How to Identify Brown-Recluse Spiders

The Brown Recluse spider is arguably the most deadly spider in the United States. To make matters worse, it can be found in nearly every state. In trying to identify the spider they have seen, many people tend to confuse the Brown-Recluse spider with another variety of spider. Since the Brown-Recluse bite can cause permanent skin damage, serious infection, and other serious health problems it's important to identify the difference. Here are some quick and easy ways to tell if what you see is a Brown-Recluse spider.

Instructions

• 1

  Geographic area is a great way to identify a spider. The Brown-Recluse is more frequently found in the central, mid-western and southern states, and as far south as Mexico. However, the Brown-Recluse might be the exception to this geographic strategy-they have been seen from the east to the west coast.

• 2

  So if geographic area can't predict the habitats of this spider, you will have to do a little more work. They can be found indoors or outdoors, generally in dark and quiet spots. They generally live in dense populations. For some reason they seem to do very well in human-altered environments. Inside attics, basements, under boxes, behind furniture-any of these places are a prime location for the Brown-Recluse. Know where these spiders live so you don't have to worry about pain relief!

• 3

  Their physical appearance may also prove helpful. These are a smaller variety of spider, usually only about half an inch big, sometimes growing up to ¾ of an inch. They also are part of a rare group of spiders to have six eyes rather than eight. The eyes are stacked in two rows of three.

• 4

  Unique physical traits include no coloration pattern on their abdomen and seemingly hairless legs (covered in fine hairs). The easiest way to recognize the Brown-Recluse spider is by the violin shape located on the neck (the violin is pointing toward the pack of the spider). For this reason they are often referred to as the fiddle-back spider.

• 5

  The last way you want to identify a spider like this is by its bite. However, if you have already been bitten, this might be the easiest method. A bite from the Brown-Recluse spider will be initially painless. Anywhere between 2 and 8 hours later the site of the wound will redden and begin to swell. After that point the tissue will be vulnerable to and display signs of necrosis (fancy word meaning skin tissue will die). The bite can take a long time to heal and if not treated properly can disrupt blood flow and cause permanent scarring and permanent skin damage. Seek professional care immediately.