Brown Recluse

Magnified 353X, 4X that of PHIL 10092, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the distal end (farthest from attachment to the body) of a hair-covered leg of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. The hairs are known as setae, and for the most part are sensorial in nature, providing the spider with information about the organism’s environment such as temperature changes, changes in wind direction, and chemical queues such as poisons or pheromones. Note the very small cluster of setae at the location of the metatarsotarsal joint. These may be involved in the act of web weaving, but this is only speculation. L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax, i.e., a combination of its head and thoracic regions, one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments (see PHIL 1125).Created: 2007

Magnified 88X, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the distal end (farthest from attachment to the body) of a hair-covered leg of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. The hairs are known as setae, and for the most part are sensorial in nature, providing the spider with information about the organism’s environment such as temperature changes, changes in wind direction, and chemical queues such as poisons or pheromones. Note the very small cluster of setae at the location of the metatarsotarsal joint. These may be involved in the act of web weaving, but this is only speculation. See PHIL 10093 for a higher magnification of this specialized region. L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax, i.e., a combination of its head and thoracic regions, one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments (see PHIL 1125).Created: 2007

Under three increasingly greater magnifications, this being the highest at 3248X (see PHIL 10086, 10087), what is depicted here is an unidentified pore located on the dorsal abdomen of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. Note the material surrounding the pore’s orifice, and as the magnification increases, it becomes evident that the material is composed of an unidentified bacterial biofilm. It is not known if these were existing symbiotically upon the spider’s exoskeleton, or if they were pathologic in nature, signifying manifestations of a progressive disease process? See PHIL 10091 for a colorized version of this image.L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen.Created: 2007

Under three increasingly greater magnifications, this being midway at 732X (see PHIL 10086, 10088), what is depicted here is an unidentified pore located on the dorsal abdomen of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. Note the material surrounding the pore’s orifice, and as the magnification increases, it becomes evident that the material is composed of an unidentified bacterial biofilm. It is not known if these were existing symbiotically upon the spider’s exoskeleton, or if they were pathologic in nature, signifying manifestations of a progressive disease process? See PHIL 10090 for a colorized version of this image.L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen.Created: 2007

Under three increasingly greater magnifications, this being the lowest at 183X (see PHIL 10087, 10088), what is depicted here is an unidentified pore located on the dorsal abdomen of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. Note the material surrounding the pore’s orifice, and as the magnification increases, it becomes evident that the material is composed of an unidentified bacterial biofilm. It is not known if these were existing symbiotically upon the spider’s exoskeleton, or if they were pathologic in nature, signifying manifestations of a progressive disease process? See PHIL 10089 for a colorized version of this image.L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen.Created: 2007

Under a low magnification of 23X, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the hairy surface of a number of legs of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. The jointed nature of the spider’s legs places it in the Phylum, Arthropoda, i.e., Arthro = jointed, and poda = legs, and the fact that this creature has 8 legs places it in the Class, Arachnida. The most proximal leg segment, i.e., nearest to the cephalothorax, is known as the coxa, followed by a trochanter, then a femur, patella. tibia, metatarsus, a tarsus, and finally the claws. Depicted in this particular view are the distal segments of the spider’s first and second right legs. In the upper right you can see the origin of the spider’s right fang (far right), and its right pedipalp. The hairs are known as setae, and are sensorial in nature.Created: 2007

Under a magnification of 44x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the hairy surface of a number of legs of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. The jointed nature of the spider’s legs places it in the Phylum, Arthropoda, i.e., Arthro = jointed, and poda = legs, and the fact that this creature has 8 legs places it in the Class, Arachnida. The most proximal leg segment, i.e., nearest to the cephalothorax, is known as the coxa, followed by a trochanter, then a femur, patella. tibia, metatarsus, a tarsus, and finally the claws. Depicted in this particular view are the proximal segments of the spider’s first and second right legs. In the lower right you can see the origin of the spider’s right fang (far right), and its right pedipalp. The hairs are known as setae, and are sensorial in nature.Created: 2007

Under a high magnification of 746x, 4X greater than PHIL 10082, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the hairy dorsal surface of the anterior cephalothorax of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. These are not really hairs at all in the mammalian sense, which are composed of keratin, but are composed of chitin, and are known as setae, which are sensorial in nature, supplying the spider with information about changes in its environment such as changes in temperature, wind direction, and chemical queues such as pheromones and poisons.In this particular view what appears to be a insect wing scale is entrapped amongst other environmental particulates, which may have represented the remains of one of the spider’s previous meals?Created: 2007

Under a magnification of 186x, 7X greater than PHIL 10075, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the hairy dorsal surface of the anterior cephalothorax of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. These are not really hairs at all in the mammalian sense, which are composed of keratin, but are composed of chitin, and are known as setae, which are sensorial in nature, supplying the spider with information about changes in its environment such as changes in temperature, wind direction, and chemical queues such as pheromones and poisons. L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen. Also see PHIL 2224, and 6268 for additional brown recluse images.Created: 2007

Under a high magnification of 1692x, 4X greater than PHIL 10080, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the hairy dorsal surface of the abdominal exoskeleton of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. These are not really hairs at all, in the mammalian sense, which are composed of keratin, but are composed of chitin, and are known as setae, which are sensorial in nature, supplying the spider with information about changes in its environment such as changes in temperature, wind direction, and chemical queues such as pheromones and poisons. L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen. Also see PHIL 2224, and 6268 for additional brown recluse images.Created: 2007

