Spider and brown recluse control in Clarksville, Tennessee

How to recognise a brown recluse

UT Extension names two spiders as the most dangerous in Tennessee. The brown recluse is light brown, about the size of a quarter or half dollar with its legs out, with a dark violin shape on the front part of its body and three pairs of eyes in a semi-circle.

Many ordinary brown spiders get mistaken for it. University of Kentucky entomologists say recluses do not build webs to catch prey in open corners, and that webs strung across walls and ceilings almost always belong to other spiders.

The black widow is black with a red hourglass on the underside. It is more of an outdoor spider, along the outside of buildings.

Why they show up here

UT Extension says the brown recluse is found in every county in Tennessee except possibly a few in the far east, and that it is far more common in the western half of the state. It likes low-moisture, undisturbed places.

This is old tobacco country. UT lists barn walls, hay bales, feed sacks and firewood stacks among known hiding spots, along with boxes, closets, garages, basements, attics and furniture. A house with stored boxes and an outbuilding has plenty to offer.

What a spider visit usually involves

1. Identifying and monitoring

   Flat glue traps along baseboards and behind furniture show where spiders are traveling and how many there are.

2. Treating hiding places

   Cracks, voids and stored areas are the focus, along with the crawl space and attic. Brown recluses are hard to eliminate because they hide so well, so expect more than one visit.

3. Reducing clutter

   The company may ask you to move boxes off floors and into sealed plastic bins before treatment or follow-up.

When to call

Call if you catch or see a spider that matches the description, or find several in a season. Save the spider in a jar or on tape for identification.

A suspected bite is a medical question, not a pest control one. Contact a doctor. UT Extension notes most bites happen between March and October, when people disturb closets, outbuildings or woodpiles. Shake out shoes and clothes stored in those places and wear gloves when you sort boxes.

Spider questions