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How To Spot
A Brown Recluse Spider Web
By SAKSHI KHAITAN
The brown recluse is the most venomous spider in the U.S. You can identify that you've entered into its hunting grounds by the unique, albeit unruly, web it spins.
While the male brown recluse spiders are nomadic, their female counterparts spin a silken mat in dark places with little moisture and keep to it most of the time.
These "retreats" are best described as organized messes that appear as a combination of several off-white ribbon threads, lending the structure a flat, tangled, irregular shape.
In your yard, these retreats will usually be around the most cluttered areas, such as firewood piles. In your home, they'll inhabit dark, secluded spots, like cupboards.
Check to see if your region aligns with the brown recluse’s habitat range. UC Riverside's Department of Entomology and World Population Review have published indicative maps.
You're more likely to encounter these webs from May to August, when they're actively procreating, though sometimes it may start as early as February and as late as September.