Pest Guide for Brown Recluse Spiders
Brown recluse spiders are commonly found in the mid-southern part of the U.S. in states like Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and parts of the Midwest. While they do have some distinct markings, they can be easily confused with other spiders. Here, we share more about their features, habitat, diet and how to prevent them in your home or office.
Features
As their name suggests, brown recluse spiders are ¼ inch to ½ inch long and have a light brown or tan midsection and a darker brown abdomen. The most telltale characteristic on a brown recluse is a dark violin-shaped mark that starts at the head and points towards the back of the spider. It’s because of this marking that these spiders are also known as “fiddle-back spiders.”
While brown recluse spiders can bite, they don’t often do so unless provoked. Their bites are not normally severe and a person bit by one may experience redness or tenderness in the area. In rare situations, a brown recluse bite can cause necrosis or tissue damage and should be addressed by a professional.
Habitat & Diet
Like most spiders, brown recluse spiders favor dark, sheltered places like underneath logs or rocks, in tree stumps, in wood piles, and more. In your home, you may find them in basements, attics, garages, barns, behind furniture, in dark corners, and in other dim areas.
Brown recluse spiders are unique in that they like to hunt for their food. While they’ll spin a web to catch things like moths, flies, and other small insects, they prefer to hunt cockroaches, ants, crickets, and other crawling bugs.
Infestation Prevention
At Ledford’s, we know you’d rather not have brown recluse spiders in your home or office. In order to prevent an infestation, follow these tips:
- Frequently vacuum and dust dark areas of your home including underneath and behind furniture, in storage areas, and more.
- Inspect your home’s entry points to make sure there are no holes or gaps.
- Remove any piles of leaves, debris, and other matter from around your yard.
- Inspect your firewood before bringing it into the house.
- Clear away or cut back any plants that are growing next to your home and could serve as shelter.
If you do find brown recluse spiders in your home, call our pest control company as soon as possible. We’ll get rid of the problem for you quickly and professionally.
