Brown Recluse
Loxosceles reclusa
Quick ID Markers
Habits & Biology
Reclusive (as the name suggests) — hides in dark, undisturbed areas. Venomous bite can cause necrotic skin lesions in some people. Nocturnal hunter. Common in South-Central and Midwest US. NOT found in most of the Northeast or Pacific Coast.
Typical Hiding Areas
Inside boxes, clothing left on the floor, shoes, behind furniture, in closets, under beds, in attics and crawlspaces, and in any undisturbed clutter.
Signs of Activity
🗓️ Seasonality
Year-round indoors. Most active at night. Encounters increase in fall when they move indoors.
⚠️ Mistaken Identity
🧪 Treatment Plan
Brown recluse control requires thorough de-cluttering, sticky traps for monitoring, and residual spray/dust in harborage areas. They are extremely reclusive — sticky traps are your best tool.
Consider professional treatment for confirmed Brown Recluse activity in living areas, especially with children or elderly. Heavy infestations in older homes can harbor hundreds.
Remove all boxes, clothing piles, and stored items from floors, closets, and storage areas. Brown recluses live in undisturbed clutter — eliminating it is the most effective control.
Prevention After Treatment
- •Store items in sealed plastic bins, not cardboard
- •Shake out shoes and clothing stored in closets
- •Maintain sticky trap monitoring year-round
- •Quarterly residual spray in storage areas and closets