Wolf Spider vs. Brown Recluse: How to Tell Them Apart, Animal Sake

Wolf spiders and brown recluse spiders are both commonly found in the U.S., and are often confused for each other. But one is a harmless hunter and the other can deliver a dangerous bite, so knowing which is which really matters. The good news: once you know what to look for, telling them apart is surprisingly easy.

Wolf spiders and brown recluse spiders are often confused for each other, due to their similar appearance. However, there are notable differences between the two. Differentiating between these two is important, since while the bite of a wolf spider is harmless to humans, brown recluses are venomous, and can cause tissue damage. As a matter of fact, wolf spiders are also venomous and their bites can sting, but don't cause any long-term damage.

Let's look at the comparison between the wolf spider and the brown recluse spider in detail.

Wolf Spider or Brown Recluse Spider?

Though it is easy to confuse these two unrelated spider species, there are several tests that you can use to identify them. Here they are, side by side, the violin marking alone usually gives the answer.

Wolf spider vs. brown recluse, side by side
Clue	🕷️ Wolf Spider	🎻 Brown Recluse
Size	The larger of the two, about 1.5 inches long.	About half as large, can only grow to about 0.75 inches.
Range	Found virtually all over the world, apart from the Arctic and Antarctic Circles.	Only found in southeastern North America (mainly Texas to Georgia, as north as Kentucky).
Violin marking	None, no violin shape on the body.	A dark violin-shaped mark on the cephalothorax ("fiddleback").
Eyes	8 eyes in 3 rows.	6 eyes in 3 pairs.
Legs	Stocky legs with spines.	Slender legs, no spines, often covered in fine hair.
Color	Abdomen has patches and lines in different colors.	Abdomen is always one uniform color.
Danger to humans	Harmless, bite can sting, but no long-term damage.	Venomous, bite can cause tissue damage.

Range

Wolf spiders are found virtually all over the world, apart from the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. Brown recluse spiders, on the other hand, are only found in southeastern North America.

So, if you live anywhere apart from the highlighted region (majorly Texas to Georgia and as north as Kentucky, and parts of Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana), you don't have to worry about brown recluse spiders, though local and easily terminable infestations of the spider have been found.

The Violin on the Neck

Brown recluse spiders have markings on their cephalothorax (arachnid equivalent of a torso) that superficially resemble violins. This has led to them being called 'fiddleback spiders' or 'violin spiders'. Though other species of spiders (particularly cellar spiders and pirate spiders) have similar markings, it is one of the many traits that can help identify a brown recluse spider, since it clearly differs from the other two types of spiders in superficial visual characteristics. As far as their comparison with wolf spiders goes, the latter don't have any such markings.

A brown recluse spider seen from above, showing the dark violin-shaped marking on its cephalothorax and its uniform tan abdomen — The brown recluse's giveaway: a dark **violin** on its back, with the violin's "neck" pointing toward the abdomen.

Eyes

Both brown recluse and wolf spiders have contrasting and peculiar arrangements of eyes, which can be used to identify them. Wolf spiders have three rows of eyes, with the middle two being the most prominent, and the bottom 4 being the least conspicuous (the top 2 eyes are slightly hidden behind tufts of hair in the adjoining image). Brown recluse spiders, on the other hand, are one of the few spiders that do not have 8 eyes; they have 6. The 6 eyes are arranged in three pairs, clearly visible at the rounded end of the 'violin'.

Legs

All spiders, being arthropods, have 8 legs. However, the individual design of their legs varies massively between species. In this case, wolf spiders have stockier legs with spines. In contrast, the brown recluse spider's legs are much more slender, and don't have spines. Instead, they are often covered in fine hair.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to tell a wolf spider from a brown recluse?

Look for the violin. A brown recluse has a dark violin-shaped marking on its cephalothorax (its 'torso'). A wolf spider has no such marking. If you see a two-tone, patchy abdomen, it is not a brown recluse.

Is a wolf spider dangerous to humans?

No. A wolf spider is venomous and its bite can sting, but it is harmless to humans and does not cause any long-term damage.

Where do brown recluse spiders live?

Brown recluse spiders are only found in southeastern North America, mainly from Texas to Georgia and as far north as Kentucky, plus parts of Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, and Indiana.

How many eyes does a brown recluse have?

Six. The brown recluse is one of the few spiders that do not have 8 eyes, its 6 eyes are arranged in three pairs. A wolf spider has 8 eyes in 3 rows.

Why is the brown recluse called a fiddleback or violin spider?

Because of the dark violin-shaped marking on the top of its cephalothorax. This has led to the nicknames 'fiddleback spiders' and 'violin spiders.'

Color

The color of various individuals of both types may vary, but there is one important identifying factor. The brown recluse spider always has a uniformly-colored abdomen, while the wolf spider's abdomen has patches and lines in different colors. If the spider has a two-tone color scheme on its abdomen, it can't be a brown recluse (though there is no guarantee that it is a wolf spider, either).

Spot the Spider: Wolf or Recluse?

5 quick questions. Can you tell the harmless one from the venomous one?

Armed with these tips, you should now have no trouble in distinguishing between these two confusing species of arachnids. Remember: Wolf spiders―the spiny-legged, multicolored, eight-eyed, non-violin-marked ones―are perfectly safe for humans, while brown recluse spiders―the hairy-legged, uniformly colored, six-eyed, violin-marked ones―can cause serious injuries, and should be kept at arm's length.

Size
Range
Violin Marking
Eyes
Legs
Color

Term	What It Means
Arachnid	An eight-legged animal such as a spider, scorpion, tick, or mite. Spiders are arachnids, not insects (insects have six legs).
Cephalothorax	The front body section of a spider (the "torso") where the head and the legs join. The brown recluse's violin marking sits right on top of it.
Abdomen	The rounded back section of a spider's body. On a brown recluse it is one even color; on a wolf spider it has patches and lines.
Fiddleback	A nickname for the brown recluse (also "violin spider") because of the dark violin (fiddle) shape on its cephalothorax.
Venomous	Able to inject venom with a bite or sting. A brown recluse is venomous and can damage skin; a wolf spider's venom is too weak to harm people.
Infestation	When a lot of one kind of pest moves into a place. Small brown recluse infestations are sometimes found outside their normal range, but they can be cleared out.

Wolf Spider vs. Brown Recluse: How to Tell Them Apart