Pest Management Services in Rhode Island
Color: Light to dark brown, with characteristic dark brown violin marking on back
Region: Found in the south central Midwest from Ohio to Nebraska and southward through Texas to Georgia
Brown recluse spiders have a characteristic dark brown violin marking on their back.
Brown recluse spiders are nocturnal and eat other bugs like cockroaches and crickets. Male brown recluse spiders wander farther than females and will crawl into shoes or other clothing.
Brown recluse spiders often live outdoors in debris and wood piles. They can be found indoors in storage areas and dark recesses.
Like the black widow spider, the brown recluse spider bites in defense and does not bite humans instinctively. They will bite humans when the clothing they are hiding in is worn. The brown recluse spider bite is painful and can produce an open, ulcerating sore.