The Poisonous Brown Recluse vs the Wolf Spider – One is common in the Panhandle of Florida (Wolf Spider, bigger and scarier) and one is only found on rare occasions (Brown Recluse, very Poisonous). How can you tell them easily apart without getting bitten first?
Wolf Spider vs Brown Recluse
- Wolf Spiders are multi-colored while a Brown Recluse has a uniform color and a lightly noticeable reverse violin shaped pattern on it’s back.
- The Brown Recluse doesn’t have noticeable hair/fur. The Wolf spider has easily identifiable hair/fur on it.
- SIZE – The Wolf Spider is substantially larger than the Brown Recluse by about 3x. Ironically it makes this spider seem scarier even when it isn’t poisonous.
We would guess that 99% of the time people mistake a Wolf spider for a Brown Recluse. Currently these Brown Recluses are not native to this area, however, they have been introduced (from transport) to our area with constant travel from the outside area.
We have also included a link to show the progression of the spider bite from a brown recluse to the boy, Branson Carlisle, that tragically died over the Thanksgiving Holidays recently up in Albertville, AL here. This is the first death from this type of spider in the United States in the last 10 years. You can read more here about the common spiders in the Crestview and surrounding areas.
If you are unsure if you a have a spider that is poisonous or not call us at 850-682-5354 or fill out our easy 30 second form online to provide you with a free estimate.
You’ve probably heard this before, but I’ll dare to chime in. The Brown Recluse is not poisonous, it is venomous. They deliver venom when they bite rather than poison. It is a necrotic venom that causes the tissue exposed to the venom to die and basically rot.
Thanks!
Maybe you guys should do a Poisonous vs. Venomous article.
I was about to say something very similar
Agreed 100%
Clearly they don’t even know the difference, so I guess with research they might be able to do a reasonable article on possible differences.
Just found a whole bunch of em , like i usually do this time of year+ Black Widows
I have pictures of it but can’t figure out how to send you any
. Can’t figure out how to send you pictures of the stupid things?
I’m not sure about native, I do however see all these spiders in KS black widow, wolf spider, android brown recluse or Fidel e bsck as we call them. Nasty creatures
brown recluse 🕷are a very nasty and dangerous spiders that can hurt you
Just wondering if they have developed antidotes for venomous snakes why have they not done it for the brown recluse spider
Well I’m not sure what it is it looks like a brown recluse it’s small like a penny so I’m going to take it to the pest control store tomorrow to find out… And as i was told when I was younger Poison is ingested and venom is injected That’s the difference they inject venom not poison That’s what makes them venomous not poisonous hopefully it’s true and the information helped out
been bitten twice by the recluse,,, only starts eating your skin if gets infected so keep all bites cleaned and disinfect with rubbing alcohol. 2nd time bit I had no issues after using the rubbing alcohol and did not have to take the antibiotics prescribed. (told by doctor to only take if skin starts to get eaten stated rubbing alcohol was the best thing I did since I did it immediately after getting bit).. well at least after I killed the d…mn thing.