The Brown Recluse Spider is infamous and often misunderstood. Now that I'm living within the spider's range, I wanted to learn more about this little guy that always has everyone talking.
Brown Recluse Range Map:
Quick facts!
This spider is not aggressive! It only bites when it feels threatened. Bites are rare, and the spider usually quietly coexists with people. It lives in dark, secluded spaces, such as under debris or in basements. It is also an ecologically significant member of the food chain!
You should take it seriously if you suspect that you were bitten by this spider, but don't panic. Most bites are mild and can heal on their own. In some cases, the bite can result in necrotic sores that totally suck ass and require medical treatment. Since you can't know for sure what the outcome of your bite will be, it's always worth seeing a doctor, just in case. The sores, as much as they are not fun, are treatable. Deaths from Brown Recluse Spiders are very, very rare!
It's very common for unrelated bites and sores to be misattributed to the Brown Recluse. People often misidentify similar looking spiders.
Learn more! Read "The Brown Recluse Spider" by Richard S. Vetter and check out this ArachnidAnswers article.
Hall of Fame
In general, I love hymenoptera (bees, ant, wasps, sawflies) and moths. I also love parasitoids and decomposers!
Photo credits, from top to bottom and left to right: Elsa Youngsteadt, Jeff Gage, Amanda Bachmann, Blake Layton.
From top to bottom, left to right:Blinded Sphinx Moth, Eastern Yellow Jacket, Margined Leatherwing Beetle, Northern Paper Wasp
