Brown Recluse, Violin Spider, Fiddleback Spider
Loxosceles reclusa
Sicariidae (Six-eyed Sicariid Spiders), Order Araneae
Physical Description
A medium-sized spider with a distinct necrotic violin-shaped mark on the cephalothorax. The body is finely haired with a soft, velvet-like texture. It has a pyriform (pear-shaped) cephalothorax and an oval-shaped, unpatterned abdomen. In this specimen, the prominent pedipalps and slender proportions indicate an adult male.
Size Estimate
Body length 6-12mm; total leg span approximately 25-40mm. This specimen appears to be an adult male based on the mature bulbous pedipalps.
Coloration & Markings
Light to medium tan/brown. The key feature is the dark brown 'violin' or 'fiddle' marking on the cephalothorax, with the neck of the violin pointing toward the abdomen. The abdomen is uniformly colored without stripes or spots.
Web Type
The Brown Recluse builds irregular, grayish, sticky 'tangle' webs. These are used for retreat and egg-laying rather than primary hunting. Webs are usually tucked away in dark, undisturbed corners.
Eye Arrangement
Highly diagnostic: 6 eyes arranged in three pairs (dyads) forming a semi-circle or 'U' shape. One pair is anterior median, and two pairs are lateral. This differs from most spiders which have 8 eyes.
Leg Characteristics
The legs are long, slender, and lack conspicuous spines or banding. They are covered in fine hairs. When at rest, they often hold their legs in a flattened, sprawling posture.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Contains sphingomyelinase D, a cytotoxic (tissue-destroying) protein. Most bites result in minor redness, but some can lead to necrotic skin lesions (loxoscelism) or, rarely, systemic reactions.
Medical Significance
Medically significant. Symptoms may include a 'bullseye' blister, localized pain, and a slow-healing ulcer. Though deaths are extremely rare, professional medical evaluation is recommended if a bite is suspected.
Safety Recommendations
Shake out shoes and clothes left on the floor. Wear gloves when moving storage boxes or woodpiles. To relocate, use a glass and paper method cautiously, or use sticky traps for monitoring infestations.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Primarily found in the Central and Southern United States. They prefer dark, dry, undisturbed areas like basements, attics, woodpiles, and unused storage boxes or clothing.
Behavior & Temperament
Reclusive and non-aggressive. They are nocturnal hunters that leave their webs at night to scan for prey. They usually only bite when pressed against skin (e.g., inside clothes or bedding).
Diet & Prey
Generalist predators feeding on soft-bodied insects like silverfish, cockroaches, and crickets. They are known to scavenge on dead insects, which is unusual for many spiders.
Seasonal Activity
Active year-round indoors, but most sightings occur between March and October during mating season when males wander in search of females.
Description
The Brown Recluse is one of the most misunderstood spiders in North America. Identifiable by its 'fiddle' marking and six eyes, it is a shy creature that avoids human interaction. Despite its fearsome reputation, it plays a vital role in controlling indoor insect populations.
Key Features
Violin-shaped mark on the cephalothorax; 6 eyes in 3 pairs; uniformly colored abdomen; long, slender, un-banded legs.
Similar Species
Spitting Spiders (Scytodidae) have 6 eyes but spotted bodies. Cellar Spiders (Pholcidae) have much longer legs and different eye clusters. Male House Spiders (Kukulcania hibernalis) are often mistaken for them but lack the 3-pair eye arrangement.
Life Cycle
Females produce 1-5 egg sacs containing about 50 eggs each. Spiderlings take about a year to mature. They are remarkably long-lived, often surviving 2-4 years in favorable conditions.
Ecological Importance
Acts as an important indoor predator, effectively controlling populations of pests like cockroaches, silverfish, and moths that can damage homes.
Conservation Status
Not listed / Secure. They adapt well to human-modified environments.
Interesting Facts
They are incredibly resilient and can survive for many months without food or water. They are also 'autotomous,' meaning they can drop a leg to escape a predator and continue living with seven legs.
Photography Tips
Focus on the top of the cephalothorax (head region) to clearly capture the violin mark and the eye arrangement. Macro shots of the eye pairs provide 100% certain identification.
Identified: 2026-05-04T22:55:32.304584