They are attracted to homes because there are hiding places and prey to eat. Around homes, they are most likely encountered under woodpiles, overhangs, tree bark, wall voids, leaf litter, brush, and crawl spaces. In nature, the brown recluse spider lives outdoors in dry areas such as caves and rock and log piles. The brown recluse spider has been collected throughout Alabama but is more commonly found in the state’s northern half. The sac spiders and funnel weaver (hobo) spiders have eight eyes arranged in two rows of four, whereas the cellar spider species have either eight eyes closely grouped or six eyes grouped in two clusters. Some brown-colored spiders are often mistaken for brown recluses. They molt a shed skin stretching out on a flat surface (figure 3). Males are generally half the size of females. Female bodies range in size from 10 to 15 millimeters (about 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch) and have a leg span over 25 millimeters (1 inch). The brown recluse spiders are pale tan to brown, with uniformly colored no-spine legs. A more definitive diagnostic feature is the eye pattern on the front of the cephalothorax-six eyes arranged in three pairs in a semicircle pattern with a space between each pair (figure 2). The shape and intensity of the fiddle design may vary. The brown recluse spider belongs to a group of spiders commonly known as the “fiddle-back” or “violin spider” because of the violin-shaped marking on the dorsal surface of the cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) with the neck of the violin pointing toward the abdomen (figure 1). However, the brown recluse, Loxosceles reclusa, is one of the exceptions. Homeowners should leave spiders alone if they are in their natural habitats, such as the yard or garden. Spiders are considered beneficial arthropods because they often prey on insects and small soft-body arthropods that we consider nuisances. Most spiders do not have mouthparts strong enough to penetrate the skin. People often fear spiders because of their ill-deserved reputation for poisoning victims.
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