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Brown Recluse Spider

Loxosceles reclusa

Spider or relative · family Sicariidae · order Araneae

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Brown Recluse Spider
Photo: Br-recluse-guy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
Native in
3 states[2]

The Brown Recluse Spider (Loxosceles reclusa) is a spider in the family Sicariidae[3]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe lists it as native in Indiana, Oklahoma and Wyoming[1][2].

Conservation status

The US Fish and Wildlife Service data checked on 2026-10-30 show this spider is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. That only describes federal listing. NatureServe gives it a state rank of SNR in Indiana, Oklahoma and Wyoming[4].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed

Where Brown Recluse Spider lives

NatureServe records the Brown Recluse Spider as native in 3 states: Indiana, Oklahoma and Wyoming[2]. People have reported it most often on GBIF in Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Tennessee[5]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, not how many spiders live there[5].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank SNRWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: native, state rank SNRINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[4].
Show state ranks (3 states)
StateRankMeaning
IndianaSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
WyomingSNRNot Ranked

When to look for it

Reports of this spider on GBIF are highest in June, July and August[6]. These records show when people look and report, not how many spiders there are[6]. Records are lower in the colder months[6].

January: 127 recordsJanFebruary: 189 recordsFebMarch: 278 recordsMarApril: 523 recordsAprMay: 873 recordsMayJune: 1,046 recordsJunJuly: 1,067 recordsJulAugust: 928 recordsAugSeptember: 640 recordsSepOctober: 413 recordsOctNovember: 190 recordsNovDecember: 143 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[6].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January127
February189
March278
April523
May873
June1,046
July1,067
August928
September640
October413
November190
December143

Where to see it

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Tennessee[5]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Safety around this animal

These tips are quoted in summary from official agencies. We add no advice of our own. Follow local rules and the agency pages linked below.

From CDC / NIOSH

  • CDC names the black widow and the brown recluse as the two venomous spiders in the United States that can endanger outdoor workers.
  • Black widows hide in undisturbed spots such as woodpiles, eaves, fences and debris piles. Brown recluses hide in dry, secluded places, including closets, shoes and attics.
  • To prevent bites, shake out clothing, shoes, towels and gear before use, and wear long sleeves, long pants, gloves and boots around stacked materials.
  • After a bite, stay calm, wash the bite with soap and water, put a cold cloth or ice on it, raise the area and get medical care. Do not try to remove venom.

Source: CDC / NIOSH[7]

Questions people ask

Is the Brown Recluse Spider endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked 2026-10-30[1].
Where does the Brown Recluse Spider live?
NatureServe lists it as native in Indiana, Oklahoma and Wyoming[2]. GBIF has the most reports from Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Tennessee[5].
When are Brown Recluse Spiders reported?
GBIF records peak in June, July and August[6]. This shows when people report them, not how many there are[6].

Facts and sources

  1. Brown Recluse Spider is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe lists Brown Recluse Spider as native in 3 US states and territories: Indiana, Oklahoma, Wyoming. NatureServe Explorer
  3. Brown Recluse Spider (Loxosceles reclusa) is a spider or relative in the family Sicariidae, order Araneae. NatureServe Explorer
  4. NatureServe state ranks for Brown Recluse Spider (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  5. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Brown Recluse Spider: Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Tennessee. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  6. GBIF observation records of Brown Recluse Spider in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  7. Safety guidance from CDC / NIOSH. CDC

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Br-recluse-guy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.