Bug Identifier
Brown Recluse Spider
Community identification

Brown Recluse Spider

Loxosceles reclusa

Order & Family
Order Araneae, Family Sicariidae
Size
6 to 20 millimeters in body length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.