Although famous for its venomous nature, the brown recluse spider isn’t very prevalent throughout the state. However, they have relatives, such as the Arizona Recluse, that can still be a danger to you and your family. But that’s why we’re here – to help you identify and know how to handle any encounter you may have with this spider.
In this blog, we’ll look at the following:
- How common are brown recluse spiders in Arizona?
- Where are brown recluse spiders found?
- What to do if you see a brown recluse
- What are the most common spiders in Arizona?
How Common are Brown Recluse Spiders in Arizona?
The brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa) is primarily found in southern states ranging from Texas to Florida. The Desert Recluse or Arizona Recluse (Loxoseceles deserta) is more commonly what you’ll find in Arizona, especially the western half of the state. The venom of the two spiders is similar, so you should still be on the lookout for the Arizona Recluse.
Where are Brown Recluse Spiders Found?
The brown recluse and Arizona Recluse are characterized by their brown coloring and dark violin-shaped markings on their thorax. The two recluses also share similar living and hiding habits.
You will most commonly find them in places such as:
- Piles of logs, rocks, or firewood: Recluses live up to their name by being shy and seeking dark, undisturbed spaces.
- Inside boxes or furniture: Once more, recluses are sedentary – they’ll look for spots out of the way with little activity. If you have boxes or furniture that aren’t moved about much at all, a wandering recluse would surely settle there.
- Inside gloves, shoes, and clothes: A common story regarding brown recluse or Arizona recluse sightings is finding one hiding in a shoe while camping or a glove in a garage.
Make sure to check your shoes and clothes when you’re camping or outdoors for longer periods of time, and be careful when moving logs and rocks on your property. Similarly, keep rooms bright, make sure your screens and walls are properly sealed, and vacuum under your home furniture regularly. If you are careful, it is unlikely you’ll encounter a brown or Arizona recluse.
What to do if You See a Brown Recluse
It’s easy to react in fear when spotting one of these dangerous crawlers, and you might think you’ll be dealing with more of them if you’ve already found one. Luckily, brown recluses and Arizona recluses generally live alone. They produce fairly quickly and don’t have a large nest.
Read More: Identifying Spiders Found in your Home
Unfortunately, traditional insecticides and sprays are not effective against these spiders unless you’re able to spray directly on them for a sustained amount of time. Similarly, while it is not typical to see many of them together, you still want to be sure that you don’t have an infestation in your home.
Thus, if you see a recluse in your home, you should immediately call a professional pest control expert to help you deal with this venomous invader. In the meantime, make sure that you are keeping your home uncluttered and your plants and shrubs from leaning into your walls, and check your wood and stone piles regularly for spider webs as a preventative measure.
Simply put, leave recluses alone until they can be treated by professionals.
What are the Most Common Spiders in Arizona?
While brown and Arizona recluses may find their way to your home, here are some other prevalent species to be on the lookout for:
- Black Widows: You’ll more likely find this venomous spider throughout Arizona. Our climate is well-suited for black widows to live and mate, and our homes provide them with food and shelter. These low-dwelling spiders are often found in yards, on playgrounds, on equipment, or hiding in nooks and crannies around your house.
- Tarantulas: A classic case of a spider that looks scarier than it is dangerous; these large hairy spiders love to hang out in desert environments. They’re virtually harmless to humans – they can bite, and it’ll hurt and even swell a bit, but their venom does little damage to humans.
- Wolf Spiders: Another imposing-looking spider that generally doesn’t harm humans all that much, wolf spiders are actually great sources of natural pest control. They do not spin webs, opting for trees and shrubs as their hideout until they emerge to eat cockroaches and other insects.
- Grass Spiders: A spider that is similar in color to a brown recluse and sometimes confused for one by those who don’t know the difference, grass spiders are generally harmless to humans and are usually identified by their large sheet-like webs which funnel over low grass or shrubs.
If you see any of these unwanted visitors, it’s time you call your trusted professional pest control service provider to make sure you and your home are well-protected from any potential infestations of a venomous kind.
Read More: Common Household Pests in Phoenix
