The brown recluse spider is known for its venomous bite. Knowing its typical habitats helps with identification and response. This article clarifies whether brown recluse spiders are found in Minnesota.
Brown Recluse Spiders in Minnesota
Brown recluse spiders (Loxosceles reclusa) are not established in Minnesota. Their natural geographic range spans the Midwestern and South Central United States, including states like Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Nebraska, and Texas. Minnesota’s colder climate and lower humidity are less hospitable for these spiders, placing it outside their established range.
Isolated instances of brown recluse spiders can occur in Minnesota. These rare sightings are almost always due to accidental transport, where spiders hitchhike in items like moving boxes, furniture, or goods from their native regions. Such individual occurrences do not indicate a breeding population in the state. Brown recluse spiders are poor dispersers and do not naturally spread over long distances.
Identifying a Brown Recluse Spider
Given the rarity of brown recluse spiders in Minnesota, accurate identification is crucial to avoid misidentification of other common spiders. A distinguishing feature is a dark, violin-shaped marking on its cephalothorax, the fused head and thorax. The “neck” of this violin shape points towards the spider’s abdomen.
Brown recluse spiders are light to dark brown and relatively small, with body lengths ranging from 0.25 to 0.75 inches, excluding their legs. Unlike most spiders with eight eyes, brown recluses have six eyes arranged in three pairs, forming a semicircle. Their legs are uniformly colored without stripes, bands, or spines, and their abdomen is also uniformly colored. Many other brown spiders common in Minnesota, such as wolf spiders, fishing spiders, funnel weaver spiders, or common house spiders, are often mistaken for brown recluses but lack these specific identifying characteristics. Wolf spiders, for instance, are often larger and hairier, and other brown spiders may have different eye arrangements or distinct patterns on their legs or abdomens.
What to Do if You Encounter a Suspected Brown Recluse
If you encounter a spider you suspect might be a brown recluse, remain calm. The brown recluse is not aggressive and bites only when it feels threatened, such as when accidentally pressed against skin. If safe, carefully capture the spider in a container for professional identification. Consulting an entomologist or a local university extension office can help confirm the species.
Should a spider bite occur, regardless of the species, basic first aid is recommended. Clean the bite area gently with mild soap and water. Apply a cool compress or ice pack to the bite for about 15 minutes each hour to help reduce pain and swelling. If symptoms worsen, or if you experience significant pain, spreading redness, fever, or believe the bite is infected, seek medical attention.