Spider Pest Authority
Identification, venom, and range data
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Comparison

Brown Recluse vs. Yellow Sac Spider

Yellow sac spiders cause more medically confirmed bites than recluses in most U.S. states. Both are small, pale, and indoor - but they are anatomically distinct.

Summary

Yellow sac spiders are pale yellow-green with dark fang tips and eight eyes in two rows. Brown recluses are uniform tan-brown with six eyes and a violin mark.

Diagnostic traits

Recluse vs. Yellow Sac - side-by-side
TraitBrown RecluseYellow Sac Spider
Eyes6 eyes in 3 pairs8 eyes in 2 rows
ColorUniform tan/brownPale yellow to light green
Fang tipsNot contrastingDistinctly black/dark
Violin markPresent on cephalothoraxAbsent
Where foundBoxes, attics, undisturbed clutterWall-ceiling junctions, leaves, silk sac

The bottom line

At-a-glance comparison

Brown RecluseYellow Sac Spider
ScientificLoxosceles reclusaCheiracanthium inclusum
FamilySicariidaeCheiracanthiidae
♀ body7–12 mm5–10 mm
Leg span20–30 mm16–25 mm
Range16 U.S. states1 U.S. states
MedicalMedically significantModerate