by Mike Potter, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky
College of Agriculture Many different kinds of spiders live
around homes and buildings. Most are harmless and in fact are
beneficial, because they prey upon flies, crickets and other
nuisance insects. One spider in Kentucky that is potentially
dangerous is the brown recluse, sometimes referred to as the
violin or fiddleback spider because of the violin-shaped marking
on its dorsum. Although bites are rare, the venom can cause
serious wounds and infestations should be taken seriously.
Distribution and Diagnosis The brown recluse spider, Loxosceles
reclusa, is found throughout the south central and midwestern
United States. Infestations in Kentucky are intermittent,
becoming more common as one travels westward. Other species of
Loxosceles spiders occur in the southwestern U.S. and southern
California, but the brown recluse is the most notable and
widespread. Recluse spiders are rare outside their native range
and are widely over-reported. Occasionall