Are there brown recluses in North Carolina?
Only as rare records. GBIF holds 1 open record of the brown recluse from North Carolina, the latest from 2022, but there is no known population.
Where the records come from
- None
- 1 to 2 records
- 3 to 9
- 10 to 49
- 50 or more
Brown recluses across the US
- Lives here
- Rare records
- Gone
- Not here
How to recognize one
Brown recluse Loxosceles reclusa
- Dark violin shape on the back, neck of the violin points to the rear
- Six eyes in three pairs (most spiders have eight)
- Plain tan abdomen and legs with no bands or spines
Medically significant. Most bites heal without trouble; a few cause a slow-healing wound. Many wounds blamed on recluses outside their range turn out to be other conditions.
Often mistaken for brown recluses
- Brown Recluse vs Wolf Spider Wolf spider: harmless, lives in North Carolina
- Brown Recluse vs Hobo Spider Hobo spider: harmless
- Brown Recluse vs Cellar Spider Cellar spider: harmless, lives in North Carolina
- Brown Recluse vs Southern House Spider Southern house spider: harmless, lives in North Carolina
Questions
Are there brown recluses in North Carolina?
Only as rare records. GBIF holds 1 open record of the brown recluse from North Carolina, the latest from 2022, but there is no known population.
Where are the nearest brown recluses to North Carolina?
In Georgia and Tennessee.
What do brown recluses look like?
Dark violin shape on the back, neck of the violin points to the rear. Six eyes in three pairs (most spiders have eight). Plain tan abdomen and legs with no bands or spines.
Could a wound be a recluse bite anyway?
Doctors and spider researchers warn that many wounds blamed on recluses in states without them are other conditions, often skin infections. A doctor should look at any wound that spreads or does not heal.