The brown recluse spider and the wolf spider are terrifying spiders, and the brown recluse spiders are extremely poisonous. Unfortunately, many people are confused brown recluse spiders with wolf spiders. Therefore, it is important that you can distinguish them if you see one of these spiders.
Wolf spiders are larger, and their presence is usually creepier, and they are multi-colored. At the same time, the brown recluse spider has a more uniform color and has an inverted violin-shaped pattern on its back that is slightly noticeable.
Have you seen a brown spider in your home and want to identify it? Many people feel anxious and chill when they find a spider around their homes. Below you will find all the information you need to know about the difference between brown recluses and wolf spiders.
How to Identify Wolf Spiders?
Identifying wolf spiders and brown recluse spiders is very important, the latter is one of the most poisonous spiders in the United States. There are many species of wolf spiders, and they are brown, which is why they are confused with brown recluses.
Wolf spiders are surprising in their size and their menacing and intimidating appearance, but their venom is weak and does not cause serious problems. Wolf spiders have two dark lines on their back and a thick dark line on their abdomen.
It is a scary but shy and harmless species of spider. Wolf spiders are large and hairy and have a patterned back. These types of spiders have a wider range than brown recluses and can be found everywhere.
They can be 1 to 2 inches long and do not have a violin-shaped marking. Although the wolf spiders, like all arachnids, have venom, their venom is harmless and weak.
Unlike sting symptoms such as swelling, pain, and gangrene or tissue death experienced by brown recluse victims, wolf spider bites resemble bee or other insect stings. The sting may be sore for a few minutes and itchy for a few days.
You can find this species within dense vegetation or foliage; it is common at these sites because they burrow into these materials. Wolf spiders generally prefer natural environments so that they can mix easily.
These spiders prefer to use existing burrows or holes of small animals for their homes. They can also use the cracks in the foundations of houses or buildings or sheltered places in thick bushes.
They are nocturnal spiders, so you are more likely to find them during the night. When you use a flashlight and come across a wolf spider, you will see that its eyes will stand out and shine in the light.
Wolf spiders are very affectionate mothers, and females carry their eggs on their backs. They even allow their young after hatching to live on their backs. So when you come across a wolf spider with a sac on its back, you should be very careful because this species can be more aggressive when they carry their eggs.
Keeping your house or yard clean will make it a less attractive place for wolf spiders. Another aspect that makes them terrifying spiders is their ability to jump; they have their name because they have a running behavior similar to wolves.
When they locate prey, they will pounce on it and inject its venom into it. Although it is harmless to humans, it can kill the internal organs of crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, earwigs, and other insects.
How to identify brown recluse spiders?
Brown recluse spiders are one of the most dangerous species of arachnids in the United States. The bites of these spiders are common and tend to be more painful and even deadly. They can be found throughout the south-central and midwestern United States.
The brown recluses prefer quiet and dry places; their favorite places are piles of firewood and even footwear that they leave outside the home. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common ways people are bitten by brown recluse spiders, because of a shoe outside with the spider.
They are between ¼ and ½ inches long. They are light brown to dark brown and appear hairless. However, one of the characteristics that stand out the most is the dark brown violin-shaped pattern that the brown recluses have on the back, below their head.
Brown recluse bites can lead to necrosis of the flesh. They can cause gangrene, especially in the elderly and young. The body and legs of these spiders are smooth; although they are called brown recluses, their color is light brown, dark brown, and even blackish gray.
They only have six eyes, and this differentiates them from most species of arachnids. This feature is difficult to notice unless you find the spider dead. Because of its violin-shaped brand, this spider is known by other names such as brown violinist and violinist spider.
These spiders represent a risk, so you must identify them correctly so as not to get close. For example, if you come across a brown recluse, you can use a sticky trap so you can identify it without getting too close. You can also contact a professional pest team so that you can correctly identify it and take appropriate action.
Brown recluse spiders do not build webs; this is a feature to keep in mind. They do not expect food to be trapped in their web; this species hunts its prey. When brown recluses feel threatened, they can bite.
They are good at hiding, and due to their size, they cannot be discovered by predators. However, brown recluse spiders have a list of natural predators: crickets, wolf spiders, chickens, spider wasps, praying mantises, kings, robins, and centipedes.
Differences between wolf spiders and brown recluse spiders
Wolf spiders are larger and can be 1 to 2 inches long. At the same time, brown recluses are typically less than three-quarters of an inch tall.
The wolf spider is hairy, and the brown recluse spider has a smooth body and legs.
The wolf spider has a pattern on its back that can be of various colors, the most common being stripes. While the brown recluse spider has a violin-shaped pattern, and its color is light brown.
Brown recluses have six eyes, a rare feature in arachnids, while wolf spiders have 8. However, both species have distinctive and contrasting eye arrangements, so you can easily identify them.
Wolf spiders have sturdy legs with spines, while brown recluse legs are thin and smooth. Each one has eight legs, but the design can vary between different spiders.
With this information, you will identify a wolf spider from a brown recluse spider correctly. You can also seek the help of a professional to find out what type of spider you have on your property.