The Brown Recluse Spider as roughly 1/2 inch long is typically found outdoors or in dark, secluded areas indoors. Most typically you'll find the Recluse under rocks, yard debris and leaf piles, among fallen trees and woodpiles, and inside in closets and attic areas, or bedrooms (usually under beds or dressers), near the floor. The Recluse's appears ranges from yellow to brown, with a darker brown, violin shaped mark on its dorsal area.

The Brown Recluse can live up to two years, feeds on insects such as cockroaches and crickets, and its mating season ranges from February to October. The Recluse will lay from 40-50 eggs, wrapping them in an off-white, silken casing. While the Recluse is a convenient house guest, eating other pests, care should be taken if you're attempting to handle them - they will bite if you disturb them, sometimes leaving a scar.

Halt Bugology Factoid
These spiders are also commonly referred to as "fiddleback" spiders or "violin" spiders because of the violin-shaped marking on the top surface of the cephalothorax (fused head and thorax). (Factoid Source: Susan C. Jones, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Entomology, Ohio State University)

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