My wife Cheryl caught this one tonight under a cup. I’ll admit I’m a little afraid of spiders, so she gets the credit! It’s a brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa), very common here in Missouri. Look for the tan body, long thin legs, and the darker violin-shaped mark on the front of the body, with the “neck” of the violin pointing toward the rear. Recluses also have 6 eyes in pairs instead of the usual 8.

They’re shy and usually hide in boxes, closets and storage, but their bite can cause a bad wound, so never handle one bare-handed. A cup and a piece of paper work great, as Cheryl proved.

Has anyone else been finding recluses this fall? Post your photos and where you found them.

BugManPaul