwest regions of the United States are no strangers to these spiders, other states rarely encounter brown recluses. There are also some states that may have problems with these spiders in some areas, but not in others. Those living in the western portions of North Carolina, for example, may encounter brown recluse spiders, while the eastern portions may not. If you live in North Carolina or another state that may have brown recluses, it is important know how to identify brown recluse spiders.

Things You'll Need

• Glass jar with lid
• Magnifying glass

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Instructions

• 1

  Capture the spider in question in a clean glass jar, and cover the jar with a lid. Using a magnifying glass, observe the spider's eyes. Brown recluses have six eyes that are divided into pairs, with a space separating each pair. Most other spiders have eight eyes, with two rows of four eyes. If the spider you are trying to identify has the brown recluse eye pattern, you will need to evaluate it further.

• 2

  Observe the spider's abdomen. Brown recluses have a dark violin shape on their abdomens. While other spiders also have these markings, the spider in question is likely a brown recluse if it has both the violin shape on its abdomen as well as the six-eye pattern.

• 3

  Observe the coloring of the spider. If the spider has more than one color on its legs or abdomen, or if its legs are darker than its abdomen, it is not a brown recluse spider.

• 4

  Check the spines, or hairs, on the spider's legs. Brown recluses do not have obvious spines. If the spider in question has visible spines on its legs, it is not a brown recluse.

• 5

  Observe the spider's web. If the spider you are observing has woven a web in plain sight, it is likely not a brown recluse spider. Brown recluses spin their webs in dark, hidden places.

• 6

  Estimate the spider's length. If the spider you are observing is over 1/2 inch long, it is too large to be a brown recluse spider.