brown recluse compared to other spiders

Brown Recluse Spider Size Explained & Compared With Other Spiders

Last Updated on April 10, 2023 by Amin Tawar

Brown Recluse Spider Length

Brown Recluse Spider Size

The Brown Recluse spider is a specialized and extremely rare spider species. They cannot be found outdoors, and there is almost no chance of getting bitten. 

Large, necrotic lesions are thought to be a common result of brown recluse bites. The brown recluse is additionally both brown and reclusive in appearance. 

Adult brown recluses have light brown bodies with darker, violin-shaped marking on them.

Although they can vary in size, adult brown recluse spiders are roughly the size of a quarter. 

Small recluse spiders rarely reach a length of half an inch. The overall length of a brown recluse spider is 6 to 20 millimeters (0.24 to 0.79 in), and its leg span is roughly 2.5 cm (1 inch). 

Brown Recluse spider Centimeter Inches 
Body length0.6-2 cm 0.24-0.79 in
Leg span 2.54 cm 1 in

Brown Recluse Spider Weight

It can be difficult to describe the size of the Brown Recluse spider in terms of weight. Their weight can vary depending on a number of factors, including their diet, way of life, hunting prowess, and location. Brown recluse spiders, on the other hand, are tiny and only weigh about 0.001 lbs (0.45 grams).

Brown Recluse spider Ounce Kilograms 
Weight 0.0160.00045

Brown Recluse Spider Baby Size And Full Size

Usually measuring between 6 and 20 millimeters (0.24 and 0.79 in), brown recluse spiders can get bigger. 

The Brown Recluse spiders’ young, or baby spiders, are much smaller than the adult spiders. They continue to get bigger and heavier as they age.

Baby brown recluse spiders are smaller and lighter in color than mature adult spiders, which are two-toned brown. 

Interestingly, young brown recluse spiders resemble a number of other tan spider species very closely. A baby brown recluse can be identified by its three pairs of two eyes and the absence of banding or spinning on its legs.

Brown Recluse Spider Bite-Size

If you disturb a brown recluse’s home, you risk getting bitten. Bites from brown recluses can result in wounds, itching, redness, and pain. 

Untreated wounds may result in bruising and blisters. Rarely does a brown recluse bite measure more than 0.5 inches across. 

Most bites from brown recluse spiders don’t develop ulcers for 1 to 2 weeks after the bite. Although brown recluse spider bites rarely result in death, they can still result in significant skin damage. As a result, you should be very careful while being around or handling this species of spider. 

Brown Recluse Spider Size Comparison To Human Hand

Brown Recluse Spider Size compared with human hand

The Brown Recluse spider is small, but have you ever wondered how small it would look on your hands? 

So, the average size of an adult human hand is about 7.6 inches. On the other hand, the Brown Recluse is only 0.24 to 0.79 inches in body length and 1 inch in leg span. 

You can see the difference. It’s large for sure. So if you hold a Brown Recluse spider in your hand it would be smaller than your finger, and slightly larger than your nails.

Brown Recluse Spider Vs Wolf Spider Size Comparison

Brown Recluse Spider Size compared with other spiders

Wolf spiders are frequently mistaken for brown recluse spiders despite the brown recluse’s typically shorter length of one-fourth to one-half inches. 

The overall length and weight of the Wolf spider are less than 10 to 35 mm (0.4 to 1.38 in) and less than an ounce, respectively. 

Their joined legs lack the wolf spiders’ pronounced hairiness. It won’t be a recluse if you see a brownish spider that is larger than half an inch.

Spider type Body lengthLeg span Weight 
Brown Recluse0.24 to 0.79 inches1 inch 0.016 ounce
Wolf spider 0.4-1.38 inch 2-3 inch less than an ounce

Brown Recluse Spider Vs Black Widow Size Comparison

Once you know what they look like, the Black widow and Brown recluse spiders are simple to distinguish from one another. Black widow spiders have glossy black bodies, while brown recluses have brown or tan bodies.

In addition to their size, black widow spiders are notorious spiders that can be recognized by the colored, hourglass-shaped mark on their abdomens especially their leg span and overall body length. 

For instance, the female black widow is between 25 and 38 mm (1 and 1.5 in) long. The male is about 1.8 inches larger than the female, or about half her size (3-4 mm). In comparison to the Brown Recluse, the Black widow is larger in length as well as weight. 

Spider type Body lengthLeg span Weight 
Brown Recluse0.24 to 0.79 inches1-inch 0.016-ounce
Black widow spider 0.4-1.5 inches ½ inch 0.035 ounces

Brown Recluse Spider Vs House Spider Size Comparison

At first glance, it might seem challenging to distinguish between house spiders and brown recluses, but there are a few characteristics that can make the task easier. 

The difference in their sizes is one of the factors. The house spider is one of the biggest spiders in the UK. It makes enormous circular webs in grasslands and gardens.

The house spider weighs about 0.0017 ounces, has a three-inch leg span, and is about an inch long. However, the House spider is smaller than the Brown recluse.

Spider type Body lengthLeg span Weight 
Brown Recluse0.24 to 0.79 inches1 inch 0.016 ounce
House spider 1 inch 3 inches 0.0017

Brown Recluse Spider Vs Hobo Spider Size Comparison

Hobo spiders and brown recluse spiders can occasionally be confused. Hobo spiders and brown recluses are two spiders with a bad reputation. 

They are physically very different even though they are both brown. Comparatively speaking to other spiders, hobo spiders are about the size of a nickel. 

They have shorter legs than other spider species. On the other hand, when their legs are fully extended, adult brown recluse spiders are about the size of a U.S. quarter.

Small recluse spiders, for instance, hardly ever grow longer than half an inch. A brown recluse spider has an overall length of 6 to 20 millimeters (0.24 to 0.79 in) and a leg span of approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch). 

Their weight ranges between 0.001 and 0.001 lbs (0.45 grams). Despite being quite small, they are much bigger than Hobo spiders. 

The Hobo spider, on the other hand, can grow to only 3/8-9/32 inches in body length, 1-2 inches in leg span, and weigh less than an ounce.

Spider type Body lengthLeg span Weight 
Brown Recluse0.24 to 0.79 inches1-inch 0.016-ounce
Hobo spider 0.2-0.3 inches1-2 inchless than an ounce

Conclusion

And that was everything you need to know about the size of the Brown Recluse Spider. I hope this article was helpful and you got something valuable from it.

Thank You For Reading!

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