Under a magnification of 423x, 8X greater than PHIL 10079, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the hairy dorsal surface of the abdominal exoskeleton of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. These are not really hairs at all, in the mammalian sense, which are composed of keratin, but are composed of chitin, and are known as setae, which are sensorial in nature, supplying the spider with information about changes in its environment such as changes in temperature, wind direction, and chemical queues such as pheromones and poisons. L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen. Also see PHIL 2224, and 6268 for additional brown recluse images.Created: 2007

Under a very low magnification of 53x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the hairy dorsal surface of the abdominal exoskeleton of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. These are not really hairs at all, in the mammalian sense, which are composed of keratin, but are composed of chitin, and are known as setae. Chitin is a molecule made up of bound units of acetylglucosamine, joined in such a way as to allow for increased points at which hydrogen bonding can occur. In this way chitin provides increased strength, and durability as an exoskeletal foundation. L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen. Also see PHIL 2224, and 6268 for additional brown recluse images.Created: 2007

Under a high magnification of 6922x this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the striated texture found on the exoskeletal surface of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. As arthropods, spiders possess an exoskeleton composed of chitin, which is a molecule made up of bound units of acetylglucosamine, joined in such a way as to allow for increased points at which hydrogen bonding can occur. In this way chitin provides increased strength, and durability as an exoskeletal foundation. L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen. Also see PHIL 2224, and 6268 for additional brown recluse images.Created: 2007

Under a magnification of 108x, approximately twice that of PHIL 10076, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the dorsal cephalothorax, i.e., a combination of its head and thoracic regions, of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. Most spiders possess eight eyes (4 pairs), however, as is evidenced in this image, recluse spiders only possess 3 pairs. L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen. You’ll also note this spider’s four pairs of jointed legs, which places it in the Phylum, Arthropoda, and the Class, Arachnida. Also see PHIL 2224, and 6268 for additional brown recluse images.Created: 2007

Under a low magnification of only 52x, approximately twice that of PHIL 10075, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the dorsal cephalothorax, i.e., a combination of its head and thoracic regions, of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. Most spiders possess eight eyes (4 pairs), however, recluse spiders only possess six. L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen. You’ll also note this spider’s four pairs of jointed legs, which places it in the Phylum, Arthropoda, and the Class, Arachnida. Also see PHIL 2224, and 6268 for additional brown recluse images.Created: 2007

Under a low magnification of only 27x, twice that of PHIL 10074, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the dorsal cephalothorax, i.e., a combination of its head and thoracic regions, of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. Most spiders possess eight eyes (4 pairs), however, as is evidenced in this image, recluse spiders only possess six. L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen. You’ll also note this spider’s four pairs of jointed legs, which places it in the Phylum, Arthropoda, and the Class, Arachnida. Also see PHIL 2224, and 6268 for additional brown recluse images.Created: 2007

Under a very low magnification of only 14x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted the dorsal surface of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. Most spiders possess eight eyes (4 pairs), however, recluse spiders only possess 3 pairs. L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax, i.e., a combination of its head and thoracic regions, one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen. You’ll also note this spider’s four pairs of jointed legs, which places it in the Phylum, Arthropoda, and the Class, Arachnida. Also see PHIL 2224, and 6268 for additional brown recluse images.Created: 2007

Under three increasingly greater magnifications, this being the highest at 3248X (see PHIL 10089, 10090), what is depicted here is an unidentified pore located on the dorsal abdomen of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. Note the material surrounding the pore’s orifice, and as the magnification increases, it becomes evident that the material is composed of an unidentified bacterial biofilm. It is not known if these were existing symbiotically upon the spider’s exoskeleton, or if they were pathologic in nature, signifying manifestations of a progressive disease process? See PHIL 10088 for a black and white version of this image.L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen.Created: 2007

Under three increasingly greater magnifications, this being midway at 732X (see PHIL 10089, 10091), what is depicted here is an unidentified pore located on the dorsal abdomen of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. Note the material surrounding the pore’s orifice, and as the magnification increases, it becomes evident that the material is composed of an unidentified bacterial biofilm. It is not known if these were existing symbiotically upon the spider’s exoskeleton, or if they were pathologic in nature, signifying manifestations of a progressive disease process? See PHIL 10087 for a black and white version of this image.L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen.Created: 2007

Under three increasingly greater magnifications, this being the lowest at 183X (see PHIL 10089, 10090), what is depicted here is an unidentified pore located on the dorsal abdomen of a venomous brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa, found inhabiting a Kentucky farm. Note the material surrounding the pore’s orifice, and as the magnification increases, it becomes evident that the material is composed of an unidentified bacterial biofilm. It is not known if these were existing symbiotically upon the spider’s exoskeleton, or if they were pathologic in nature, signifying manifestations of a progressive disease process? See PHIL 10086 for a black and white version of this image.L. reclusa is sometimes referred to as the violin or fiddle spider, for on its cephalothorax one will see what appears to be coloration in the shape of these stringed instruments, which is quite evident in the color photograph PHIL 1125, depicting a live specimen.Created: 2007