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Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)
Description: The brown recluse is a medium-sized spider (female, 9-11 mm; male 6-8 mm) with relatively long, light brown legs. This species may be identified by the dark brown, violin-shaped mark on its light brown cephalothorax. The abdomen is oval and uniformly gray to brownish gray with no markings. Its bite is venomous!

Habitat: In nature this species is found under logs and rocks, where it spins a small loosely woven web. In houses or buildings it hides during daylight in dark secluded places such as in seldom-used closets, behind or underneath furniture, or in basements or crawl spaces. It hunts for insects at night. People are most commonly bitten when the spider is accidently pressed against the skin within clothing or bedding. In places where the brown recluse is common, avoid being bitten by shaking out clothing and bed linens that have been stored over a season.

Photograph by Everett Cashatt
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