Brown recluse spider

Natural Habitat

Indoors, they are commonly found in dark, secluded, and undisturbed areas such as closets, attics, basements, crawl spaces, and inside storage boxes, furniture, or forgotten clothing. Outdoors, they might be found under rocks, logs, or loose bark.

Diet & Feeding

Brown recluse spiders are carnivorous, preying on small insects and other arthropods. They do not typically trap prey in their webs but actively hunt.

Behavior Patterns

Brown recluse spiders are nocturnal and solitary. They build irregular webs that are used as a retreat rather than for trapping prey. When disturbed, they tend to flee but will bite if trapped or pressed against the skin. They are often found in undisturbed areas like attics, basements, closets, and sheds.

Risks & Benefits

The primary risk associated with brown recluse spiders is their venomous bite. While rarely fatal, the bite can cause dermonecrotic lesions, meaning the venom destroys tissues. This can lead to slow-healing wounds, scarring, and in severe cases, secondary infection. Benefits are minimal from a human perspective, but like other spiders, they contribute to insect population control in their natural habitats.

Identified on: 8/20/2025