The brown recluse is a shy spider and searches for its insect prey primarily at night. During the day it rests in closets, boxes, under furniture, in attics under insulation and in ceiling light fixtures. People typically are bitten accidentally while putting on clothes in which the spider is hiding or by rolling onto them while in bed. The brown recluse is a subtle biter, and people often do not know when the actual bite occurred. The first symptom is a pimple-sized swelling at the bite site.
Lesions are slow healing and often require skin grafts.
The bite may also produce a systemic reaction causing the destruction of red blood cells resulting in kidney failure and death. Effective spider control requires good sanitation and elimination of insect prey as well as chemical treatment. Remove collections of paper, boxes and rubbish piles in the house, attic, storage areas, etc. Elimination of harborage will discourage spiders. Maintain household insect control.