Sachse, TX · Spiders
A brown spider in the garage, closet or storage boxes
A plain tan-to-brown spider with long thin legs and a darker violin-shaped mark behind the eyes, found in a garage, a closet or a box that has not been opened in months, may be a brown recluse. Texas A&M AgriLife says they are found indoors and out throughout Texas, and inside climate-controlled homes they stay active all year.
Texas pest control businesses are licensed by the TDA. The call carries no obligation.
Why they settle in a house
Clutter is shelter. Recluses stay out of sight in cardboard boxes, stacked papers, storage shelves, behind baseboards and inside wall voids. Garages and closets with stored items suit them best; tidy living spaces suit them least.
A few can become many. Females lay several egg sacs over their life, and a quiet storage area can hold a population for years before anyone notices.
They are hard to reach. Sprays that hit only visible surfaces miss spiders sitting inside boxes and walls, which is why recluse control usually involves sticky monitoring traps, reducing clutter and treatment in voids and harborage, not a one-time spray.
What the visit involves
A technician inspects garages, closets, attics and storage areas, places monitors to see where activity is concentrated, and builds the treatment around those spots. Expect advice on storage — sealed plastic bins rather than cardboard — and a follow-up visit to read the monitors.
Tell the operator
- Where you found the spider and how many you have seen
- Whether you kept it or have a photo
- Whether anyone has a bite that is changing
- How much storage is in the garage, attic and closets
Say what you found and where. Call to check whether a visit is available today.
(866) 204-1244Questions people ask
How do I tell a brown recluse from other brown spiders?
Look for uniform color on the legs with no bands or spines, and six eyes arranged in three pairs rather than eight. The violin mark helps but is not reliable on its own. A clear photo or the spider in a jar is the best thing to have when you call.
Is a bite an emergency?
Most recluse bites heal without serious problems, but some cause a wound that can take six to eight weeks to heal. A bite that darkens, spreads or comes with fever needs a doctor, and if possible bring the spider.
Why do I only see them at night or in storage?
Recluses hunt at night and spend the day in dark, undisturbed spots — inside boxes, behind stored items, in shoes and clothing that are not worn often.
Other things people find
- Winged insects swarming inside the houseDark, small, many at once near a window — then wings everywhere
- Mud lines running up the slab or the garage wallPencil-width dirt tubes on the foundation, brick or sheetrock
- Fire ant mounds popping up after rainLoose dirt mounds across the lawn, ants that swarm up and sting
- A trail of small ants across the kitchenTiny ants along the counter, sink, window or dishwasher
- Found a scorpion in the housePale yellowish scorpion in the tub, on a wall or in shoes
- Big roaches coming up from the drain or the garageLarge reddish-brown roach in the tub, sink or garage at night
- Small roaches in the kitchen cabinetsLight-brown roaches with two dark stripes, near the sink or appliances
- Scratching in the attic or walls at nightScurrying overhead after dark, usually once the weather cools
- Droppings in the pantry or kitchen drawersSmall dark pellets near food, under the sink or in drawers
- Waking up with bites in a line or clusterItchy bites after sleeping, dark specks on the mattress seams
- Mosquitoes make the backyard unusableBites on the patio at dusk, or even in the middle of the day
- Fleas in the house even after treating the petsBites around the ankles, tiny jumping insects in the carpet
- Pests in a house that was just builtCrickets, ants or scorpions in a home that is a year or two old
ZIP codes covered
Mostly built since 2000
Older neighborhoods, 1970s–1990s