Hobbies And Interests
Identification Features
The most distinctive feature of a brown recluse spider is the well-defined dark violin-shaped mark on its underside. The neck of the violin points backward toward the spider's bulbous abdomen. The other distinguishing feature of a brown recluse spider is its six eyes, instead of the usual eight, arranged in semi-circular pairs. The three groups of two eyes are located on the spider's cephalothorax, just behind its mouth parts. They are best seen with a 10-power magnifying glass.
Body Features
Adult brown recluse spiders range in coloration from light tan to dark brown. They're uniformly colored without stripes, bands or spots. Immature spiders are smaller and lighter colored. Males have smaller bodies than females with proportionally longer legs. The recluse spider's body and long, thin legs are covered with fine velvety hairs. The legs lack spines. Their bodies are about 3/8 of an inch long and 3/16 of an inch wide with a 1-inch leg span.
Life Cycle Features
The brown recluse spider spins an irregular web of loose, sticky, off-white to gray threads. The webs are usually located in dark, undisturbed areas indoors or outside. The spiders are nocturnal, scavenging for dead insects during the night. Females lay eggs from May through July. The clutch of about 50 eggs is wrapped in off-white silken sacs. The 2/3-inch diameter eggs hatch in about a month with the spiderlings growing into adults in approximately one year.
Bite Features
Features of a brown recluse spider bite depend on the quantity of venom injected and the individual's sensitivity to the poison. At first the pinprick bite may go unnoticed for two to eight hours. Others may experience a stinging sensation with subsequent intense pain. A small white blister forms at the bite mark with surrounding swelling. Reddening, hardening and enlargement of the tissue follows the initial symptoms. The bite develops into a necrotic lesion that may take several months to heal.