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Brown Recluse

(Family: Loxosceles reclusa)

Identification

Habits

The body of a Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa) varies from a yellowish to a dark brown color, and is covered with short, fine hairs. It also has a dark brown violin or ‘fiddle’ marking on its back. The body of the adult spider varies from 1/3 to 1/2 inch in length. Just like roaches, seeing even one Brown Recluse in the open may be indicative of a larger infestation in your home or structure. Brown Recluse spiders, as the name implies, are found in reclusive and undisturbed areas such as attics, garages, storage rooms, in or behind walls, large pieces of furniture, appliances, or stored goods. While they do spin small and sparse webs, these spiders are active and roaming hunters, and encountered more at night when they hunt for prey. Because adult spiders are rarely encountered, shed skins are a good indicator of an infestation.

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Brown Recluse

About Spiders

All spiders are eight-legged, and they can enter a home in a variety of ways: on clothing, through cracks under doors, and more.Although some bites may hurt, most spiders can’t seriously harm people, except for a few species present in the U.S. like the brown recluse and black widow.A Cook’s professional knows how to spot and control all types.