Brown Recluse Spiders in Nebraska: Where They Live, What They Eat, How to Get Rid of Them

These venomous spiders usually go about their business without you noticing. But every once in a while, they make their way indoors. This is especially true if there are cozy places to hide and snacks inside. Learn about brown recluse spiders in Nebraska, including where they live, what they eat, and how to get rid of them!

What is a Brown Recluse?

The brown recluse has a couple of look-alikes including the cellar spider, wolf spider, and grass spider. However, the brown recluse is about the size of a quarter, including its legs. Although in photos, you view a close-up image of the spider that makes it look intimidatingly large, it’s much smaller than you might initially think. These spiders snack on insects and sometimes, they eat other spiders (including their own!).

Their bodies are no bigger than 0.5 inches long and their legs are long and thin. They’re light brown but they do have a dark brown marking on their carapace (this is the hard part of their bodies that protects them — kind of like the shell of a turtle). Unlike other arachnids, the brown recluse only has six eyes. This is a good way to differentiate the brown recluse from look-alikes. The other way to differentiate them is by identifying the violin-shaped marking it has on his body.

Where Are Brown Recluses in Nebraska?

Brown recluses don’t travel far on their own so they’re concentrated in the state of Nebraska, particularly in the southeastern regions of the state. For them to be introduced into new environments, they need the help of a human. For example, if a brown recluse makes it into a vehicle or even a suitcase, that brown recluse may travel to a different part of the state and get introduced there.

Interestingly, not only can the spider survive for entire months without any food, but the female spiders only need to mate one time throughout their lives and can produce eggs as long as she’s living. That means that if a female that has already mated is introduced into a new environment, she can produce up to 300 spiderlings in a single year!

Where Brown Recluses Go Indoors

Outside, brown recluses gravitate to wood piles and debris. They seem to like rotting tree bark so when they’re indoors, they look for similar textures. This is usually in the form of cardboard though a brown recluse may also find its way to your bedding or clothes. Brown recluses like being under cover so they may also gravitate to your furniture or any areas where you keep a lot of clutter like a storage room.

The brown recluse, like the black widow, is a spider humans fear because it’s venomous. While the venom is strong, causing an array of symptoms ranging from muscle pain and fever to necrosis, these spiders are not aggressive. Although they typically mind their own business, it’s understandable you would want to kick out this uninvited house guest right away. If you spot a single brown recluse, you could get rid of it on your own but if you have an infestation, it’s best to let the pros handle it.

What To Do If You Find Brown Recluses in Your Home

Here are some solutions for getting rid of brown recluses in your home:

• Diatomaceous earth – this solution comes in the form of a powder. You use it in the areas where you’ve spotted a brown recluse. Simply sprinkle bits of this powder to create a thin coat in the corners and other areas where a brown recluse is likely to walk. When the brown recluse walks on the powder, it creates tiny cuts that cause dehydration and eventual death of the spider.
• Sticky traps – sticky traps can help you capture any type of critter in your home environment. They’re exactly what they sound like! You place these traps in the areas where you’ve seen these spiders like storage rooms, sheds, and basements. When a brown recluse ventures on top of these traps, the sticky trap makes it immobile. Unable to move, they eventually succumb to death.
• Repellent – Part of controlling a brown recluse population in or around your home requires prevention. If you’ve cleared your home of these spiders and are looking for a way to keep them out, you may want to try repellants like essential oils. Take your pick between lemon, mint, or lavender. Mix a couple of drops of your chosen essential oil with water in a spray bottle. Then, spray the areas brown recluses might gravitate toward.
• Vinegar mixed with water is a bit more potent and kills both brown recluses, egg sacs, and spiderlings. You could use this spray freely around furniture, in your basement, storage area, or anywhere else spiders hide.

Although these solutions work well, you may also need to resort to pesticides. However, this should be more of a last resort due to their harmful effects. If you’re dealing with an infestation, call your local pest control company for help!