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You Sure It Was A Brown Recluse?

I have heard it countless times. "I was bitten by a brown recluse." "My doctor said it's a brown recluse bite." "I have those deadly spiders all over my house." Fact is, the brown recluse spider is the most misunderstood of all spiders out crawling the black widow five to one. Chances  are, if you live in Maryland, Pennsylvania or West Virginia it wasn't a brown recluse after all and, you'll probably never see one. Here's why...

Brown recluse spiders are so steeped in myth and fear you most likely identified the wrong spider. Everyone seems to believe them to be large spiders with lengthy legs spreading across the palm of any hand. But these spiders are no bigger than the size of a quarter. So, that huge spider you thought was a brown recluse was more likely a wolf spider if you live in MD, PA or WV.

What Does A Brown Recluse Look Like? 

Brown recluse spiders are light brown to tannish in color. Sometimes called “fiddle-backs," brown recluse spiders are one in several species of spider, including the wolf spider, all having this same violin-shaped marking. The best indicator next to its color and size is the brown recluse has six eyes (or three pairs) while other spiders have eight eyes.

Where do Brown Recluse spiders live?

Brown recluses are, in fact, reclusive creatures that are very shy and not easily found. If you live in Maryland, Pennsylvania or West Virginia for that matter chances of you finding a brown recluse are next to slim because this spider is rarely found outside of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Mississippi.

Now that you know about the brown recluse perhaps you won't worry about them so much. But, if you do feel you saw one, or if you have a spider issue in your home give Gladhill Services a call 717-597-1040 and they can help.

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