Brown Recluse Spider
What it does: The most common and widespread of brown spiders, the brown recluse is found in southern and central states. The spiders have violin-shaped markings on the top of their head and thorax. You may not know if you’ve been bitten—at first. It can take up to 8 hours for the bite to appear as a red bullseye. The venom can cause tissue damage, which can lead to scarring and other serious complications.
What to do: To avoid bites, wear protective clothing when traveling through terrain that is home to these spiders. If bitten, it usually takes several hours before pain sets in and may become severe. Contact your doctor, or if traveling, seek help in an emergency room if the pain or swelling becomes severe.
