As its name implies, the brown recluse is shy and not naturally aggressive. It is most often found in sites that are rarely disturbed, such as under old boards, in piles of discarded junk, and in seldom-disturbed storage spaces in houses and outbuildings. Indoors, they are most common in cluttered closets, garages, crawl-spaces, and attics. Brown recluse spiders are hunting spiders and do not seem to spend a great deal of time on webs. When webs are constructed, they are large and of irregular construction, with thick, sticky threads.
Nests serve as a site to lay eggs, and as a retreat.
Brown recluse spiders are mostly nocturnal, coming out at night to hunt for their insect prey. It's possible for the non-expert to identify the brown recluse spider. Look for a light brown spider, with slender legs extending over an area about the size of a quarter to a half-dollar. Two characteristics that help distinguish this spider from similar species include the dark violin-shaped marking on the back of the front portion of the body, and the semicircular, paired arrangement of he six eyes. Adult brown recluse spiders are most frequently seen during the spring months.