Brown Recluse Spider

Natural Habitat

Brown recluse spiders are commonly found in dark, secluded, and undisturbed areas, both indoors and outdoors. Indoors, they may inhabit attics, basements, closets, crawl spaces, and within furniture or boxes. Outdoors, they can be found under rocks, logs, bark, and in sheds or woodpiles. They thrive in temperate climates.

Diet & Feeding

Brown recluse spiders are predators that primarily feed on small insects like cockroaches, crickets, and other soft-bodied arthropods. They inject venom into their prey to paralyze and liquefy them before consuming.

Behavior Patterns

Brown recluse spiders are nocturnal and reclusive, meaning they prefer to hide in dark, undisturbed areas during the day. They do not build typical webs for catching prey, but rather construct irregular, tangled webs for shelter and egg-laying. When disturbed or threatened, they may bite defensively.

Risks & Benefits

Potential Risks: The bite of a brown recluse spider contains a necrotizing venom that can cause a severe localized reaction, leading to tissue destruction and an open sore (necrotic lesion) that can be slow to heal and may require medical attention. In rare cases, systemic reactions can occur. Potential Benefits: As predators, they help control populations of various insects that may be considered pests.

Identified on: 8/24/2025