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

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  (#11) Unlike Most Spiders, The Brown Recluse Sports Three Pairs Of Eyes

  Another interesting fact which sets the brown recluse apart from other, similar spiders has to do with its eyes. Most spiders sport two sets of eyes; the brown recluse has three. The better to see and avoid you with!
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  (#3) Brown Recluse Spiders Actually Prefer 'Habitats' Made By Humans

  They're not called the "brown recluse" for nothing. In the wild, they appear under rocks and logs, but these locations are not ideal real estate for a brown recluse. In fact, this arachnid prefers human environments, where dry and tucked away places exist in abundance: corners, under furniture, woodpiles, in drawers, shoe boxes, etc. Not known for aggression, a brown recluse won't bother anyone unless disturbed. The trouble is, many times, they make their home in yours. Careful next time you go fumbling through your sock drawer or cleaning out the corner of your garage.
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  (#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.
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  (#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.
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  (#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.
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  (#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!

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