Brown Recluse and Other Recluse Spiders

Did you know that recluse spiders have six eyes, instead of the typical eight eyes found on most spiders?

While not often found in California, the fear of brown recluse spiders is common. In fact fewer than 20 verified specimens have been collected in California and specimens have been collected for decades. However, there are related species of recluse spiders in areas of southern California.

UC ANR’s Brown Recluse and Other Recluse Spider publication was written to provide science-based information to residents. This publication can be downloaded for free as a pdf or HTML webpage and includes:

• Identification
• American recluse spiders
• Spiders commonly confused with recluses
• Medical misdiagnoses
• Control

Brown recluse spider. Photo by Richard S. Vetter.