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The Brown Recluse spider is up to maximum of one inch long and has a distinctive violin like pattern on its back, leading to the alternate name fiddleback spider. It has a distinctive eye arrangement. Most spiders have what appear to be two rows of four eyes, but the brown recluse have what appear to be three sets of two eyes.

The Brown Recluse is found only in central and southeastern USA, but densely inhabits that region. There are other varieties of recluse spider found across the south of the USA and into California. Many spider bites are blamed on the Brown Recluse because it is easily misidentified. Other varieties of recluse spider, along with the Hobo spider and the Yellow Sac spider are all capable of producing necrotizing wounds however. The exact variety of spider doesn't really matter.

Brown Recluse spiders are shy creatures, and bites usually only occur when their habitat is disturbed by a clean out, or picking up long discarded clothes (teenagers take note), they particularly seem to favor cardboard and woodpiles.

When bites do occur they rarely produce necrosis and usually heal without scarring. Many reported cases on investigation have turned out to be due to other problems, such as MRSA infection.

The exceptions to this are children under seven and victims with an already compromised immune system. It is hard to define just how many bites actually occur, and what the consequences are, as bites are rarely felt at the time of the bite. The first sign is itchiness after two to eight hours with pain and other effects developing over the following twenty-four hours. A wound may begin to form at this time.

It has been suggested that not all bites lead to wounds because the wounds are not due to the bite, but rather a bacteria introduced by the bite. If a wound does form it may become as big as ten inches across. These wounds are very hard to heal. Although ugly and difficult to treat these wounds are not the cause of the few reported deaths from Brown Recluse Spider bites.

Deaths occur when there are systemic effects. That is when the toxin from the bite gets into the bloodstream. The initial effect is nausea and vomiting, with rashes, muscle and joint pain. This may then progress to the breakdown of blood cells (hemolysis) or the clotting of blood in the vessels (coagulation), that in turn can cause heart attacks or gangrene. These systemic effects are exceptionally rare, and have only been reported in people with low immunity and small children.

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