Interactions With Other Species

 

The brown recluse spider does not undergo any mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasitic relationships with other species because of its private nature.

However, these organisms are still very important to their communities.  Brown recluse spiders occupy an important niche in the food web.  They help regulate the populations of the species of their prey (nutrition), but they are not at the top of the food chain.  They have many natural predators including blue jays, crickets, and the praying mantis.  As seen below, birds are often the biggest predators of spiders.

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Perhaps the biggest danger to brown recluses, however, is us.  Humans have been battling these creatures for hundreds of years.  These spiders seem to often occupy peoples' houses, and, because of their vicious bite, they need to be exterminated.  Click here to learn more about this love/hate (but mostly hate) relationship!