What it looks like: The brown recluse spider, or violin spider, is about 1 inch long and has a violin-shaped mark on its upper back. It is often found in warm, dry climates and prefers to stay in undisturbed areas such as basements, closets, and attics. It is not an aggressive spider, but will attack if trapped or held against the skin. When the brown recluse bites, it’s usually painless—then skin reddens, turns white, develops a red bullseye shape, blisters, and then the pain sets in. Venom from the brown recluse spider usually causes local tissue damage, as pictured.
Symptoms to note: Moderate to severe pain and itching at the site of the bite is typical and usually occurs two to eight hours after the bite. Rare complications include fever, body aches, nausea, vomiting, hemolytic anemia (a blood disorder), rhabdomyolysis (a breakdown of muscle tissue that is then released into the blood), and kidney failure. In rare cases, these bites can be deadly. If you suspect that you’ve been bitten by a brown recluse, seek medical care. If you can, bring the spider, or a picture of the spider with you for positive identification.
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