Is a brown recluse the same as a violin spider?
Myth: You can identify “brown recluse” spiders by a violin shape. Fact: Because of this myth, brown recluses are also called “violin” or “fiddleback” spiders. Although the “fiddle mark” does exist (not always very fiddle-like), it is worthless in identification!
Is a violin spider real?
The recluse spiders (Loxosceles (/lɒkˈsɒsɪliːz/), also known as brown spiders, fiddle-backs, violin spiders, and reapers, is a genus of spiders that was first described by R. T. Lowe in 1832. They are venomous spiders known for their bite, which sometimes produces a characteristic set of symptoms known as loxoscelism.
What other spiders have a violin?
Brown recluse spiders are found in the south central part of the United States. They can be identified by slanted legs, six eyes, and a violin-shaped mark on their back.
How do I identify a violin spider?
Violin spiders are usually brown or reddish brown in colour, with dark markings on their bodies. They have characteristic violin-shaped markings on the cephalothorax and are quite often confused with daddy-long-legs, which are not venomous. The superficial bite is painless and initially goes unnoticed.
Is a brown violin spider real?
The brown recluse is part of the Loxosceles genus of spiders. Members of this group have violin-shaped markings on the top of their cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) and may be informally referred to as fiddleback or violin spiders, according to The Ohio State University Extension Entomology Department.
How do you tell if it’s a brown recluse?
A brown recluse has a dirt or sandy brown body with a slightly darker marking at its center; they can also be dark brown and even slightly yellow. Its legs are a lighter brown and completely uniform in color, with no additional markings. If the spider has stripes or other pigments on its legs, it’s not a brown recluse.
Which Spider has a violin on its stomach?
For the brown recluse, this violin shape is usually dark brown on a lighter brown body, with the shape imposed on the cephalothorax of the spider. Though often known colloquially as the stomach of the spider, the cephalothorax is right between the head and bigger abdomen of the spider, and is the part of the body onto which the spider’s legs attach.
What is a violin marking on a spider?
On the back of the brown recluse spider there is a marking that closely resembles a violin, with the neck of the violin pointing back towards the rear of the spider. The violin itself is usually black or dark brown. Because of this distinctive marking, brown recluse spiders are also called violin or fiddleback spiders.
Is a violin spider poisonous?
The violin spider is poisonous and prefers to hide in environments with mild temperatures such as our homes. Here’s how to recognize it and what to do in case of an accidental bite