"Is there an Arachnologist in the house??"

**ardchoille** · 1st September 08, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Just be sure it isn't a brown recluse - violin shape on the belly...you ARE in New Mexico....

Actually, the fiddle shape of a Brown Recluse is on its back, not its belly. However, this feature can be very faint depending on the species of recluse spider, particularly those in the southwestern U.S., or how recently the spider has molted. A better method of recognizing the brown recluse is its eyes. Whereas most spiders have eight eyes, recluse spiders have six eyes that are arranged in pairs in a semicircle on the forepart of the cephalothorax.

I was bitten by a brown recluse in Texas around 1982 and spent time in the hospital. Brown recluse bites are quite nasty.

**ByDand** · 2nd September 08, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by ardchoille

Actually, the fiddle shape of a Brown Recluse is on its back, not its belly. However, this feature can be very faint depending on the species of recluse spider, particularly those in the southwestern U.S., or how recently the spider has molted. A better method of recognizing the brown recluse is its eyes. Whereas most spiders have eight eyes, recluse spiders have six eyes that are arranged in pairs in a semicircle on the forepart of the cephalothorax.

I was bitten by a brown recluse in Texas around 1982 and spent time in the hospital. Brown recluse bites are quite nasty.

I am really sorry, but I for one, am not getting that close to see what the eyes are like. Is that how you got your bite? Only joking about a nasty little spider being able to inflict such damage.