Animal Profiles
Arachnids

Brown recluse

Loxosceles reclusa

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The brown recluse is a small brown spider that spends the day in quiet shelter and searches for insects at night. Its native range is concentrated in the south-central United States.

Brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa), the representative described here.

Brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa), the representative described here.

Rosa Pineda · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Loxosceles reclusa occurs from eastern Texas towards western Georgia and north to southern Illinois in the cited account. It shelters under bark and stones and can also occupy undisturbed spaces inside buildings.
Habitat
Temperate forest, Towns and cities
Diet
Insectivore
Food
Insects provide most food.

Classification

Common name
Brown recluse
Browse group
Arachnids
Scientific name or taxon
Loxosceles reclusa
Taxon rank
species
Order
Araneae
Family
Sicariidae
Genus
Loxosceles
Source classification
Arachnida

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It usually feeds at night.
  • It shelters in quiet places by day.
  • Insects form its main food.

Habitat and range

Loxosceles reclusa occurs from eastern Texas towards western Georgia and north to southern Illinois in the cited account. It shelters under bark and stones and can also occupy undisturbed spaces inside buildings.

Appearance and adaptations

A violin-like dark marking can appear on the front body region. The overall body is brown with slender legs. A marking alone should not be treated as proof that every brown spider is this species.

Diet and behaviour

Insects provide most food. The spider usually stays hidden during daylight, emerging after dark. Reproduction involves courtship signals that help a male approach a female without being mistaken for prey.

Sources

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