How to Identify a Brown Recluse

The Brown Recluse spider is one that carries fear in its wake. This venomous spider can do serious damage if it bites a person. This article will describe the Brown Recluse by appearance, habitat and bite symptoms.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
   The Brown Recluse is known for it's back.

   The first step in identifying a Brown Recluse is to know what it looks like! The Brown Recluse, also known as the Violin spider's coloring ranges from a tan to a dark brown. It's most identifiable attribute is found on its back in the shape of a violin where the body of the violin is close to the head and the neck of the violin extends out to the abdomen. This spider is small - only about 3/8" long and its legs stretch out to about the diameter of a quarter.

2. 
   The Brown Recluse will hide where you least expect it.

   The second step to identifying the Brown Recluse is to know where you might find it. Although many people mistake other spiders for the Brown Recluse in states like California, they are not native anywhere except Central US all the way south to the Gulf of Mexico. They are strongly present in the Southern states. These little guys like to make nests in window panes, shoes, clothing piles, attics, basements, crawl spaces and dark corners like in a closet.

3. The third step in identifying a Brown Recluse spider is its bite symptoms. Hopefully you have not been bitten but if you have, here's is what you might expect! The Brown Recluse is not considered an aggresive spider, but if touched will strike. It's bite can be as simple as a small sore you hardly notice or something that takes months to heal from. The bite will start out as a blister that will harden into a pattern of a blue/gray bull's eye. There will be great bruising and deadening of the skin. You may wind up with a huge sore that could get bad enough to require skin grafts. You will feel sore, dizzy, itching, fever, chills and naseous. In order to identify a Brown Recluse bite, you need to bring the spider in to the hospital. That could be difficult because you may not notice the bite for several hours.

[godgouchi]

on 10/15/2009 I think this article needs some exposure!

[godgouchi]

on 10/15/2009 I think this article needs some exposure!

[-Matthew-]

on 9/22/2009 Now thats a spider. Great Article. 5*