⚠️Do Not Attempt⚠️ Yesterday marked my 27th birthday, and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate with you all than to feature a Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)! With a total of 13 different species of recluse spiders within the U.S, and a total of 143 different recluse species worldwide, the Brown Recluse, sometimes referred to as the Fiddleback or Violin Spider, is by far the most famous out of them all! Found within south-central and midwestern states within the U.S, these spiders belong to the family known as Sicariidae. This family contains some of the most medically significant species of spiders on the planet, such as the Chilean Recluse (Loxosceles laeta) and Six-Eyed Sand Spiders (Sicarius spp.). The Brown Recluse is infamously known and widely feared for its necrotic venom which is able to cause tissue damage and the potential to damage red blood cells. Found within the venom of all species of recluses is a special enzyme known as sphingomyelinase D. This particular enzyme is what’s responsible for the tissue dissolving properties that recluse spiders have. Despite all species of recluses containing this special enzyme, the severity of the bite varies on the particular species of recluse. Not only that, but the part of the body where the recluse ends up biting someone at also plays a major part in the severity of the venom as well. Areas of the body that are generally higher in fat, such as the thighs, stomach, and buttocks, tend to have a greater risk in severity than other parts of the body that are generally lower in fat. These may include the ankles, feet, knees, and elbows. Brown Recluses, despite the bad reputation they receive, are still like all other spiders, in the sense that they’d much rather be left alone than to come in contact with humans. Bites from Brown Recluses generally take place when the spider feels trapped and is unable to escape. *Hand drawn stickers added to my store’s website for purchase via link in bio! Please subscribe to my YouTube channel if you haven’t already by clicking the YouTube icon in my bio!* ⁣ #Jesus #God #loxoscelesreclusa #entomology #brownrecluse #spiders #birthday #moths #insects #invertebrates #arthropods #mothsofinstagram #violinspider #fiddlebackspider #bugs #arachnids #arthropods #venom #venomous #necrosis #necrotic #sicarius #sicariidae #tarantulas #tarantulasofinstagram⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ - @kelvin_wiley