Brown Recluse Spider Identification & Extermination Richmond VA

In the Richmond area, true Brown Recluse sightings are much rarer than people think, but they do exist. Understanding their biology and habits is the first step in knowing if you actually have a problem or if you're just looking at a harmless house spider.

The most famous way to identify a Brown Recluse is the dark, violin-shaped mark on its back (the cephalothorax). The "neck" of the violin points toward the spider's abdomen. However, you shouldn't rely on that alone, as some other spiders have similar patterns.

If you get close enough, the most accurate way to identify them is by their eyes. While most spiders have eight eyes, the Brown Recluse only has six, arranged in three pairs (dyads) in a semi-circle.

• Color: They are typically a solid light-to-medium brown. Their legs are uniform in color with no stripes or bands. If you see a spider with patterns that resemble socks or striped legs, it is not a Brown Recluse.

• Size: They are medium-sized spiders. Including the legs, they are usually about the size of a quarter. Their bodies alone are only about 3/8 to 1/2 inch long.

As the name "Recluse" suggests, these spiders do not want to be seen. They are nocturnal and spend their days hiding in dark, tight, undisturbed areas.

In a home, they are most often found in:

• Cardboard boxes and cluttered storage areas.

• Behind baseboards or inside wall voids.

• In the folds of clothing or bedding that hasn't been moved in a long time.

• Attics, crawl spaces, and dark corners of garages.

Unlike most spiders that sit in a web and wait for food, the Brown Recluse is a hunter, just like the Wolf Spider. They leave their hiding spots at night to search for insects. Their webs are not for catching prey; they are messy, off-white and used only for resting.

The Brown Recluse has "hemotoxic" venom. This is different from the Black Widow's nerve-attacking venom. A recluse bite affects the blood and skin tissue.

• The Bite: Most people don't even feel the initial bite.

• The Reaction: Within a few hours, the area may become red, swollen, and painful.

• Tissue Damage: In some cases, the venom can cause necrosis, which means the skin tissue around the bite dies, creating an open sore or ulcer.

• Severity: While the sores can be serious and take a long time to heal, deaths from Brown Recluse bites are extremely rare. Most bites heal on their own without significant tissue loss. Of course, consulting a doctor is highly recommended. We arent medical professionals.

Like the Black Widow, Brown Recluses are not social. They don't live in big families, but they can be found in groups if a specific area (like a pile of old boxes) provides enough food and hiding spots. Because they can live for several years and survive for months without food or water, they can be a very persistent pest once they move into a home.

If you ask ten people in Richmond if they’ve seen a Brown Recluse, nine of them will probably say yes. But here is the truth: Brown Recluses are not native to Virginia.

While they are well known here in RVA, they don't actually belong here. I want to clear up the confusion so you don't have to worry when you see a brown spider inside.

Brown Recluses are native to the Central and Midwestern United States. You’ll find them in states like:

• Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas

• Oklahoma and Texas

• Parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi

Virginia is well outside of their natural home range. Our climate and environment just aren't where they naturally thrive.

If a true Brown Recluse ends up in a Richmond home, it’s almost always a "hitchhiker." Because they love to hide in cardboard boxes and furniture, they usually get here through:

• Moving: Someone moves to Richmond and brings one in their boxes with them.

• Travel: A Brown Recluse crawls into a suitcase during a trip out west and hitches a ride back to RVA.

• Shipping: They can occasionally arrive in long-distance freight or shipping containers.

Almost every "Brown Recluse" call I I have gotten so far turns out to be something else. The two most common spiders people confuse them with are:

• Wolf Spiders: These are large and brown, but they have stripes on their legs and bodies and are hairy. Remember, a Recluse is a solid, uniform brown and smooth.

• Common House Spiders: These are the ones that build messy webs in your room corners. They are brown, but they don't have the violin mark or the six-eye pattern.

If you truly believe you’ve found a Brown Recluse, by all means, give us a call. I’d rather come out and tell you it’s a harmless house spider than have you worry.

But just like with Black Widows, you are the first line of defense. Since these spiders love to hitchhike in boxes and hide in clutter:

• Check your boxes: If you just moved or received a large shipment from out of state, check the boxes before bringing them into the house.

• Clear the Clutter: Reducing the number of cardboard boxes in your attic or garage takes away their favorite hiding spots.

• Shake it out: If you have clothes or shoes that have been sitting in the garage for months, shake them out before putting them on.

Standard pest control can help, but keeping a clean, clutter-free home is the best way to make sure a hitchhiking Brown Recluse Spider doesn't decide to stay.