Random Things Most People Don't Know About Brown Recluse Spiders (11 items)

• 

  (#2) Some Say You Can Identify Them By Their 'Violin' Shape, Though That's Only Half-True

  Plenty of brown spiders exist in various sizes, so how do you know you're up against the venomous brown recluse? Well, some people also call the brown recluse the "fiddleback" spider, a useful moniker to help you identify a potential recluse. For years, people searched for a marking shaped like a violin that appears on the spider's backside as a means of identifying them. However, it turns out this 'violin' actually appears near the spider's eyes, meaning in order to identify the fiddle shape, you need to zoom in on it. If you think you came in contact with a recluse, you can always look for the violin. Just don't get too close!
• 

  (#6) They Go For Long Periods Without Food Or Water

  True to their names, brown recluses can hide out for months at a time without any nourishment. Most insects shrivel up and die after a few days or weeks without food and water, but arachnids boast a staying power insects can only dream of. According to experiments, some brown recluse spiders can live for up to 10 months with no nourishment or water (though some say two years is possible too); even more impressive, they can hold out for six months in sealed plastic containers with no air. This survival trait plays in perfectly with their preference of habitats, such as inside of drawers and boxes, where food and water generally come in short supply.
• 

  (#9) The Brown Recluse Confines Itself To Certain Parts Of The United States

  The scary reputation of the brown recluse spider precedes itself all over North America. Though the spider is seldom seen and seldom biting, some people express irrational fears about getting bitten, even though the brown recluse lives nowhere near to their home. Basically, the brown recluse is endemic to the American South and Midwest, though they have been known to venture further afield. That said, reports of brown recluses in California and Florida have happened, a testament to the arachnid's ability to hide away in boxes and containers. Before you move in to a new home, make sure you don't bring along any unwanted guests.
• 

  (#4) They Are Masters Of Disguise

  Brown recluse spiders boast a lot of look-alike spidery relations. Brown is apparently all the rage in the arachnid world, so you must look closely to make sure the brown spider you spotted is an actual brown recluse. Looking for the fiddle on its back is a great start, but unfortunately, a lot of brown spiders have somewhat similar markings. The key is to look at the eyes. Most spiders have two sets. Brown recluse spiders have three.
• 

  (#5) Brown Recluse Spiders Take Their Time Growing Up

  After birth, many spiders hit the ground ready to go, reaching full maturity in a matter of weeks or a few months. The brown recluse however develops at a slower pace, taking up to a year or more to reach maturity. They spend a few weeks on their mother's back before eventually heading out on their own. In the wild, they live an average of two years, but some scientists suspect they can live up to 10 years thanks to their ability to survive on little food.
• 

  (#7) They Produce A Bizarre Type Of Silk, Using It To Create Clumps Instead Of Webs

  Brown recluse spiders never bother spinning elaborate webs. Too much work, especially in a dark, cramped attic corner where space is already hard to come by. Besides, recluses produce a different type of silk than other spiders, the fibers flat and thin as opposed to the standard round shape. Even weirder, the silk sports little dots on it. Despite its thinness, the silk is found to be among the strongest out there, comparable to a Kevlar bulletproof vest. Scientists believe vibrations in the web alert the spider of nearby prey and/or threats.

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking