Brown Recluse
Loxosceles reclusa
About the brown recluse
Brown recluses are reclusive nocturnal hunters that bite humans only when accidentally pressed against skin — putting on a shoe they crawled into, slipping into bedding, reaching into a stored box. Their venom is necrotic, which means a bite can develop into an open ulcer requiring medical treatment. They have a distinctive dark violin shape on the back of the body and six eyes arranged in pairs (most spiders have eight). Always shake out shoes and clothes from storage, and declutter.
Quick ID
6–20 mm uniform light brown with dark violin shape on back; six eyes in pairs.
In the Triangle
Present in NC but less established in the Triangle than the deep South; concentrate inspections in attics, garages, and storage boxes.
Think you have brown recluses?
Free inspection from a licensed Castle Exterminators technician — Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Cary & the Triangle. We'll confirm the species and recommend a treatment plan.
Request Free Inspection (919) 606-8686
