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Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)

Loxosceles reclusa

The Loxosceles reclusa, sadly known as 'Brown Recluse'. Along with the black widow, it is the other spider of severe medical relevance in North America. Aesthetically it is an anonymous and insignificant spider (0.6-0.8 inches), of a sand brown or light brown color. Its only distinctive mark is the 'violin' shaped spot on the carapace. However, it possesses a formidable necrotoxic venom (Loxoscelism), capable of causing deep necrotic ulcerations in human tissues. It is a shy, non-aggressive and nocturnal (wandering) spider, which bites only if trapped in clothes or crushed. Keeping requires extreme caution and inviolable escape protocols.

Taxonomy
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Family:Sicariidae
Genus:Loxosceles
Species:Loxosceles reclusa

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

40 - 50 %

Day temperature

20 - 26 °C

Night temperature

18 - 21 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: This recovery makes no geographic-origin or habitat statement beyond the cited facts.
Taxonomy and Genetics: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy lists Loxosceles reclusa Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940 as an accepted species in genus Loxosceles, family Sicariidae and order Araneae. This recovery makes no genetic statement beyond the cited facts.
Behaviour and Habits: This recovery makes no behavioural statement beyond the cited facts.
Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: This recovery makes no morphological or sex-comparison statement beyond the cited facts.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: A biology study summarized by UF/IFAS recorded 430 of 626 brown recluse spiders in buildings and outbuildings, especially in boxes and among papers. This recovery retains that field observation and does not turn it into a terrarium-design instruction.
Lighting and Heating: This recovery sets no lighting or temperature parameter.
Humidity and Hydration: The cited biology section reports that the observed specimens seemed to prefer dry conditions. This recovery does not derive a humidity target from that observation.
Feeding and Supplementation: The cited biology section reports prey consisting of other arthropods, including other spiders and ants. This recovery adds no feeding quantity, frequency, or supplementation instruction.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: This recovery makes no cohabitation claim.
Health and Common Diseases: The UF/IFAS profile says brown recluse spiders usually bite only when trapped next to a person's skin. This recovery provides no medical diagnosis or treatment instruction.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Nord America (Abitazioni, fienili, cataste di legna e zone secche degli Stati Uniti centro-meridionali).

Origin

North America

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet
No verified data available
Life expectancy
No verified data available
Adult size
1.2 cm
The catalog's scalar value is 1.2 cm. The University of Florida IFAS — Brown Recluse Spider source reports a maximum adult measurement of 1.2 cm for this species, recorded as body length. The taxonomic record consulted is Loxosceles reclusa. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Lifestyle/Microhabitat
No verified data available
Activity cycle
No verified data available
Sociality
No verified data available
Reproduction
No verified data available
Venom level
No verified data available
Handling tolerance
No verified data available
Brumation
No verified data available
Molting
No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

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Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

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Last updated: 08/10/2026
Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa) Care Guide & Terrarium Setup | Atlarium