What’s the Difference Between a Brown Recluse and a Wolf Spider?
If you come in contact with either of these, you’ll appreciate knowing the differences
Highlights
Wolf spiders have eight larger eyes and often have stripes, while a brown recluse spider has six smaller eyes and a dark brown violin-shaped marking.
Brown recluse spiders are found in the south-central and Midwestern states, while you can find wolf spiders almost anywhere in the U.S.
Both spiders have venomous bites, but wolf spiders are generally less dangerous.
If you’ve heard horror stories about the victims of brown recluse spider bites or local legends about the big, bad wolf spiders that actually eat these venomous villains, then you probably want to know how to spot them. These arachnids sound scary, but both creepy crawlies want as little to do with humans as we do with them. They may set up shop in your basement, but they mean you no harm. Nevertheless, here’s how to distinguish brown recluse vs. wolf spiders, so you can peacefully stay out of each other's way.
Brown Recluse vs. Wolf Spider
You may lump all spiders together, but these species have their own distinct characteristics.
| Characteristic | Brown Recluse | Wolf Spider |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 1/4 to 1/2 inch | 1/2 to two inches |
| Color | Tan to dark brown | Brown to gray |
| Preferred environment | Dark, dry, quiet | Woods, fields, coast |
| Number of eyes | Six | Eight |
| Venomous bites | Yes | Yes |
| Life-threatening bite | Yes, seek help | Unlikely |
| Behavior | Shy | Can be aggressive |
| Web | Yes | No |
What Do They Look Like?
First, you need to know how to identify these spiders on sight.
Size
A brown recluse spider is smaller than a wolf spider. Without the legs, the body of a brown recluse measures about one-quarter to half an inch in size. When they extend their legs, they reach the size of a 25-cent coin.
Wolf spiders range in size since there are over 2,000 species of this particular spider. However, most are on the small side, ranging from a half-inch to two inches, and they have longer legs than a brown recluse.
Color
Neutral coloring is essential to many spiders who rely on soft shades to blend into their surroundings. A brown recluse is often light to dark brown, and wolf spiders vary in color but stick to neutral tones like tan, gray, and brown. These two spiders have distinct markings that can help you identify them should you get close enough. Brown recluse spiders are also known as fiddlebacks because of their signature marking—a dark brown violin shape you’ll see on their back. Wolf spiders also have distinctive markings on their backs, usually in the form of stripes.
Number of Eyes
Admittedly, you don’t want to get close enough to count the number of eyes a spider has, but it offers a major clue for identifying a brown recluse versus a wolf spider. A brown recluse has six eyes arranged in three groups of two. Wolf spiders have eight eyes—two in the front, two more at the top of the head, and four right above their mouths.
Where Are They Located?
Another big difference between brown recluses and wolf spiders is where they live and their preferred environments.
Location
You’ll find brown recluse spiders across a large portion of the U.S., but they are typically more popular in the Southeast and Midwest regions. They can live as far south as Georgia, all the way up to Ohio, and west to Texas.
Because there are so many species of wolf spiders, you’ll find them spread across the whole country. However, you might find a particular species of wolf spider more concentrated in certain states.
Preferred Habitat
Brown recluse spiders like warm, dark, dry spaces. Because of this preference, you’ll find them in basements, closets, and wood piles—any place they can hide.
Wolf spiders are at home in the woods and can adapt to different habitats. From coastal forests and alpine meadows to urban areas, gardens, and inside your home, they’ll be wherever they can find prey.
How Does Their Behavior Differ?
While they share some physical characteristics, the behavior between brown recluse and wolf spiders couldn’t be more different.
Aggression
Like the name suggests, brown recluse spiders are more reserved and prefer spaces where they can hide out. Though many people fear them for their dangerous bite, they’re not aggressive spiders. When these spiders bite someone, it’s usually a defense against being stepped on.
The wolf spider gets its name from prowling around and hunting for prey, but it’s not typically aggressive towards humans. However, this doesn’t mean they won’t bite you—but fortunately, their bites aren’t particularly dangerous.
Webs
The brown recluse spins a web, which they use for catching prey like insects. You’ll find these webs in places where they’re undisturbed, such as your basement or attic. Wolf spiders do not spin webs, though. Instead, they hunt their prey or catch bugs as they pass by.
Eggs
One of the most fascinating traits of a wolf spider is how the females carry their egg sacs on their backs. These sacs can contain over a hundred eggs. During this time, they can become more aggressive, so take caution if you happen to notice an egg sac.
Are Their Bites Dangerous?
The first thing you may be concerned about with these spiders is the danger of their bite. Thankfully, their bites are rarely deadly.
Venom
Both the brown recluse and wolf spider have venomous bites. They need this venom to survive because it kills their prey. However, the venom of a brown recluse is more potent than a wolf spider’s. It’s also worth noting that due to their small size and tiny mouths, they can’t deliver much venom in a single bite.
Danger
The good news is that while wolf spider bites can be painful and produce some swelling, they are typically considered harmless for humans.
Venom from a brown recluse bite, however, can be dangerous to humans. Common symptoms of a brown recluse bite are redness, pain, and open sores at the site that can take months to heal completely. Some people even experience systemic reactions to this venomous bite, which in rare cases, can be deadly. If you suspect a brown recluse spider has bitten you, seek medical attention immediately. A brown recluse making a home for itself in your house can be a problem too, and you might want to accept the cost of pest control and hire a local exterminator to deal with the problem before it gets out of hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
While they can make these adversaries a meal, wolf spiders prefer other smaller spiders and insects over eating a brown recluse. However, a wolf spider will ambush a brown recluse if given the opportunity. Wolf spiders actually feed mostly on insects, including worms, ants, beetles, and others. Since wolf spiders do not spin webs, they don’t catch their prey like other spiders do and rely more on attacking their prey.
Brown recluse spiders—and other species of spiders—invite themselves into your home in search of a warm, dry, dark spot with easy access to insects. Food sources, like the insects that live in your house, often attract spiders to your home, so if you’ve got a bug problem, you’ll probably have spiders moving in quickly.
The brown recluse has numerous predators in the wild (or close to your home). They are a valuable part of the ecosystem, too. Their predators often include birds, praying mantis, crickets, chickens, spider wasps, and more. However, the brown recluse spider is a master at hiding, making it much more difficult for predators to hunt them.