Brown recluse spider

Natural Habitat

Found in dark, undisturbed areas such as cluttered basements, attics, woodpiles, and behind furniture.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous; hunts soft-bodied insects like cockroaches, crickets, and flies.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and reclusive; they do not use a web to trap prey but hunt it down. They only bite when threatened or pressed against the skin.

Risks & Benefits

Possesses a necrotic venom that can cause severe skin damage (loxoscelism); medical attention is recommended if bitten. Benefit the ecosystem by controlling pest insect populations.

Identified on: 3/13/2026