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The brown recluse spider (Losceles reclusa) is one of only a few poisonous species of spiders found in the United States. Its range covers the area from eastern Texas to western Georgia. Originally its range was more limited, but that range has been extended by the spider's ability to hitch rides in packing crates and suitcases and to go for long periods without food or water.
A medium-sized brown spider, the brown recluse is immediately recognizable because of the dark fiddle-shaped band on its back, right behind its eyes. Unlike most spiders, which have eight eyes in two rows of four, the brown recluse has only six eyes, in two clusters of three, although few casual observers care to get close enough to count them. It uses its venom to paralyze its insect prey, which may then live for days, until the spider is ready to eat.
The brown recluse is found outdoors in dark hiding places--under rocks or fallen tree limbs, for example. Indoors, it hides in areas that are seldom disturbed, such as attics, the backs of closets, or boxes of packed away clothing. In fact, because of its reclusive habits, this spider seldom comes in contact with people, and bites usually occur when someone is cleaning out closets, unpacking old boxes, or donning clothes that have been packed away and not worn for some time.
Either a few minutes or a few hours after a bite, the skin around the area will become red and swollen, but the degree of reaction can range anywhere from negligible to severe. In all but the mildest reactions, the bite of a brown reclusive causes significant pain. The wound may take months to heal, and much of the tissue around the bite dies, leaving a depressed scar about an inch across. Plastic surgery may be required to restore the area to a normal appearance.
Although the bite is rarely fatal, deaths do occasionally occur. Usually these are either the result of an allergic reaction or the consequence of secondary infections, because the venom of the brown recluse compromises the normal functioning of the immune system.
Fortunately, the brown recluse is a shy spider, and people seldom encounter it. In areas where the brown recluse is commonly found, people are kept informed of how to avoid the spider and how to recognize it if by chance they should come across one.
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