
Community identification
Brown Recluse Spider
Loxosceles reclusa
- Order & Family
- Order Araneae, Family Sicariidae
- Size
- 6 to 20 millimeters in body length.
Natural Habitat
Dark, undisturbed areas indoors such as basements, attics, and closets, as well as outdoors beneath rocks and bark.
Diet & Feeding
Insects, primarily caught by active hunting at night rather than using large webs.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal hunters that retreat to tight, hidden crevices during daylight. They typically bite humans only when accidentally trapped against the skin.
Risks & Benefits
Possesses a necrotic venom that can cause severe localized tissue damage and slow-healing wounds. They help control indoor and outdoor insect populations.