What does a baby brown recluse spider look like?

Author: Mrs. Rafaela Orn  |  Last update: Thursday, February 19, 2026

Baby brown recluse spiders are smaller and are a lighter tan, instead of the two-tone brown of mature adults. Brown recluse spiders are recognizable due to the dark violin shape on their head segment. However, baby brown recluse spiders do not have this mark, because it develops as the spider matures.

How can you tell if a baby spider is a brown recluse?

How to identify a baby brown recluse spider? Legs and abdomen will be a solid color. No stripes or patterns. Legs won't have any spines. Head has a distinct violin mark. Only has 6 eyes, arranged in 3 pairs.

What does a juvenile brown recluse spider look like?

Younger spiders are lighter in color than adults. The abdomen of the brown recluse has no stripes or spots. Size - Adults measure approximately 6 to 11 mm in length of body. At the widest leg span, their bodies are roughly the size of a United States quarter.

Can baby brown recluses hurt you?

A brown recluse could bite you if you disturb its home. Though the spider will not pursue a person, if you come in close contact with a brown recluse, it may bite to defend itself. Spiders like to hide in dark spots like beds and clothing.

What spiders can be mistaken for a brown recluse?

WOODLOUSE SPIDER (Dysdera crocata)

This spider is sometimes mistaken for the brown recluse spider, though there is only a vague resemblance between the two. Yet, like the brown recluse, the woodlouse spider has six eyes and is most active at night. This spider has a ½-inch long body.

Spider Bites: Black Widow vs. Brown Recluse

How do you rule out brown recluse?

An even more important identifier is the number and arrangement of the eyes. Unlike most spiders which have eight eyes, brown recluse spiders have six eyes arranged in three pairs. Note also that the legs of brown recluse are not spiny or banded like those of many spiders it is often confused with.

Would a brown recluse be in your bed?

Yes. They certainly can if you let them. If a recluse explores your bedroom while you're sleeping, it can crawl up bed skirts or blankets and get into bed with you.

Can you survive a brown recluse bite without treatment?

Some people are unaffected by a bite, whereas others experience immediate or delayed effects as the venom kills the tissues (necrosis) at the site of the bite. Many brown recluse bites cause just a little red mark that heals without event. The vast majority of brown recluse bites heal without severe scarring.

Is it bad to squish a brown recluse?

One of these bad decisions is trying to physically hit or squish a brown recluse. Doing so puts you in close proximity to the spider and makes it feel threatened. This is a combination that significantly increases your chances of getting bit.

Can you completely get rid of brown recluse spiders?

Because this species of spider is so dangerous, we do not recommend trying to kill brown recluse spiders naturally. To kill brown recluses, we suggest using a residual insecticide as a perimeter spray such as Onslaught Fastcap, Suspend Poly Zone, Demand CS, Avesta CS, and Cyper WSP.

Does one brown recluse mean more?

Although the word recluse alludes to the spider's solitary lifestyle, brown recluse spiders are prolific breeders. A typical female brown recluse lays up to five egg sacs, and each egg sac can contain as many as 50 eggs. So yes, if you see one, it could mean that you have hundreds of them.

What does a juvenile brown recluse look like?

Baby brown recluse spiders are smaller and are a lighter tan, instead of the two-tone brown of mature adults. Brown recluse spiders are recognizable due to the dark violin shape on their head segment. However, baby brown recluse spiders do not have this mark, because it develops as the spider matures.

How do you find a brown recluse nest?

The brown recluse, L. reclusa, in its normal range, prefers to inhabit gaps under rocks, boards, and the bark of dead trees and logs. In structures, it will live inside cracks in walls and boards and behind and under any number of items in storage. The brown recluse prefers nesting sites that are warm and dry.

What is the first stage of a brown recluse bite?

Symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite include: Reddened skin that may be followed by a blister that forms at the bite site. Mild to intense pain and itching for 2 to 8 hours following the bite. An open sore (ulcer) with a breakdown of tissue (necrosis) that develops a week or more following the bite.

How do you protect yourself from spiders while sleeping?

Protect yourself from spiders while sleeping by keeping your bed away from walls, using bed risers, and washing bedding regularly. Consider using lavender-scented sheets or placing cedar blocks near your bed.

What is biting me in my house that I can't see?

No-see-ums are tiny flying insects that are incredibly difficult to spot. Also known as biting midges, punkies, sand flies or biting gnats, these flying insects are small enough to fit through the mesh screens of windows and doors. They are also easy to overlook when they swarm around you or land on your skin.

How to treat a brown recluse bite?

What is the treatment for a brown recluse spider bite?
  1. Wash the area well with soap and water.
  2. Apply a cold or ice pack wrapped in a cloth, or a cold, wet washcloth to the site.
  3. Protect against infection, particularly in children, by applying an antibiotic lotion or cream.
  4. Give medicine for pain.

What eats brown recluse spiders?

In the wild, brown recluse spiders have a number of natural predators, including:
  • Wolf spiders.
  • Crickets.
  • Praying mantis.
  • Robins.
  • Wrens.
  • Chickens.
  • Spider wasps.
  • Centipedes.

What can be mistaken for a brown recluse bite?

Brown Recluse Spider Bites Are Often Misdiagnosed : Shots - Health News : NPR. Brown Recluse Spider Bites Are Often Misdiagnosed : Shots - Health News Skin lesions are often misdiagnosed as a brown recluse spider bite when they're actually a tick bite or MRSA or even skin cancer.

What month are brown recluse spiders most active?

Among 45 cases with features consistent of a BRSB, 43 (95.6%) occurred during April–October. Both the Vetter study and our study serve to demonstrate seasonal activity for brown recluse spiders.

How do I get rid of brown recluse in my bedroom?

If you find brown recluse spiders in your home, use Ortho® Home Defense Max® Indoor Insect Barrier with Extended Reach Comfort Wand® to kill them. Then use it to treat windows, door casings, and other entry points into the home to create a barrier to keep them out.

How many people have died from a brown recluse spider bite?

Brown recluse spider

They tend to live in undisturbed areas. These include basements, closets, and attics, or outside under logs or leaf piles. They don't normally attack, but they will if they're trapped. No deaths have been reported in the U.S. from brown recluse bites.

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