Brown recluse, << REHK loos or rih KLOOS, >> is a brownish venomous spider found in the United States. Its body is about 3/8 inch (10 millimeters) long and has a dark, violin-shaped mark on its back. Unlike most spiders, the brown recluse has six eyes arranged in three groups of two instead of eight eyes arranged in two rows of four. A few hours after a brown recluse bites a person, the skin around the bite becomes red and swollen. In time, most of this tissue dies, leaving a deep sore that may take months to heal. Reactions to the bite range from mild to severe. The venom disrupts normal function of the victim’s immune system. A few severe reactions to the bite cause death, usually as a result of secondary infection.
Originally, the brown recluse lived only in the south-central United States. Today, it is occasionally found in other parts of the country. Several closely related species live in various parts of the country. These spiders look so much like the brown recluse that only a specialist can distinguish them. Some of these other species are also venomous.
The brown recluse can live a long time without food or water and has probably been carried to other areas in shipping crates. It is usually found outdoors under rocks, and indoors under furniture and in undisturbed areas. Bites occur when people come into contact with clothes and other items inhabited by the spider.
The brown recluse is active at night. It spins a sticky, irregular web with threads in all directions. The brown recluse uses its poison to paralyze the insects it preys on. The insects may live for days, allowing the spider to eat at its leisure. The female brown recluse lays 30 to 90 eggs at a time and encloses them in a thin, white egg sac.
